DEAR0001893
Cooperative Agreement
Overview
Grant Description
Wright Electric Inc.: new Propel-1K SBIR award.
Control number: 3163-1519
Project title: Modular aluminum-air flow battery system
Control number: 3163-1519
Project title: Modular aluminum-air flow battery system
Awardee
Funding Goals
ELECTRIFICATION OF THE TRANSPORTATION SECTOR IS AN AMBITIOUS VISION AND AN ESSENTIAL STRATEGY TOWARD ACHIEVING NET ZERO CARBON EMISSIONS BY 2050. ONE THING IS CERTAIN â A MULTITUDE OF TECHNOLOGIES AND STRATEGIES WILL BE REQUIRED TO ACHIEVE THESE AMBITIOUS GOALS. BATTERIES AND FUEL CELLS REPRESENT POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS; HOWEVER, FOR HEAVY-DUTY VEHICLES, VESSELS AND AIRCRAFT, THE MAXIMUM ACHIEVABLE ENERGY DENSITY (BY MASS AND BY VOLUME) FOR BOTH EXISTING AND ANTICIPATED NEXT-GENERATION ELECTROCHEMICAL ENERGY STORAGE TECHNOLOGIES IS IMPRACTICALLY TOO LOW.
IN RESPONSE, THE PIONEERING RAILROAD, OCEANIC, AND PLANE ELECTRIFICATION WITH 1K ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEMS (PROPEL-1K) PROGRAM WILL SUPPORT THE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT OF ALTERNATIVE APPROACHES TO ENERGY STORAGE TO ULTIMATELY ACHIEVE A > 4X IMPROVEMENT COMPARED TO EXISTING STATE-OF-THE-ART OPTIONS. THE TECHNICAL SCOPE ENCOMPASSES ELECTROCHEMICAL AND/OR CHEMICAL SOLUTIONS THAT DO NOT REQUIRE HYDROCARBON-BASED FUELS (FOSSIL OR SYNTHETIC). THE TARGETS FOR THESE ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEM SOLUTIONS ARE 1000 WATT-HOUR PER KILOGRAM (WH/KG) AND 1000 WATT-HOUR PER LITER (WH/L) (SO-CALLED â1Kâ TECHNOLOGIES) AT THE END OF LIFE AND AT THE NET ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEM LEVEL. OF PARTICULAR INTEREST ARE TECHNOLOGIES THAT ARE NOT MERE EXTENSIONS OF CURRENT MAINSTREAM ELECTROCHEMICAL DEVICE THINKING OR SHORT-TERM TECHNOLOGY ROAD MAPS. THE PRIMARY PROGRAM OBJECTIVE IS TO DEVELOP EXCEPTIONALLY HIGH-ENERGY STORAGE SOLUTIONS, CAPABLE OF CATALYZING BROAD ELECTRIFICATION OF THE AVIATION, RAILROAD, AND MARITIME TRANSPORTATION SECTORS.
Grant Program (CFDA)
Awarding / Funding Agency
Place of Performance
Malta,
New York
United States
Geographic Scope
City-Wide
Related Opportunity
Analysis Notes
Amendment Since initial award the End Date has been shortened from 07/08/28 to 01/08/26.
Wright Electric was awarded
Cooperative Agreement DEAR0001893
worth $1,499,098
from Advanced Research Projects Agency - Energy in July 2024 with work to be completed primarily in Malta New York United States.
The grant
has a duration of 1 year 6 months and
was awarded through assistance program 81.135 Advanced Research Projects Agency - Energy.
The Cooperative Agreement was awarded through grant opportunity Pioneering Railroad, Oceanic, and Plane Electrification with 1K Energy Storage Systems (PROPEL-1K).
SBIR Details
Research Type
SBIR Phase II
Title
MODULAR ALUMINUM-AIR FLOW BATTERY SYSTEM
Abstract
Wright Electric and Columbia University are developing an aluminum-air flow battery that has swappable aluminum anodes that allow for mechanical recharging. Aluminum air chemistry can achieve high energy density but historically has encountered issues with rechargeability and clogging from reaction products. To overcome these barriers, Wright Electric uses a 3D design instead of a 2D planar chemistry to improve the contact between anode and cathode. The system also circulates the electrolyte, preventing the accumulation of reaction products within the cell structure to remedy limitations of static aluminum-air batteries.
Topic Code
DE-FOA-0003163
Solicitation Number
DE-FOA-0003163
Status
(Ongoing)
Last Modified 4/21/25
Period of Performance
7/9/24
Start Date
1/8/26
End Date
Funding Split
$1.5M
Federal Obligation
$0.0
Non-Federal Obligation
$1.5M
Total Obligated
Activity Timeline
Transaction History
Modifications to DEAR0001893
Additional Detail
Award ID FAIN
DEAR0001893
SAI Number
None
Award ID URI
SAI EXEMPT
Awardee Classifications
Small Business
Awarding Office
897030 ADVANCED RSRCH PROJ AGENCY ARPA-E
Funding Office
897002 ADVANCED RSRCH PROJ AGENCY ARPA-E
Awardee UEI
Y4X2K8BLLBW5
Awardee CAGE
86JN0
Performance District
NY-20
Senators
Kirsten Gillibrand
Charles Schumer
Charles Schumer
Modified: 4/21/25