LLNL’s energy scale-up brainstorming event focused on accelerating pilot-ready technologies

Solving tomorrow’s challenges in energy security requires scientists to develop new pathways to streamline innovation. To help achieve this goal, the Global Security Directorate at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) recently hosted an “Energy Scale-up Brainstorming Day.”

More than 60 researchers across a broad range of expertise gathered to engage in interactive, open discussions on new ideas to accelerate energy expansion. The aim of the event was for attendees to take away ideas that could lead to proposals, new projects, sponsor engagement or longer-term roadmaps for needed capabilities.

The event focused on how the demand on the U.S. energy system is rising due to AI‑driven data centers, manufacturing reshoring and electrification. At the same time, reliance on foreign supply chains for critical materials elevates risk to national security and economic competitiveness. LLNL researchers are helping to shape an integrated scale‑up approach to help close this gap. Leveraging its scientific, engineering, computing and manufacturing expertise, event organizers highlighted that the Lab is positioned to develop methods to deliver new technologies on an expedited timeline.

Sessions at the event centered on science and technology and capability development projects in chemical and materials manufacturing processes, process design, energy-storage solutions and energy infrastructure components. Researchers were encouraged by an expert panel to look beyond the conventional pilot demonstration approach and ask what the critical risks to scaling a technology are and how supply chain considerations can be factored in early.

“Our goal is to develop approaches to scaling laboratory technology that’s really unique, and prepares us for partnership with industry,” said Sarah Baker, group leader for Materials for Energy and Climate Security.

Attendees were encouraged to partner with the LLNL Innovation and Partnerships Office (IPO) to move ideas generated during the event toward deployment. IPO plays an important role in helping researchers identify transition pathways, engage external partners and facilitate agreements needed to move technologies beyond the Lab. Successful scale-up of energy technology will depend on strong partnerships, particularly with industry.

Concepts and insights from the discussions can also inform future research proposals, capability development efforts and strategic roadmaps, as well as engagement with sponsors and industry partners.