Pioneering Energy Storage Research at UC San Diego
UC San Diego has been a leader in energy storage research since the field gained momentum in the early 2010s. As the demand for renewable energy steadily grew, so did the need for advanced storage systems to balance supply and demand. The Energy Storage Group was established to address this challenge, driving innovation and shaping the future of sustainable energy.
The Beginning: Recognizing the Need for Energy Storage
Energy storage emerged as a critical technology for enabling a clean energy transition, especially in places like California that were planning future large-scale deployments of new solar and wind production capacity. Subsequently, UC San Diego, already home to an advanced campus microgrid, saw an opportunity to lead in energy storage research. Under the guidance of Byron Washom, Director of Strategic Energy Initiatives, the University launched early energy storage projects, including a 2011 initiative to repurpose used electric vehicle (EV) batteries for grid applications. Recognizing the potential for large-scale energy storage testing and deployment, UC San Diego formally established the Energy Storage Group in 2012 under the Center for Energy Research (CER).
Expanding Research & Industry Collaboration
2012–2017
The Energy Storage Group was founded with Bill Torre, a 30-year SDG&E veteran and energy storage expert, as its inaugural Director. His leadership helped secure funding from the Department of Energy (DOE) and the California Energy Commission (CEC), accelerating research and industry collaborations.
Key early projects included:
- EV Battery Repurposing – Exploring second-life applications for used electric vehicle batteries.
- Solar + Storage Integration – Partnering with Sanyo and Panasonic to demonstrate solar power storage solutions.
- Ultra-Capacitor Research – Investigating high-performance energy storage with Maxwell Labs.
A major milestone for the Energy Storage Group and the University came in 2015 with the installation of a 2.5 MW / 5 MWh lithium-ion battery system, one of the largest lithium-ion battery energy storage systems in the nation at the time. That same year, the group secured a $5 million ARPA-E CHARGES grant to accelerate energy storage commercialization.
To support this growing research portfolio, UC San Diego developed two key facilities:
- Energy Storage Innovation Facility (ESIF) – A testing site for large-scale storage systems on the east campus.
- Energy Storage Innovation Lab (ESIL) – A main-campus research lab dedicated to battery performance testing and grid integration.
These facilities became core assets in UC San Diego’s energy storage research, enabling technology testing at real-world scales.
New Leadership & Research Expansion
2018-2020
In 2018, Mike Ferry took over as Research Director, bringing 15 years of experience of experience working in the clean energy industry. Mike had previously managed the Clean Vehicle Rebate Project (CVRP), the nation’s largest zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) incentive program, as well as leading research efforts in the battery and stationary energy storage industries. Under his leadership, the Energy Storage Group expanded into new research areas, including:
- Next-Generation Battery Chemistries – Testing alternatives to lithium-ion for improved performance, safety and sustainability.
- EV Battery Repurposing with Cummins – Investigating second-life applications for heavy-duty vehicle batteries.
- Microgrid Upgrades & AI Optimization – Enhancing UC San Diego’s microgrid to improve efficiency and realize cost savings.
In 2020, the Energy Storage Group embarked on major expansions to its testing facilities and laboratories, upgrading equipment, capacity and infrastructure to offer greater flexibility for cutting-edge research.
Driving Innovation in Energy Storage & Carbon Removal (2020–Present)
2020-Present
Today, the Energy Storage Research Group is at the forefront of energy storage, grid integration, and carbon removal research.
Our projects now span:
- Thermal Energy Storage – Demonstrating high-efficiency thermal energy storage solutions for industrial applications.
- Electrification of Heavy-Duty Equipment – Supporting grid integration of electric construction and transport vehicles.
- International Collaborations – Partnering with organizations like IRENA and leading initiatives to share energy storage best practices globally.
- Direct Air Capture (DAC) – Collaborating with industry and academic partners to test and validate CO2 removal technologies.
- Laboratory testing of advanced and pre-commercial sodium and lithium-ion battery chemistries.
- Supporting over 10 unique battery and clean energy technology research projects under the California Energy Commission (CEC) CalTestBed program.
Join Us in Advancing Energy Storage
