The Grid Storage Launchpad (GSL) at the Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) in Richland, Wash., has opened as an effort to address a growing concern about the nation’s ability to meet future energy demands. The new $75 million facility aims to bring together researchers and industry partners to develop grid-scale energy storage technologies for all stages of the battery development cycle. This is seen as crucial for storing energy harnessed from renewable sources such as the sun and serving as backups during power outages, as electricity needs in the Pacific Northwest are projected to spike by 30% over the next decade.
The surge in electricity demand is being driven by factors such as the fast adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) and its energy-hungry compute needs, as well as the electrification of transportation, home heating and cooling, and industrial processes, among other growth in high-tech manufacturing. The effects of climate change, including more extreme weather events like heat waves that increase power demand, are also contributing to the need for improved grid-scale energy storage technologies. In response to these challenges, the GSL at PNNL is working to develop state-of-the-art batteries that can help address these energy demands and support the transition to a cleaner, more sustainable energy future.
The GSL facility was formally dedicated with the participation of state officials, including Sen. Maria Cantwell, PNNL Director Steve Ashby, and other Department of Energy officials. The center is funded by the Department of Energy’s Office of Electricity and is part of PNNL’s efforts to collaborate with industry partners and utilize advanced technologies such as AI and high-performance computing to drive innovation in the energy storage sector. PNNL has recently partnered with Microsoft on a project to reduce the lithium content in batteries by up to 70% using AI and cloud computing, as part of a three-year collaboration to develop clean energy solutions.
The opening of the GSL comes as the increasing demand for electricity presents challenges for the existing energy infrastructure, highlighting the need for advanced grid-scale energy storage technologies. By bringing together researchers, industry partners, and state officials, the GSL aims to accelerate the development and deployment of cutting-edge energy storage solutions that can support the growth of renewable energy sources and help meet the evolving energy needs of the Pacific Northwest. Through collaboration and innovation, the GSL at PNNL is positioned to play a key role in advancing the state of the art in grid-scale energy storage and contributing to a more resilient and sustainable energy future.
