A new energy storage research facility has been launched at the engineering campus of Southern Research in Birmingham, Ala.
The research and development (R&D) center is focused on the development and deployment of next-generation energy storage technologies. The project is a collaboration between Southern Co., Alabama Power, Southern Research, the Electric Power Research Institute, the U.S. Department of Energy, Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the State of Alabama.
“As an R&D leader, Southern Co. continues to advance technologies that can help us better meet customers’ needs in the rapidly evolving energy landscape,” said Southern Co.’s R&D director, Roxann Walsh, during a ribbon-cutting ceremony. “The Energy Storage Research Center will broaden our work with stakeholders and technology developers to better understand energy storage systems and how to fully use this technology to build the future of energy.”
The facility will offer a resource for the industry to test and develop energy storage technologies needed to better integrate renewable energy into the power grid, as well as improve reliability and resiliency.
The center will initially evaluate a flow battery system developed by Avalon Battery.
“We will need newer, better, more cost-effective energy storage in a low-carbon future, and R&D efforts like the Energy Storage Research Center will help bring these cutting-edge technologies to full deployment,” added Walsh.
