On a larger scale, two new flow battery units at INL’s microgrid test bed now allow researchers to study the ability to stabilize renewable energy within microgrids and to integrate with the larger-scale grid. Two zinc-iron flow batteries from ViZn Energy Systems are capable of generating 128 kilowatts at full power for 2.5 hours. The data collected from real-world conditions at INL will allow researchers to model and demonstrate energy use and storage scenarios. Capabilities GROWING Improving energy storage INL’s Nondestructive Battery Evaluation Laboratory (NOBEL) enables researchers to study in detail how batteries perform in aggressive environments. This state-of-the-art laboratory allows researchers to push energy storage devices to levels of stress short of catastrophic failure and gather information about their long-term performance prospects. The capability could, for example, help engineers understand how electric vehicle batteries are affected by rough roads or extreme temperatures. INL researchers in the Nondestructive Battery Evaluation Laboratory (left) and operating flow batteries at INL’s microgrid test bed (above). 14