Energy Systems Integration Facility
| Type | Program |
|---|---|
| Sponsor Organization | Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy |
| Top Organization | Department of Energy |
| Creation Legislation | None |
| Website | Website |
| Purpose | The Energy Systems Integration Facility advances the development and deployment of clean energy technologies by providing a megawatt-scale testing platform for integrated energy systems. It aims to enhance grid reliability, resilience, and efficiency through collaborative R&D with industry, academia, and government partners. |
| Program Start | 2013 |
| Initial Funding | $135 million |
| Duration | Ongoing |
| Historic | No |
The Energy Systems Integration Facility (ESIF), launched in September 2013 by the Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), is a 182,500-square-foot research hub that has supported over 170 projects with 85 partners in 2024 alone, testing technologies like self-healing grids and grid-forming inverters.
Built with a $135 million investment, ESIF features 15 advanced laboratories and the world’s most energy-efficient high-performance computing (HPC) data center, boasting a power usage effectiveness (PUE) of 1.06, recognized as Lab of the Year by R&D Magazine in 2014.[1]
Recent updates include the 2024 opening of the Energy Security and Resilience Laboratory and a third-generation supercomputer, reinforcing its role in DOE’s clean energy transition efforts.
Goals
- Enable megawatt-scale testing of integrated energy systems for grid optimization.
- Advance renewable energy, hydrogen, and storage technologies through R&D collaboration.
- Reduce energy consumption and emissions with sustainable facility design.[2]
Organization
The Energy Systems Integration Facility is sponsored by EERE, hosted at NREL, and managed by Juan Torres, Associate Laboratory Director for Energy Systems Integration since June 2017, with over 200 scientists and engineers. It operates under NREL’s Alliance for Sustainable Energy, funded by DOE’s Office of Science and EERE.[3]
Partners
- National Renewable Energy Laboratory
- Xcel Energy
- Panasonic Corporation
- Oak Ridge National Laboratory
History
ESIF broke ground in 2011 with a $135 million DOE investment, opening on September 11, 2013, as the nation’s first facility for megawatt-scale energy systems integration testing.[4] Milestones include the 2017 International Conference on Energy Systems Integration, the 2024 Energy Security and Resilience Lab launch, and hosting over 170 projects in 2024, advancing technologies like electrolyzers and virtual oscillators. It remains a cornerstone of DOE’s clean energy R&D.
Funding
Initial funding of $135 million in 2011 covered construction, with over $200 million invested by 2025 for operations, equipment like the Research Electrical Distribution Bus (REDB), and 170+ projects in 2024.[5] Ongoing DOE funding via EERE and Office of Science sustains its mission, with no end date as it supports long-term grid modernization.
Implementation
ESIF conducts R&D through 15 labs, including high-bay testing spaces and outdoor pads, using tools like REDB and a petascale HPC data center for real-time simulations.[6] It progresses via partnerships—e.g., Xcel Energy’s Peña Station NEXT—and events like the 2024 Sustainable Aviation Energy Conference, adapting to energy integration needs without a fixed end.
Related
External links
- https://www.nrel.gov/esif/
- https://www.energy.gov/eere/energy-systems-integration-facility-nrel
- wikipedia:Energy Systems Integration Facility
Social media
References
- ↑ "Energy Systems Integration Facility". National Renewable Energy Laboratory. https://www.nrel.gov/esif/.
- ↑ "ESIF Overview". Department of Energy. https://www.energy.gov/eere/energy-systems-integration-facility-nrel.
- ↑ "Juan Torres Appointment". National Renewable Energy Laboratory. https://www.nrel.gov/news/press/2017/juan-torres-takes-the-helm-of-energy-systems-integration-at-nrel.html.
- ↑ "Lab of the Year". Department of Energy. https://www.energy.gov/eere/articles/energy-systems-integration-facility-named-lab-year.
- ↑ "Energy Systems Integration Facility". National Renewable Energy Laboratory. https://www.nrel.gov/esif/.
- ↑ "ESIF 2024 Review". National Renewable Energy Laboratory. https://www.nrel.gov/news/program/2024/esif-year-in-review.html.