During the last week of September 2018, five members of the NEST Network travelled to the United States in order to learn about energy storage research activities going on ‘south of the border’ and to identify areas for potential future cooperation. This trip was a key part of the Network’s broader internationalization strategy.
Left to right: Dr. Lukas Swan, Dr. Bala Venkatesh, Dr. Imre Gyuk, Ms. Karen Ho-Cespedes, Mr. Chris White, Dr. Ian Rowlands
Every year, leading energy storage researchers in the United States gather to report on the progress of projects supported by the Department of Energy. This year’s event was held in Santa Fe, New Mexico, and brought together scientists from nearby Sandia National Laboratory, as well as Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and a number of universities and other organizations. Panels focused on a range of energy storage topics – including materials, systems, and economics. More than 100 researchers spent two-and-a-half days presenting, discussing, and planning.
Canadian delegations members represented the breadth of the NEST Network’s activities. Participants were:
- Dr. Bala Venkatesh, Ryerson University – Network Director; Project 1.5 Leader – Hybrid Energy Storage System Designs; Project 1.6 Leader – Design of Pole-top Energy Storage; Project 3.2 Leader -- Optimal Planning of Energy Storage in Distributed Systems Considering the Feeder Investment Model; Project 3.7 Leader – Capacity Markets for Energy Storage: Design and Implementation
- Dr. Ian Rowlands, University of Waterloo – Network Internationalization Leader; Project 4.6 Leader – Social Acceptance of Energy Storage Systems
- Dr. Lukas Swan, Dalhousie University – Project 2.5 Leader – Control Systems for Second-Life Batteries for Grid-Scale Energy Storage
- Mr. Chris White, Dalhousie University – Project 2.5 PhD student – Control Systems for Second-Life Batteries for Grid-Scale Energy Storage
- Ms. Karen Ho-Cespedes, Ryerson University – Network Manager
‘Energy Storage and the Modern Grid: Methods, Materials, and Metrics’, Peer Review 2018, Santa Fe, NM.
The US hosts – led by Dr. Imre Gyuk – welcomed the Canadians warmly, and the visitors were fully engaged in proceedings. In addition to receiving valuable insights delivered during presentations and having the opportunity to pursue possibilities during various networking opportunities, the Canadian delegation also toured Santa Fe Community College’s microgrid and associated technologies. Additionally, Sandia National Laboratory hosted the delegation for a half-day to visit laboratories and to have further discussions.
Follow-up to this highly-successful trip is already underway. Delegation members are not only continuing conversations they began in New Mexico, but they are also reaching out to relevant Network colleagues to gauge their interest in following up on particular leads. This all bodes well for future work together between Canadian and US researchers.
Sandia National Laboratory, National Solar Thermal Test Facility