US Energy: U.S. Department of Energy Opportunity: Rapid Operational Validation Initiative for Flow Batteries

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is issuing a lab call to develop the Rapid Operational Validation Initiative (ROVI), which will address critical gaps in data needs to evaluate energy storage, such as the lack of access to large and uniform sets of performance data that are necessary to accelerate the pace at which technology development can occur.

ROVI will create a data collection and analysis framework to identify the fundamental data needs for different Long Duration Energy Storage (LDES) technologies and then develop protocols to ensure that data can be collected and stored in a standardized format. In addition, ROVI will provide an opportunity for project performers to collect data from real systems and leverage data science methods, such as artificial intelligence and machine learning, to extract valuable insights about the performance of these LDES technologies. ROVI’s goal is to use data-driven insights to develop accelerated testing and validation methods for new technologies that will yield 15+ years of investment-grade performance projections with only one year or less of data required.

This lab call is the first step to implement the ROVI activity outlined in the DOE FY22 Budget Request for the Energy Storage Grand Challenge. ROVI will also carry out the testing and validation requirements in the Energy Storage System Research, Development, and Deployment Program of the Energy Act of 2020. Finally, ROVI will help fulfill the statutorily required performance reporting of the grid-scale long-duration energy storage demonstration programs as part of President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

The DOE’s Office of Electricity is issuing this lab call funding opportunity to specifically address flow battery technologies. Although only National Labs are eligible to be the primary funding recipient for this opportunity, they are permitted to partner with non-lab organizations to ensure necessary expertise and capabilities are available.