DOE selects Argonne & INL for CMBlu Energy battery testing

Argonne and Idaho National Laboratories (INL) have been selected by the US Department of Energy for a project to validate CMBlu Energy’s battery technology for microgrid resilience and electric vehicle charging.

Collaborating with CMBlu Energy, Argonne and INL will validate the company’s ‘Organic SolidFlow’ battery tech for resilient microgrids and electric vehicle charging in “underserved communities”.

The project aims to improve microgrids in cold climates and make fast charging of electric vehicles more affordable. Microgrids are often used in remote or critical infrastructure settings, such as hospitals.

The project will span two regions. In the Midwest, Argonne researchers plan to demonstrate the effectiveness of CMBlu’s batteries at the lab’s Smart Energy Plaza. The plaza is a renovated and repurposed gas station designed to conduct research on the integration and management of electric vehicle charging, renewables, building systems, and energy storage. Argonne researchers will gather data and analyse how the technology can inform real-world scenarios.

At the INL Battery Test Center in Idaho, researchers will conduct performance tests, including assessing how well the batteries perform at different temperatures. This rigorous testing is crucial to ensure the technology’s reliability in diverse environments. The INL center serves as the DOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy’s (EERE) primary center for battery life and performance testing.

The materials used CMBlu Energy’s battery technology in the construction of these batteries are non-metallic and abundant, with a “goal to build resilient and domestic supply chains”. The batteries are targeted for community, industrial and utility-scale applications of medium and long duration.

Battery scientist Sue Babinec, programme lead for stationary storage at Argonne, said: “Demonstration projects, especially those at national labs, efficiently mature our understanding of new technologies in key use cases.”

Kevin Gering, staff scientist at INL, said: “This awarded work provides a unique avenue to showcase the strengths of INL and Argonne to explore flow battery performance at colder-than-room temperatures, relevant to energy storage needs at northern latitudes and winter conditions.”

Ben Kaun, president of CMBlu Energy, Inc, said: “We’re honoured to participate in this project with two preeminent research teams that are advancing clean energy. The unique capabilities and resources of Argonne and INL will enable CMBlu to accelerate the commercialisation of our Organic SolidFlow battery solution. Our long-duration energy storage is designed to support grid resilience and integration for EV fast charging and microgrid applications, and this demonstration is an excellent opportunity to validate its real-world performance.”