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DOE Announces New Energy Storage Research Alliance (ESRA) to Drive Battery Innovation

DOE Announces New Energy Storage Research Alliance (ESRA) to Drive Battery Innovation

Slice of Energy Team
September 06, 2024

Key Highlights:

DOE announces Energy Storage Research Alliance (ESRA) led by Argonne National Laboratory.
ESRA aims to innovate high-energy, safe, and long-duration batteries using abundant materials.
Collaboration with 3 national labs and 12 universities to push the boundaries of energy storage technology.
$62.5 million funding from the DOE to support this initiative over five years.
Focus on training a diverse, next-generation workforce in energy storage science.

Source (Business Wire)

Notable Quotes:

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"The demand for high-performance, low-cost, and sustainable energy storage devices is on the rise, especially those with potential to deeply decarbonize heavy-duty transportation and the electric grid."

Shirley Meng, ESRA Director at Argonne Collaborative Center for Energy Storage Science

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"ESRA creates an energy storage research ecosystem with the mission to rapidly innovate, shorten the time between basic discovery and technology development, and train the next-generation workforce."

Bryan McCloskey, ESRA Deputy Director at Berkeley Lab

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"ESRA will pave the way for innovative energy storage solutions that drive both U.S. prosperity and security. As the lead laboratory for ESRA under the Department of Energy’s Office of Science, Argonne takes pride in spearheading this collaborative effort that unites world-leading experts and taps the impressive scientific resources available in national labs and academia."

Paul Kearns, Director at Argonne National Laboratory

Our Take:

The creation of the Energy Storage Research Alliance (ESRA) marks a significant step forward in addressing critical energy storage challenges, such as safety and the development of affordable, long-duration batteries. The collaboration between three major national laboratories and leading academic institutions will accelerate breakthroughs in energy storage technology, crucial for the U.S.'s energy resilience and decarbonization goals. Moreover, ESRA's focus on training a diverse workforce ensures that future innovations in this space are well-supported by highly skilled professionals. This initiative underscores the strategic importance of energy storage to U.S. competitiveness and security.