Navigating the Complex Landscape of Energy Storage Permitting

Battery companies can now apply to have their grid-scale energy storage systems independently tested at the Department of Energy’s Grid Storage Launchpad, housed at DOE’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.

To connect to the nation’s electrical grid, an energy storage system must have a capacity of at least 100 kW. These systems are physically large and can cost millions of dollars for battery companies to develop and test. GSL wants to offer a more affordable option for rigorous, independent testing. 

“At GSL, we can test that new battery technologies will be able to perform under the desired grid operations,” said Vince Sprenkle, GSL’s director. “We want to provide space where companies can bring their mature systems to get critical information for operations, and so that utilities can be confident in their performance.”

Applications are open now for companies looking to team up with GSL to test their energy storage systems.

Find out more and apply on PNNL's website.

Testing at GSL

GSL has two testing facilities for batteries—one for systems up to 10 kW/40 kW-hours and one for systems up to 100 kW/400 kW-hours. PNNL has offered testing capabilities to companies for smaller batteries for several years and is now ready to begin testing larger systems. GSL experts can test batteries that use a variety of chemistries, such as lithium-ion, sodium-ion, iron, or lead-acid. 

“In an ideal situation, we’d work with a company as they produce their first larger cell/module below 10 kW/40 kWh range,” Sprenkle said. “Then they could take that data, build a more mature, larger-scale system, and bring it back to GSL for the next level of testing and validation.”

GSL Director

GSL's Director of Operations Adam Jivelekas gives a tour of GSL's battery testing facility. Watch the full video. (Video by Eric Francavilla | Pacific Northwest National Laboratory)

For large battery systems, GSL houses six separate testing bays. If all the bays fill up, “we’d have 2.4 megawatt-hours of batteries running, which is as large as some utilities,” he added.

In the testing bays, batteries are subjected to conditions they might encounter while operating in the real world, Sprenkle said. For example, batteries might be tested for their ability to provide frequency regulation, which helps keep the grid stable. 

“Batteries connected to the grid can be deployed quickly to provide stability in the event of a mechanical failure or sudden rise or drop in electricity demand,” Sprenkle said.

The grid uses alternating current, which means the electrical current travels in two directions at a specific frequency. For the U.S. grid, that frequency must remain at 60 hertz. Disruptions in that frequency can cause equipment failure and blackouts, so batteries could be vital to preventing a sudden loss of electricity. 

Battery systems can also help regulate the grid during times when electricity demand suddenly spikes or dips. For instance, data centers used by AI companies can cause a sudden spike and then drop in electricity demand. With their stored energy, batteries can be quickly engaged to accommodate those spikes and dips. 

The biggest difference between testing smaller, individual batteries and larger battery systems is the scale, Sprenkle said. Larger systems integrate more battery cells and can store more energy, so each one is outfitted with additional components to manage the entire system.

"There is simply no better resource to support innovation and R&D in battery storage than the Grid Storage Launchpad," said Battery Council International's President and Executive Director Roger Miksad. "As a proud supporter and long-term partner of our national labs, BCI has had the privilege to see the GSL's state-of-the-art facilities up close as one of the first research partners.  We have no doubt that the tests conducted there will lead to continued improvements in battery technology, and we look forward to learning about new innovations developed by the private sector in partnership with PNNL."

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory | https://www.pnnl.gov/

Verogy, a West Hartford, Connecticut-based solar energy developer committed to delivering innovative, best-in-class renewable energy solutions, announced the start of a seven-project portfolio of solar installations at Kohl’s stores in four states. The projects, located at Kohl’s stores in California, Delaware, Illinois, and Ohio, will consist in total of more than 9,100 solar panels. Once energized, the projects will generate over 6.6 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) of clean energy annually - enough to power more than 600 homes each year^[1]. In addition, the arrays are projected to offset more than 4,400 metric tons of carbon dioxide (CO₂) annually, the equivalent of removing nearly 1,000 passenger vehicles from the road or eliminating over 11.3 million miles of vehicle travel every year^[2].

Verogy Solar Installation at Kohl's La Quinta, CA Store

The installations mark the latest phase in a growing renewable energy partnership between the two companies, following the successful completion of three rooftop solar systems at Kohl’s stores in Arizona in 2023.

"It has been a privilege to work with Kohl’s over the years,” said Will Herchel, CEO of Verogy. “Following the success of our projects in Arizona, we’re thrilled to continue supporting Kohl’s as they expand their renewable energy footprint across the country. These projects will not only generate substantial clean energy, but they also demonstrate Kohl’s continued commitment to corporate sustainability.”

^[1] https://www.eia.gov/tools/faqs/faq.php?id=97&t=3

² https://www.epa.gov/energy/greenhouse-gas-equivalencies-calculator

Image: Verogy Solar Installation at Kohl's La Quinta, CA Store 

About Verogy

Verogy is a West Hartford, CT-based solar developer focused on commercial, industrial, and small utility scale projects. Built on 100+ years of combined industry experience, Verogy’s professionals have developed, financed, and constructed hundreds of solar projects across the country.  Learn more at www.verogy.com.

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^[1] https://www.eia.gov/tools/faqs/faq.php?id=97&t=3

^[2] https://www.epa.gov/energy/greenhouse-gas-equivalencies-calculator

Lightsource bp and Toyota Motor North America have finalized a virtual power purchase agreement (VPPA) for energy from the 231MW Jones City 2 solar farm, part of the larger Jones City Energy Center, which began construction in spring 2025.

This 15-year, fixed-rate power contract supports Toyota’s renewable energy goals while delivering meaningful economic and workforce benefits to Jones County, Texas.

“Toyota continues to support renewable energy sources while working to improve the lives of people in communities where we work and live,” said Tim Hilgeman, environmental sustainability general manager at Toyota.

“Toyota has a goal to match or source our electricity needs with renewables. Toyota’s virtual power purchase from Jones City alone has the potential to match more than 20 percent of our purchased electricity in North America with renewables.”

“Our commitment to Jones County extends well beyond generating renewable energy,” said Emilie Wangerman, Chief Operating Officer and Head of USA for Lightsource bp.

“With power partners like Toyota, the Jones City Energy Center is driving job creation, workforce training and local investments that will strengthen the business landscape throughout the region. Together, we’re supporting greater economic opportunity to empower families, businesses and the entire community for decades to come.”

Lightsource bp | lightsourcebp.com

Kempower and GET Charged Fast EV Charging are expanding access to reliable charging solutions with the launch of their first electric vehicle (EV) fast-charging station at Glen Oaks Shopping Center in Queens, New York with four more stations nearing completion. The stations, powered by Kempower’s distributed charging systems, are located across Queens and Long Island, N.Y. and will provide faster public charging for the region’s growing number of EV drivers.  

Each location will feature eight state-of-the-art dual Kempower Satellites with NACS/CCS1 connectors to ensure a seamless and reliable charging experience. The sites are strategically located in local shopping centers with grocery stores, restaurants and commonly used small businesses allowing drivers to conveniently plug in and continue with their daily routines while charging.  

“Globally, EV drivers increasingly prefer charging spots with access to a variety of services like the GET Charged retail-centered charging hubs,” said Kempower North America President Monil Malhotra. “We’re pleased to work with GET Charged to provide accessible and convenient solutions for EV drivers across New York.”  

The charging stations include amenities such as free Wi-Fi, flexible payment options, and do not require new apps or memberships to access competitively priced charging.  

“GET Charged is committed to providing fast, safe, and dependable charging infrastructure,” said GET Charged Fast EV Charging Co-Managing Partner Marc Horowitz. “Kempower is the ideal partner for supplying innovative, world-class charging hardware to meet the fast-charging needs of the region and the industry.”  

The five sites will bring 80 charging ports to the region. 

The first charging site, located at Glen Oaks Shopping Center (259-01 Union Turnpike, Glen Oaks, NY 11004) is open and available for public use. Four more sites will open in Whitestone (Queens), Levittown, Elmont, and Commack, in early 2026.   

Kempower | kempower.com  

Get Charged Fast EV Charging | https://www.getcharged-ny.com/

Millennial Potash Corp. (TSXV: MLP) (OTCQB: MLPNF) (FSE: X0D) ("MLP", "Millennial" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has initiated a Definitive Feasibility Study ("DFS") at its Banio Potash Project in Gabon. The Company has engaged ERCOSPLAN Ingenieurgesellschaft Geotechnik und Bergbau mbH ("ERCOSPLAN"), a preeminent global potash specialist consulting company with significant experience in the West African Potash Basin, to complete an AACE Class 3 Definitive Feasibility Study for the Banio Potash Project.

Farhad Abasov, Millennial's Chair, commented, "We are very pleased to have initiated a Definitive Feasibility Study at Banio after completion of our recent Mineral Resource Estimate which yielded Measured + Indicated Mineral Resources totaling 2,453 Billion tonnes grading 16.6% KCl, and Inferred Resource totaling 3,559 Billion tonnes also grading 15.6% KCl. The launch of the feasibility study and recently initiated ESIA mark the transition from the exploration to the development stage. We look forward to working with ERCOSPLAN as we continue to develop the Banio Potash Project in preparation for our Mining License application. The company is fully funded to complete the DFS and all associated trade-off studies in partnership with US International Development Finance Corporation ("DFC") which has committed US $3M to cover the Feasibility Study costs."

Additional details regarding the Mineral Resource Estimate referenced above can be found in the Company's news releases dated December 29, 2025 and November 17, 2025. 

The DFS will evaluate a solution mining operation with a base production scenario of 800,000 Tonnes Per Year (TPY) as well as significantly larger production rates of Muriate of Potash (MOP). Several technical and trade-off studies are currently in progress including dissolution tests, hydrogeological studies, creep tests, cold vs. hot leaching evaluations, port options for the project as well as high purity salt marketing studies. The DFS will run in parallel to the Company's recently announced ESIA as both are expected to be completed in H2 2026 and will be presented to the government of Gabon as part of the Company's application for a Mining License. The Company will continue with further drilling as well. 

The information in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Peter J. MacLean, Ph.D., P. Geo, Director of the Company, who is a Qualified Person as that term is defined in National Instrument 43-101.

Millennial Potash Corp. | https://millennialpotash.com/

In a key milestone for future human spaceflight, Nimbus Power Systems announced the successful completion of shock and vibration tests on Nimbus’ advanced, gravity-independent fuel cell technology. The tests simulated the anticipated mechanical loads, including launch, for NASA’s upcoming Artemis crewed missions to the Moon. The fuel cell met all performance targets throughout the tests, demonstrating the system’s structural and operational readiness for future flight integration.

Fuel cells react oxygen and hydrogen to produce electricity, heat, and potable water, three vital resources for crewed space operations. Nimbus’ innovative water management technology removes product water via a combination of capillary and hydraulic forces that are uncompromised by the space environment. This water management advantage decreases system complexity and offers significant mass savings, resulting in more reliable and affordable space operations.

“These test results reflect the successful collaboration between Blue Origin and Nimbus Power Systems on advanced Polymer Electrolyte Membrane (PEM) fuel cell technology specifically tailored to space applications,” said John Couluris, Senior Vice President of Lunar Permanence at Blue Origin. “We continue to leverage the latest advances in Nimbus’ terrestrial fuel cell technology to accelerate Blue Origin’s in-house fuel cell solutions for in-space and lunar products.”

“This demanding hardware demonstration is the culmination of more than a year of close cooperation between the talented teams at Nimbus and Blue Origin,” said Michael Gorman, CEO of Nimbus Power Systems. “It speaks to the reliability of the underlying technology and our combined attention to product detail. We look forward to supporting Blue Origin’s commercial space objectives by continuing to harmonize space and terrestrial fuel cell supply chains to lower costs and increase reliability for both applications.”

Blue Origin currently licenses Nimbus Power System’s fuel cell technology for its Blue Moon Lunar Lander program and other space applications. NASA will use the Blue Moon lander for its Artemis campaign to safely send astronauts from lunar orbit to the Moon’s surface and back for expeditions on the lunar surface.

Nimbus Power Systems | https://www.nimbuspowersystems.com/

Blue Origin | https://www.blueorigin.com/

GenH2 Corp., a Path2 Hydrogen Company (FRA:PTHH.DE) and leader in liquid hydrogen infrastructure solutions, announced it is a sponsor of Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex’s 3K Space Race, an annual event benefitting United Way of Brevard, taking place Friday, January 16, 2025. This is the fifth year GenH2 has proudly sponsored the community-wide event.

The 3K Space Race will take place at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, Space Commerce Way, Merritt Island, FL. The walk/run guides participants through the historic Rocket Garden featuring nine authentic rockets, the booster stack that graces the entryway to Space Shuttle Atlantis®, and Heroes & Legends featuring the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame.

“We are proud to sponsor Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex’s Space Race for a fifth year and to help support the United Way of Brevard,” said Greg Gosnell, CEO of GenH2 Corp. “The event is an annual favorite for all of our employees and our wonderful Space Coast community.”  

GenH2 recently marked five years of driving critical innovation in clean and sustainable liquid hydrogen energy solutions. The company is celebrating significant milestones, including breakthroughs in research and development, the deployment of a mobile liquefaction system, and the commissioning of the world’s most advanced liquid hydrogen testing and demonstration platform, further advancing the company’s vision for hydrogen infrastructure technology.

The GenH2 global headquarters is located on a 10-acre campus in Titusville, Florida, with support from a financial incentive provided by the North Brevard Economic Development Zone. Leveraging decades of expertise in liquefaction, storage, and transfer, GenH2 has developed solutions based on NASA technology to drive innovation and accelerate the adoption of hydrogen. GenH2 was founded by former NASA researchers and developers, including its Chief Architect, James Fesmire, an inductee of the NASA Inventors Hall of Fame. 

Winners in each category will receive their award from a veteran NASA astronaut. Immediately following the race, there will be an after-race party serving refreshments. Proceeds from the event will benefit the United Way of Brevard.

GenH2 | https://genh2.com/