Field Testing of Energy Storage System Validates Grid Control Strategies
US energy startup Viridi has collaborated with the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) to install a containerized lithium-ion battery energy storage system (BESS) at ORNL’s Grid Research Innovation and Development Center (GRID-C) in Tennessee. The field test, part of the Department of Energy’s resource integration and evaluation project, aims to validate ORNL’s multi-battery coordination control strategies using physical equipment, enhancing the contribution of distributed energy resources (DERs) to grid resilience.
ORNL Grid Program Manager Dr. Madhu Sudhan Chinthavali stated that the project integrates real electrical equipment into a simulated environment to assess the practical performance of ORNL’s new control strategies and AC/DC architecture. He emphasized that the initiative helps understand real-world operational challenges and validates the robustness of the control strategies. The test results will serve as a foundation for optimizing subsequent simulation models.
In September 2025, Viridi was selected to participate in the Accelerating Resilient Infrastructure Initiative (ARII), led by Schneider Electric and focused on community-based distributed energy resources. The initiative includes approximately 20 participants, and Viridi’s involvement marks a new phase in its collaboration with ORNL. Additionally, in June 2026, Viridi partnered with energy-as-a-service startup Budderfly to install battery systems at 100 commercial locations across the US, reducing energy waste and improving demand-side resilience through energy management.
General Motors Adopts Smart Transformer Technology
General Motors (GM) recently deployed the Hybrid Intelligent Transformer (HIT), developed by UK startup IONATE, at its factory in Romulus, Michigan. This marks the first application of HIT technology in the US. The system monitors power quality and consumption with sub-millisecond resolution, enhancing the resilience and efficiency of the factory’s energy use while helping the surrounding grid prevent power surges or outages.
GM stated that HIT technology can increase the integration of distributed energy resources by 33% and boost power capacity by 25% on existing infrastructure without the need for upgrades to transmission lines. IONATE has a track record of successful applications in Europe, and the deployment at the Romulus factory is expected to expand its influence in the US market. GM emphasized that the adoption of HIT not only optimizes internal energy management but also promotes the broader adoption of distributed energy resources.
Despite ongoing upgrades at the Romulus factory to increase internal combustion vehicle production, the application of HIT demonstrates GM’s continued investment in next-generation energy solutions. Energy management company Mobility House noted that as EV owners become more aware of the financial incentives for participating in grid-balancing programs, demand for vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology is gradually growing. Electric vehicles, as mobile energy storage units, play a key role in the virtual power plant (VPP) sector by coordinating energy storage devices through software, reducing reliance on traditional gas-fired peak power plants.
Energy Policy Shift Influences Grid Development
Since President Donald Trump declared an energy emergency in January 2025, the natural gas industry’s contribution to new power generation on the US grid has been minimal. The Department of Energy continues to support the development of energy storage technologies, with wind and solar energy as primary targets, using storage to address the intermittency of renewable energy. The collaboration between Viridi and ORNL, along with GM’s adoption of HIT, reflects progress in the modernization and integration of distributed energy resources in the US grid.
Recently, GM showcased several electric vehicles, including the Cadillac Escalade IQ and GMC Hummer EV, at its Milford Proving Ground in Michigan. President Trump visited the proving ground earlier this week, further highlighting the role of electric vehicles in the US energy transition. As distributed energy technologies advance, grid resilience and energy management efficiency will continue to improve, laying the foundation for the large-scale integration of renewable energy.
