Jan 02, 2026
3 min read
The first phase of testing with the Invinity battery was to see if it would adjust its frequency to maintain grid stability at the required 60Hz level.
Artificial intelligence is undoubtedly one of the most disruptive technologies in history.Since the launch of ChatGpt in late 2022, more people in the world are using it because of its versatility, from writing emails or very detailed documents to programming, data analysis, images and ultra-realistic videos (you can't believe anything on the Internet) or to be in "various fields like health, mental health".
A few months ago, OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, announced that more than 700 million users use its invention. This number can increase significantly, and some experts estimate that it can reach a billion before the end of 2025. To this number we must add the proposals of other giants in the sector, such as Gemini from Google, Copilot from Microsoft, Meta AI from Meta, Grok from xAIor Claude from Anthropic. Adding it all up, it's likely that more than a billion people, in one way or another, use artificial intelligence.
However, apart from offering certain advantages, this technology also carries risks and problems.On the one hand, there are massive layoffs in large companies that prefer automation over human staff.Second, the rapid growth rate of artificial intelligence may lead to a shortage of electrical energy in the future.And not in a few decades, but in a few years.Therefore, it is necessary to strengthen this network with high-capacity batteries.
The United States Department of Energy's (DOE's) Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) is dedicated to fundamental and applied science research and development to solve complex problems in energy, the environment, and national security, highlighting chemistry, data, and earth science projects to create innovations in energy efficiency, among others.To do this, it uses technologies such as artificial intelligence to accelerate scientific discoveries.
One of the Department of Energy's largest facilities at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in Washington, D.C. is the Grid Storage Launchpad (GSL), which is dedicated to accelerating innovation in energy storage technologies to make the electric grid stronger, cleaner and more resilient.In cooperation with researchers of various universities, the next generation of scientists and engineers is being trained in energy saving.
PNNL has begun the first tests of the advanced commercial batteries of the new GSL, kicking off rigorous testing six years ago.This important point is a before and after, because it increases the limit of the previous limit from less than 10 kW to a new capacity of 100 kW.This tenfold increase allows scientists to implement the technology with the strict controls and measurements required for today's electric grid.
PNNL, in a press release, said "at GSL, researchers can test and validate batteries up to 100 kilowatts, allowing them to understand how grid batteries can contribute to a reliable, affordable and secure electricity grid."Inaugural testing of vanadium flow into a battery developed by Invinitate Energy Systems.
Vanadium flow batteries use vanadium ions (a key metal chemical element in the production of high-strength steel) dissolved in liquid instead of solid materials to store and release electrical energy and store energy in large external reservoirs that flow into a central cell for charging or discharging, allowing power and capacity to increase independently and offer a long-term and safe solution.
A primary objective of the verification is the ability to control the frequency of the Invincible Energy System batteries, ensuring that the grid's alternating current remains stable at the required 60 Hz.Disruptions to that frequency can cause equipment failures and blackouts, so having batteries able to deliver power quickly can be critical to preventing sudden power outages for customers.
The system offered by Invinity is quite different from traditional batteries.Its flow battery uses liquid electrolytes stored in separate tanks to charge and release energy.This design allows developers to easily scale the size of the battery simply by increasing the size of the tank.In addition to frequency regulation, the system is also tested for "peak saving";Ability to inject energy during windows of high demand.
Matt Harper, President of Invincities Energy Systems, said, “We are excited to partner with the PNNL and GSL teams on their renewable energy projects.
