$37M For New Energy Storage Research Institute

Israel will invest approximately NIS 130 million (nearly $37 million) in establishing a national research institute for energy storage. Its aim aligns with the country’s goal to reach an economy free of greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. 

The new institute will train future experts in the field of innovative and renewable energies and help them transfer from academia to industry.

It will research areas including: creating metal-air based batteries (like iron and zinc) that have a higher energy density, novel cables with increased ability to convey electrical energy and very high power density, and sodium-ion batteries that will be cheaper and more available than lithium-ion batteries.

The Ministry of Energy will invest NIS 100 million ($28 million) over the course of five years. Bar-Ilan University and the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology have pledged to invest an additional NIS 30 million ($8.5 million).

Energy storage is crucial for the transition of the economy to clean energy, as it will allow for a greater integration of renewable energy onto the grid – which is currently only available during part of the day. 

“The field of large-scale energy storage is one of the most important challenges for the strong integration of renewable energies,” said Dr. Gideon Friedman, Chief Scientist at the Ministry of Energy.

“The new energy institute will enable Israel to become a leader in the field, in continuation of the Ministry’s additional efforts in the field of storage.

“For the first time, an institute is being established that will be led by a steering committee comprised of a combination of members of academia, industry and government.”

Bar-Ilan University President Prof. Arie Zaban, an expert in renewable energy, said: “The transition to the use of renewable energy with significant storage capacity is a key component in dealing with the climate crisis.

“At the same time, it will bring the State of Israel energy independence and security. I thank the Ministry of Energy for its significant trust in the research teams and for this special cooperation between the Technion and Bar-Ilan University.”