The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has announced a $15 million investment in three innovative energy storage projects aimed at enhancing the resilience of critical infrastructure during power outages and emergencies. Each project will receive up to $5 million through the Critical Facility Energy Resilience (CiFER) Funding Opportunity Announcement, managed by the DOE’s Office of Electricity.
These projects focus on developing and demonstrating advanced energy storage technologies that can provide reliable backup power to essential facilities, such as emergency services, healthcare centers, and water treatment plants. By transitioning from early-stage research to real-world applications, these initiatives aim to ensure that critical services remain operational during grid disruptions caused by extreme weather events, cyberattacks, or infrastructure failures.
The selected projects include:
- Binghamton University: Developing a bio-mineralized lithium mixed-metal phosphate battery system to enhance energy resilience at a critical services facility in Endicott, New York.
- Inlyte Energy: Creating an iron and sodium long-duration energy storage system to support the Alliance Redwoods site in Occidental, California, an area prone to wildfires.
- Long Hill Energy Partners: Demonstrating an organic quinone flow battery to improve energy resilience at the High Desert Regional Health Center in Lancaster, California.
This investment underscores the DOE’s commitment to modernizing the nation’s electric grid and ensuring the reliability and security of essential services. By advancing energy storage technologies, these projects contribute to a more resilient and sustainable energy infrastructure.
