ARPA-E has announced up to $30 million in funding for projects as part of a new ARPA-E program: Duration Addition to ElectricitY Storage (DAYS). DAYS project teams will build innovative technologies to enable long-duration energy storage on the power grid, providing reliable electricity for 10 to approximately 100 hours.

Energy storage will play an increasingly critical role in the resilient grid of the future. Storage systems provide important services, including improving grid stability, providing backup power and allowing for greater integration of renewable resources. Today’s dominant storage options have limitations that inhibit their use as long-duration solutions, particularly their high cost.

DAYS teams will develop energy storage systems that are deployable in almost any location and discharge electricity at a per-cycle cost target much lower than what is possible in systems available today.

The funding opportunity is open to a range of storage technology choices, including thermal, mechanical, electrochemical, chemical, and others. Driving the challenge are an aggressive set of cost targets, siting, power output, and duty cycle requirements.

A summary of the DAYS program can be found here. Additional information, including the full FOA, is available on ARPA-E’s online application portal,
ARPA-E Exchange. A mandatory Notice of Intent (NOI) to apply is due by 5 p.m. E.T. on Friday, June 15, 2018 with full applications due Monday, July 2, 2018.

If you are interesting in applying for this funding opportunity, please contact OSRP.