Research
NREL's energy storage research spans a range of applications and technologies.
NREL's electrochemical storage research ranges from materials discovery and development to electrode design, cell evaluation, system design and development, engendering analysis, and lifetime analysis of secondary batteries. We also research electrocatalysts, hydrogen production, and electrons to molecules for longer-term storage.
Research activities in this area include:
Cathode research
Recycling
eXtreme Fast Charge Cell Evaluation Project
Science of safety.
For more information, contact Anthony Burrell or Matt Keyser.
We are researching ways to convert excess renewable energy into molecules, such as hydrogen and methane, that can be stored for weeks or months for later use.
Research activities in this area include:
H2@Scale
Electrons to molecules initiative.
For more information, contact Keith Wipke or Randy Cortright.
NREL research is demonstrating high-performance, grid-integrated stationary battery technologies. We examine how best to integrate those technologies into a renewable energy grid and discover and develop better materials for batteries and thermal storage devices.
Research activities in this area include:
Grid storage, including pumped hydropower storage, compressed air energy storage, batteries, and flywheels
ARPA-e NODES RONIN.
For more information, contact Vahan Gevorgian or Roderick Jackson.
We explore materials, components, and thermodynamic cycles to develop integrated concentrating solar power systems with thermal energy storage to increase system efficiency, dispatchability, and flexibility. For thermal storage within buildings, we’re finding new phase-change materials and discovering how their properties improve storage systems. NREL is also exploring new options for energy storage related to compressed air, geothermal, and geothermal-solar hybrid technologies.
Research activities in this area include:
High-temperature thermal storage
Thermal storage for industry
Pumped thermal electricity storage
Building-integrated thermal energy storage
For more information, contact Mark Mehos or Judith Vidal.
NREL analyzes conventional and advanced pumped-hydropower storage to understand how we can improve grid flexibility, accommodate increased penetrations of variable generation, and reduce operating costs while boosting the grid’s resilience.
Research activities in this area include:
Energy and economic analysis: storage valuation
Hydro and pumped storage’s role in grid integration
Market acceleration: getting storage into the marketplace.
For more information, contact Al LiVecchi and Greg Stark.
We are developing high-performance, cost-effective, and safe energy storage systems that address energy storage issues at the R&D stage so carmakers can offer consumers affordable, high-performance hybrid electric, plug-in hybrid, and all-electric vehicles.
Research activities in this area include:
Battery Second-Use Repurposing Cost Calculator
BLAST: Battery Lifetime Analysis and Simulation Tool Suite
CAEBAT: Computer Aided Engineering for Electric-Drive Vehicle Batteries
Cathode research
Diagnostics of battery materials and systems
eXteme Fast Charge Cell Evaluation Project
Extreme fast charging for medium- and heavy-duty vehicles
HyMARC: Hydrogen Materials Advanced Research Consortium
Isothermal battery calorimeters
Mechanical electrochemical thermal models
ReCell Advanced Battery Recycling
Recycling
Science of safety
Silicon Deep-Dive Consortium
Thermal evaluation and characterization of energy storage systems.
For more information, contact John Farrell and Matt Keyser.
NREL is exploring how controllable building loads (e.g., cooling, heating, refrigeration, and plug and process loads) can be paired with energy storage and supervisory controls to increase demand flexibility.
Research activities in this area include:
Laboratory and field characterization of new components and integrated systems
Supervisory controls development and evaluation
Multiscale modeling and analysis.
For more information, contact Bill Livingood and Roderick Jackson.
NREL’s energy storage research addresses energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies related to buildings, solar, water, and wind.
For more information, contact Roderick Jackson (buildings), Mary Werner (solar), Al LiVecchi (water), or Brian Smith (wind).
We provide analytical support related to energy storage in studies on decision-making and impacts at all scales, including automotive, distribution and transmission grid applications, storage system design and optimization, and component development.
Research activities in this area include:
System Advisor Model for Battery Storage
Renewable Energy Integration and Optimization tool
Hybrid Battery Robust Energy Design tool.
For more information, contact Nate Blair and Adarsh Nagarajan.