Energy Storage Research Alliance
Stored: Energy Storage Research Alliance
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Energy Storage Research Alliance (ESRA) is a DOE Energy Innovation Hub led by Argonne National Laboratory, uniting three national labs and 11 universities to pioneer next-generation battery technologies that surpass lithium-ion capabilities, focusing on safety, energy density, and longevity for heavy-duty transport and grid storage. Launched in September 2024, ESRA leverages advanced tools like AI and upgraded photon sources to accelerate discoveries in materials chemistry and electrochemical phenomena, aiming to deliver sustainable, cost-effective energy storage solutions.
Mission
ESRA’s mission is to unlock transformative battery breakthroughs by exploring new materials and chemistries, targeting high-energy batteries that avoid fire risks, offer days of storage, last decades, and use inexpensive, abundant resources, driven by fundamental research in solvation, transport, and interfacial science. It fosters an innovation ecosystem to decarbonize transportation and the grid, while training a diverse next-generation battery workforce through partnerships with academia, industry, and government.
Parent organization
ESRA operates under the Department of Energy, specifically the Office of Science’s Basic Energy Sciences program, which funds and directs its efforts. The Department of Energy is the top organization, aligning ESRA with national clean energy and security goals.
Legislation
ESRA was not created by specific legislation but was established in September 2024 under DOE’s Energy Innovation Hubs program, funded with $62.5 million through a competitive award process announced on September 2, 2024.
Partners
ESRA’s core partners include:
- Argonne National Laboratory (lead)
- Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (co-lead)
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (co-lead)
- 11 universities (e.g., University of Chicago, MIT, University of Houston)
Number of employees
ESRA does not have a dedicated employee count; it engages nearly 50 researchers from its three labs and 11 universities, with additional contributors as projects expand.
Organization structure
ESRA is organized around three scientific thrusts:
- Solvation Team studies electrolyte behavior.
- Transport Team enhances ion movement.
- Soft Matter Team explores organic electrodes.
Leader
ESRA is led by a Director, Shirley Meng, who also serves as chief scientist at Argonne’s Collaborative Center for Energy Storage Science and professor at the University of Chicago.
Divisions
The efforts include:
- Materials Acceleration via AI and automation.
- Correlative Characterization using advanced photon sources.
- Electrochemical Modeling for battery dynamics.
List of programs
Key ESRA initiatives include:
- Materials Chemistry Research
- Electrochemical Phenomena Studies
- Battery Workforce Training Programs
Last total enacted budget
ESRA’s budget is $62.5 million over five years (FY 2024-2029), awarded by DOE on September 2, 2024, with potential adjustments during negotiations.
Staff
Staffing comprises nearly 50 world-class researchers—scientists, engineers, and students—from Argonne, Berkeley Lab, PNNL, and 11 universities, with no standalone headcount.
Funding
ESRA’s funding of $62.5 million spans 2024-2029 from DOE’s Office of Science, with possible future increments, building on decades of prior DOE battery research investments.
Services provided
ESRA conducts fundamental research into battery materials, develops AI-driven discovery platforms, and provides training programs, laying the scientific groundwork for safe, sustainable energy storage technologies.
Regulations overseen
ESRA does not oversee regulations but supports DOE’s energy decarbonization and supply chain resilience goals through scientific advancements.
Headquarters address
9700 S Cass Ave, Lemont, IL 60439, USA (Argonne National Laboratory)
History
ESRA was launched on September 2, 2024, as one of two new DOE Energy Innovation Hubs, succeeding earlier efforts like JCESR, with a $62.5 million award to Argonne to address battery challenges. It builds on national lab expertise and aims to deliver breakthroughs by 2029, integrating with DOE’s Energy Earthshots initiative.