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Content editor: Bảo Hiền

The U.S. Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) has completed field testing of a battery energy storage system (BESS) connected to a live electrical grid, marking a significant step toward validating next-generation grid control strategies and advanced AC/DC power conversion technologies under real-world operating conditions.

Unlike conventional laboratory experiments that rely on simulated power sources, the project connected an actual battery storage system directly to the grid. According to ORNL, the live-grid environment enables researchers to identify operational challenges that only emerge when physical power equipment interacts during real charging and discharging cycles.

The research supports ORNL's ongoing development of a Distributed Energy Resource Management System (DERMS), a platform designed to coordinate distributed energy resources such as rooftop solar panels, electric vehicle charging stations, and battery storage systems. By aggregating and managing these distributed assets, DERMS can help balance electricity supply and demand during peak periods while improving grid resilience.

Since 2024, ORNL has partnered with New York-based battery manufacturer Viridi to accelerate research on grid modernization. As part of the collaboration, Viridi installed its RPS 150 battery energy storage system at ORNL's Grid Research Innovation and Development Center (GRID-C) in Knoxville, Tennessee, where researchers evaluate emerging technologies for future power systems.

The RPS 150 is a lithium-ion battery energy storage system with a rated energy capacity of 146.7 kWh, including approximately 132 kWh of usable capacity, and a maximum continuous charge/discharge power of 30 kW. The system consists of three RPS 50 battery units using cylindrical nickel-manganese-cobalt (NMC) cells supplied by LG and Panasonic. It supports three-phase AC connections and incorporates a Battery Management System (BMS) that continuously monitors battery temperature and operating conditions in real time.

According to Viridi, the system complies with major UL safety standards for battery energy storage systems and incorporates proprietary cell-level thermal propagation prevention technology to reduce the risk of thermal runaway spreading between battery cells. This safety-focused design allows the system to be deployed in densely populated buildings and other facilities with stringent fire safety requirements. For larger applications, up to 16 RPS 150 units can be connected in parallel, providing a combined output of 480 kW and approximately 2.4 MWh of energy storage capacity.

During the field trial, the battery system was integrated with an AC/DC converter developed by ORNL to evaluate the performance of the laboratory's advanced grid control architecture under real operating conditions. According to the research team, testing on a live grid provides valuable insights into practical engineering challenges that cannot be fully replicated through laboratory simulations, helping refine the technology before large-scale deployment.

As distributed energy resources continue to expand and electricity demand grows, the ability to coordinate battery storage and other distributed assets is increasingly viewed as a key capability for future power systems, particularly those with a high share of renewable energy.

ORNL said the field validation phase has now concluded, and the laboratory expects to publish the complete research findings in the coming months. The project also marks the beginning of a broader long-term collaboration between ORNL and Viridi focused on improving grid resilience, supporting microgrid development, and advancing the modernization of power infrastructure.

Reference:
1. Eric Moody, "Oak Ridge National Lab, Viridi Taking Battery Storage Collaboration Live to the Grid," Energy Tech, 28/7/2026.
2. Ryan Kennedy, "US national lab deploys Viridi battery for grid control research," ESS News, 29/7/2026. 
3. Maria Guerra, "How Battery Validation is Shaping the Future Grid," Battery Technology Online / Informa Markets, 28/7/2026.