Kentucky to expand advanced battery research


Substation Relay Protection Training

Our customized live online or in‑person group training can be delivered to your staff at your location.

  • Live Online
  • 12 hours Instructor-led
  • Group Training Available
Regular Price:
$699
Coupon Price:
$599
Reserve Your Seat Today
Laboratories proposed for the University of Kentucky Center for Applied Energy Research will be used for developing batteries to power next-generation automobiles, Gov. Steve Beshear said.

Beshear announced that the university has received $11.8 million in federal stimulus money from the National Institute of Standards and Technology for a nearly 36,000 square foot laboratory building at the Spindletop research site in Lexington.

The Kentucky-Argonne National Battery Manufacturing Research and Development Center, a joint venture involving researchers from the University of Kentucky and the University of Louisville, would use the laboratories for research.

The overall cost of the construction project would be $15.8 million, with the state kicking in $3 million in stimulus funding and the university $1 million.

University of Kentucky President Lee T. Todd Jr. said construction is expected to be completed in late 2011.

Beshear said the project is especially important for Kentucky, the nation's third leading producer of cars and light trucks, to try to position itself for the development and production of plug-in vehicles.

Kentucky researchers will focus particularly on improving lithium-ion batteries.

"Lithium-ion cells need a longer life span," Beshear said. "They need a longer charge life. They need to be smaller. They need to be cheaper. But, most of all, they need to be produced more efficiently."

The scientists will also be doing research in Lexington on capacitors for storing energy, biofuels productions, solar energy technologies, and clean-coal technology.

Beshear said producing clean-burning fuels from coal is especially important in Kentucky, where some 17,000 people work in the coal mining industry. He has been a leading proponent of coal production despite criticism from environmentalists.

"The renewable resources that we're working on and the coal that we have will both play a big party in Kentucky's future and this country's future," Beshear said.

Related News

Wind Denmark - Danish electricity generation sets a new green record

Denmark 2019 electricity CO2 intensity shows record-low emissions as renewable energy surges, wind power dominates,…
View more

Powering Towards Net Zero: The UK Grid's Transformation Challenge

UK Electricity Grid Investment underpins net zero, reinforcing transmission and distribution networks to integrate wind,…
View more

Hydro-Quebec won't ask for rate hike next year

Hydro-Quebec Rate Freeze maintains current electricity rates, aligned with Bill 34, inflation indexing, and energy…
View more

New Hampshire rejects Quebec-Massachusetts transmission proposal

Northern Pass Project faces rejection by New Hampshire regulators, halting Hydro-Quebec clean energy transmission lines…
View more

Nissan accepting electricity from EVs as payment for parking

Nissan V2G Parking lets EV drivers pay with electricity via bidirectional charging at the Yokohama…
View more

Brenmiller Energy and New York Power Authority Showcase Thermal Storage Success

bGen Thermal Energy Storage stores high-temperature heat in crushed rocks, enabling on-demand steam, hot water,…
View more

Sign Up for Electricity Forum’s Newsletter

Stay informed with our FREE Newsletter — get the latest news, breakthrough technologies, and expert insights, delivered straight to your inbox.

Electricity Today T&D Magazine Subscribe for FREE

Stay informed with the latest T&D policies and technologies.
  • Timely insights from industry experts
  • Practical solutions T&D engineers
  • Free access to every issue

Live Online & In-person Group Training

Advantages To Instructor-Led Training – Instructor-Led Course, Customized Training, Multiple Locations, Economical, CEU Credits, Course Discounts.

Request For Quotation

Whether you would prefer Live Online or In-Person instruction, our electrical training courses can be tailored to meet your company's specific requirements and delivered to your employees in one location or at various locations.