Today, the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations (OCED) issued a Notice of Intent (NOI) for up to $100 million to fund pilot-scale energy storage demonstration projects, focusing on non-lithium technologies, long-duration (10+ hour discharge) systems, and stationary storage applications. This funding—made possible by President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law—will support the advancement of a diverse set of non-lithium long-duration energy storage (LDES) technologies towards commercial viability and utility-scale deployment, an integral ingredient in a clean, reliable grid system to achieve a net-zero emissions clean energy economy. 

The demand for clean, reliable electricity in the U.S. continues to increase, primarily driven by demand sectors like residential and commercial buildings, industry, and transportation, and the growth of data centers for information processing needs. DOE estimates the U.S. will need approximately 700-900 GW of additional clean, firm capacity to reach net-zero emissions by 2050. Meanwhile, variable renewable energy sources like solar and wind are expected to grow significantly in the years ahead, making up the majority of new capacity additions. Short duration energy storage is already supporting the grid, but continued deployment of variable renewable energy may push the requirement beyond the energy storage systems that exist today. To support a growing reliance on variable renewable energy, LDES systems will play a key role in offering dispatchable backup power that can be deployed when needed to ensure grid resilience.  

This investment is part of the Long-Duration Energy Storage Pilot Program for technology demonstrations to advance a variety of LDES technologies towards commercial viability and utility-scale deployment, generate high-quality operational datasets and techno-economic models that further the technology readiness level of these systems, and build confidence in the real performance and viability of LDES solutions. The funding will support technology maturation activities including design for manufacturability, pilot system development, fabrication and installation, operational testing and validation, and commercial scale system design and supply chain growth. 

Through this funding, OCED plans to fund 3-15 projects, offering $5-20 million each with a 50% minimum non-Federal cost share per project. Projects will require applicants to have a team that includes a technology provider and encourage inclusion of utilities, facility owner/operators, developers, financiers, and others that support a clear path to commercial adoption.  

DOE anticipates releasing a funding solicitation in late summer / early fall. For more information, visit the LDES portfolio webpage here.