The Battery Innovation Center (BIC), launched by Energy Systems Network, opened its doors at the Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) Crane making Indiana a “hub” for advanced battery testing and development.
The BIC will leverage Indiana’s public and private sector assets in advanced battery technologies to create a center of excellence that will meet the research and development, rapid prototyping and contract manufacturing needs of industry, academic and military customers.
After receiving $15.6 million in economic development bonds from the Greene County Council, construction began on the 32,000 square foot facility last August.
The BIC will begin work with 12 corporate and academic members: AeroVironment, Concurrent Technologies Corporation (CTC), EaglePicher, Eaton Corporation, Ivy Tech Community College, MEGTEC, Penn State University, Purdue University, Renewz, Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC), Stimulus Engineering, and Technical Services Corporation (TSC).
In addition, the BIC has significant government partners including NSWC Crane and Argonne National Lab, with which the BIC is a critical affiliate of its Lead Joint Center for Energy Storage Research (JCESR).
The BIC is already beginning several research projects:
– A Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) project with partner NSWC Crane focused on the development and prototyping of next generation Lithium-ion cell designs.
– NSWC Crane and AeroVironment have developed a CRADA project with the BIC designed to develop and demonstrate a large grid array battery test and evaluation capability that will be used for evaluation of future microgrid technologies.
– The BIC, in its role as a Department of Commerce Economic Development Agency Proof of Concept Center for Energy Storage Technologies, will be issuing a Request for Proposals in September from the energy industry across the country to find the best techno-economic developmental “disruptive technology” products for rapid commercialization using the support of the BIC lab.
