New Battery Technology Makes Strides for Sustainability
Through the work of a Department of Energy research facility, partnered with Stanford University, new flow battery technology may pave the way for improvements in solar and wind energy.
The Department of Energy’s SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory and Stanford University are making progress in battery technology that could improve solar and wind energy usage. These partners have designed a low-cost battery with a long life span, an important step for the future.
This research is a result of the Joint Center for Energy Storage Research. JCESR is a DOE Energy Innovation Hub formed along with four other hubs in the country last November to promote and accelerate energy research.
"This important early result from JCESR points to the value of mobilizing top researchers in a concerted effort to tackle major energy challenges," said Patricia M. Dehmer, acting director of DOE's Office of Science, which supports JCESR, on the DOE website. "It also shows the potential for significant progress in batteries and energy storage through transformative scientific research."
These strides in battery technology could mean a lot for the nation's energy challenges. The flow batteries utilize a simplified design, lowering costs. They can store more than 5.5 years of daily charge and discharge cycles.
More information on the battery research and development can be found on this Stanford University website.