US consortium BattMan aims to turbocharge batteries without robbin scarce materials
From research to manufacturing
America’s national laboratories are leading BattMan, a consortium intended to help bring advanced battery storage technologies from the lab into domestic production. The effort comes as demand grows for storage in electric grids, datacenters and electric vehicles.
Batteries store less energy by weight than fuels such as petroleum. Researchers are pursuing better materials while working to make batteries safer, less expensive to produce, faster to charge and less dependent on scarce resources.
Labs and universities join
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory leads the consortium with Oak Ridge, Argonne and National Laboratory of the Rockies. Academic partners include the University of Washington, Binghamton University, the University of Alabama, Arizona State University and the University of Michigan-Dearborn.
Oak Ridge National Laboratory will contribute its Battery Manufacturing Facility research and development center. It also plans a smart test bed using advanced sensing, real-time monitoring and data analysis to test wet and dry electrode manufacturing.
A national effort
Audrey Robertson, the Department of Energy’s assistant secretary, said battery manufacturing advances would shape America’s energy security and economic competitiveness for decades. The department is overseeing the program.
Consortium lead Chins Chinnasamy, a distinguished research and development staff member at Oak Ridge, described BattMan as a coordinated national effort to turn scientific progress into economic and energy security benefits. Organizations can apply to become part of the consortium.
Key points
- BattMan aims to move advanced battery technologies from research labs into domestic manufacturing.
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory leads the consortium with three other national laboratories.
- Oak Ridge plans a test bed for wet and dry electrode manufacturing.
- The program targets safety, production costs, charging speed and reliance on scarce materials.