Joint Center for Energy Storage Research
Stored: Joint Center for Energy Storage Research
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Joint Center for Energy Storage Research (JCESR) is a DOE Energy Innovation Hub led by Argonne National Laboratory, established to revolutionize energy storage by developing batteries with five times the energy density and one-fifth the cost of commercial lithium-ion systems, focusing on electric vehicles and grid-scale storage.
Launched in December 2012 and concluding its primary mission in 2023, JCESR united national labs, universities, and industry to create prototypes like lithium-sulfur and multivalent-ion batteries, leaving a legacy of over 700 publications and 150+ patents.
Mission
JCESR’s mission was to accelerate battery innovation by integrating basic science with applied engineering, targeting “5-5-5” goals—five times the energy density, five times cheaper, in five years—through rapid design-test-build cycles and a focus on beyond-lithium-ion chemistries like magnesium and sulfur-based systems. It aimed to decarbonize transportation and stabilize the grid, delivering practical prototypes and fostering an innovation ecosystem that influenced successors like the Energy Storage Research Alliance (ESRA).
Parent organization
JCESR operated under the Department of Energy, specifically the Office of Science’s Basic Energy Sciences program, which provided funding and strategic direction. The Department of Energy was the top organization, aligning JCESR with national clean energy and storage goals.
Legislation
JCESR was not created by specific legislation but was established in December 2012 as part of DOE’s Energy Innovation Hubs initiative, funded with $120 million through Congressional appropriations announced by Secretary Steven Chu.
Partners
JCESR’s core partners included:
- Argonne National Laboratory (lead)
- Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
- Sandia National Laboratories
- SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory
- Universities (e.g., MIT, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign) and industry (e.g., Dow Chemical)
Number of employees
JCESR did not have a fixed employee count; it engaged over 200 researchers—scientists, engineers, and students—across its partner institutions during its 10-year run.
Organization structure
JCESR was structured around research thrusts:
- Beyond Lithium-Ion Team explored new chemistries.
- Systems Analysis Team evaluated performance and cost.
- Prototyping Team built and tested battery designs.
Leader
JCESR was led by a Director, George Crabtree (until his passing in 2023), succeeded by interim leadership from Argonne, guiding its scientific and operational efforts.
Divisions
The efforts included:
- Materials Discovery for high-energy electrodes.
- Electrochemical Research for ion transport.
- Prototype Development for real-world testing.
List of programs
Key JCESR initiatives included:
- Lithium-Sulfur Battery Development
- Multivalent-Ion Battery Research
- Battery Techno-Economic Modeling
Last total enacted budget
JCESR’s total budget was $120 million over 10 years (2012-2023), with $24 million annually for the first five years (2012-2017) and renewed funding through 2023, concluding its DOE mission.
Staff
Staffing comprised over 200 researchers from national labs, universities, and industry, with expertise in electrochemistry, materials science, and modeling, with no standalone JCESR headcount.
Funding
JCESR’s $120 million funding came from DOE’s Office of Science, with $120M allocated across two phases (2012-2017, 2018-2023), supplemented by partner resources, ending in 2023 as its mission transitioned to ESRA.
Services provided
JCESR developed advanced battery prototypes, conducted techno-economic analyses, and provided open-source modeling tools like Battery Performance and Cost (BatPaC), impacting energy storage science and industry adoption.
Regulations overseen
JCESR did not oversee regulations but supported DOE’s energy storage and decarbonization goals through technical innovation.
Headquarters address
9700 S Cass Ave, Lemont, IL 60439, USA (Argonne National Laboratory)
History
JCESR was launched on December 1, 2012, as DOE’s third Energy Innovation Hub, awarded $120 million to Argonne to leapfrog lithium-ion technology following a 2012 funding announcement. It delivered prototypes like lithium-sulfur cells by 2017, completed its mission in 2023 with over 150 patents, and transitioned its legacy to ESRA, influencing modern battery research.
External links
- Official Website
- wikipedia:Joint_Center_for_Energy_Storage_Research
- DOE Innovation Hubs
- JCESR at Argonne