DOE awards $15 million to 12 high-energy storage solutions

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced on February 23 that it will provide $15 million in funding for 12 projects in 11 states to advance the next generation of high-energy storage solutions to help accelerate the electrification of the aviation, rail and shipping industries. Funded by the Pioneering Railroad, Oceanic and Plane ELectrification 1K Energy Storage System (PROPEL-1K) program, these projects will develop energy storage systems with "1K" technology that can reach or exceed 1,000 watt-hours per kilogram (Wh/kg) or 1,000 watt-hours per liter (Wh/L), which is more than four times the energy density of existing technologies. This effort supports the government's 2050 net zero climate goal.

ARPA-E Director Evelyn N. Wang said:

“The transportation sector is the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in the United States, and reducing emissions from the transportation sector is critical to achieving the administration’s clean energy and climate goals.”

“ARPA-E is pleased to announce the 12 teams that will advance exciting new solutions for power and electrification of heavy-duty transportation.”

Managed by the Department of Energy’s Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E), the 12 selected project teams will work on high-energy storage solutions that could facilitate widespread electrification in the aviation, rail, and maritime sectors:

1. Battery Aero (Palo Alto, California) and its collaborators are developing battery packs, stacks, and systems using fluorinated electrodes to pioneer a new class of battery materials for aviation applications. The team will focus on improving the energy density of the battery design through electrode material optimization and electrolyte formulation. The proposed approach will also innovate battery pack design to reduce energy density losses due to packaging. (Award Amount: $983,445)

2. Aurora Flight Sciences (Manassas, Virginia) is developing an aluminum-air energy storage and power generation system to provide a sustainable and environmentally friendly solution for heavy-duty transportation. The novelty of this technology lies in its ability to promote the combustion of aluminum to produce hydrogen to power solid oxide fuel cells. The heat and electricity generated by the process are then used for propulsion. The system utilizes a platform that separates energy and power, allowing for replaceable energy tanks or pumpable fuels that can be quickly and seamlessly charged and discharged from vehicle equipment. (Award amount: $1,499,375)

3. Georgia Tech Research (Atlanta, Georgia) will advance an alkali hydroxide three-phase flow battery (3PFB) to achieve reversible operation of ultra-high energy density battery chemistry. The approach is inspired by fuel injectors in internal combustion engines and conventional flow batteries. The proposed design utilizes innovative pumping and handling of molten alkali and hydroxide species to maximize the volume of reactants relative to inactive components, thereby increasing energy density. (Award amount: $1,317,842)

4. Giner (Newton, Mass.) will encapsulate hydrogen in a paste to power fuel cells, eliminating the need for high-pressure hydrogen storage tanks. The energy paste is a mixture of magnesium and hydrogen stored in cartridges that triggers the release of hydrogen when water is added. The paste is not flammable or explosive. The team will also update the system's fuel cells to operate at lower humidity, making the approach more versatile and smaller, thereby increasing the design's overall energy density. (Award Amount: $1,500,000)

5. Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT) (Chicago, IL) focuses on solid-state lithium-air batteries that will overcome previous challenges in lithium-air technology through several key innovations. IIT's approach features a composite polymer solid electrolyte without liquid components, a cathode module with highly active catalysts and oxygen absorption capabilities, advanced airflow, and a new battery structure. The inexpensive battery materials in IIT's technology improve supply chain resilience, and the battery's energy density could be three to four times that of current lithium-ion batteries. (Award amount: $1,500,000)

6. Johns Hopkins University (Baltimore, Maryland) will develop a high energy density hydrogen carrier using methylcyclohexane to create a fuel cell (FC) system with higher specific energy density than conventional systems. The proposed hydrogen FC uses a closed-loop circulating hydrogen carrier. The FC system can also be quickly replenished (about 10 minutes) by pumping. (Award amount: $625,000)

7. Precision Combustion (North Haven, CT) and its hybrid fuel cell system uses an electrochemical chip that uses liquid hydrogen as a fuel to generate electricity, coupled with a high-power lithium-ion battery for peak power operation. The progressive energy storage system mixes high-efficiency advanced electrochemical devices and small rechargeable batteries and pairs them with high-energy-density carbon-free fuels. The process-intensified architecture has the potential to provide much higher power density than other systems under development. (Award amount: $1,221,058)

8. Propel Aero (Ann Arbor, Michigan) and its "Redox Engine" technology will provide considerable power performance and provide the energy density required to meet the needs of electric aircraft. The cost of electricity from this technology will be comparable to jet fuel. Given the low cost and high specific energy, the Redox Engine can also solve the electrification problems of shipping and trains. (Award amount: $1,117,000)

9. The University of Maryland (College Park, MD) will develop a rechargeable lithium monofluoride carbon cathode chemistry to achieve the technical goals of PROPEL-1K. This new material builds on UMD's previous work on halogen conversion intercalation chemistry, but achieves higher energy targets through active materials, electrolytes, and other battery chemistry modifications. The battery is assembled in a discharged state, significantly reducing costs relative to high-energy lithium metal batteries built in a charged state (which require the use of lithium metal foil). The battery materials work will be combined with performance and cost modeling at multiple scales to demonstrate a path to achieving the ultimate system PROPEL-1K goals. (Award amount: $1,483,595)

10. Washington State University (Pullman, WA) and its modular energy system combines ceramic fuel cell technology with an innovative way to package hydrogen in liquid form. The approach uses a self-pressurizing heat recovery and hydrogen expansion module combined with a proton-conducting ceramic fuel cell. The high-temperature system achieves energy recovery and significant weight savings by omitting a radiative heat exchanger for cooling. (Award amount: $803,945)

11. Washington University in St. Louis (St. Louis, Missouri) will use lithium-air batteries with ionic liquids to provide efficient, reliable and durable performance for high-energy and high-power applications. The proposed lithium-air flow battery will feature a circulating ionic liquid saturated with oxygen to overcome key challenges in lithium-air battery development, including achieving power capability and specific energy targets. The team will synthesize ionic liquids with high oxygen solubility, low viscosity, ultra-low volatility and high ionic conductivity. Preliminary experimental results show a tenfold increase in capacity using a circulating electrolyte. (Award amount: $1,499,985)

12. Wright Electric (Malta, NY) and Columbia University are developing an aluminum-air battery with a replaceable aluminum anode that can be mechanically recharged. Aluminum-air materials can achieve high energy density, but have historically encountered problems with rechargeability and clogging by reaction products. To overcome these obstacles, Wright Electric uses 3D design rather than 2D planar materials to improve the contact between the anode and cathode. The system also circulates the electrolyte, preventing the accumulation of reaction products within the battery structure to compensate for the limitations of static aluminum-air batteries. (Award amount: $1,499,098)

These selections represent the first phase of an anticipated two-phase program. Phase 1 is expected to be completed within 18 months of contract completion. If successful, PROPEL-1K technology will enable electrification of regional flights with up to 100 passengers, all North American railways, and all vessels operating exclusively within U.S. territorial waters, with flights of up to 1,000 miles (1,609 km).

ARPA-E advances high-potential, high-impact clean energy technologies across a broad range of technology areas that are strategic to U.S. energy security.

Before funds are awarded, DOE and the applicant will engage in negotiations, during which DOE may cancel negotiations and revoke the selection for any reason.

(Source: US Department of Energy Global Energy Storage Network, New Energy Network Comprehensive)