The Grid Storage Launchpad is a $75 million national grid energy storage research and development facility on the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory’s Richland campus. 

The 93,000-square-foot research facility at 3370 Stevens Drive will accelerate the development of energy storage for the nation’s electrical grid and transportation sector.

GSL will be home to all of PNNL’s energy storage researchers, from those developing new battery chemistries to those testing next-generation technologies under real-world conditions.

Advanced energy storage technologies are needed to meet the nation’s clean-energy goals, provide a more resilient grid and electrify transportation. 

GSL enables researchers to accelerate and validate new battery materials and systems. As a DOE research and development facility, GSL will enable collaboration with research institutions and industry partners to address technical challenges associated with energy storage technologies, including advancements to improve performance and reduce cost.

The building will house 30 laboratories and about 100 researchers. In addition to federal funding for the design and construction of GSL, funding from Battelle, PNNL and the state of Washington was leveraged for this project. This includes funding from the Washington State Department of Commerce for advanced research equipment and specialized instrumentation. 

The facility was dedicated on Aug. 13.