Developing technology used to store electrical energy and meet demand when needed represents a breakthrough in electricity distribution. For more than a decade, Vince Sprenkle has been at the forefront of this effort.

Sprenkle, a recognized leader in electrochemical energy conversion and storage, serves as the director of the Grid Storage Launchpad, a national research and development facility of the Department of Energy (DOE)-Office of Electricity (OE) at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL). In this role, Sprenkle provides leadership and guidance for PNNL’s research and development activities in support of OE’s energy storage program.

Sprenkle and the PNNL team are advancing the next generation of storage solutions that will strengthen the country’s global competitiveness and make energy more affordable, abundant, and secure. The Grid Storage Launchpad will be instrumental in helping the DOE meet the nation’s long-term energy storage needs and serve as an innovation and testing facility to accelerate development, validation, and commercial readiness of next- generation grid storage technologies for the power grid.

Sprenkle holds 32 patents for his work on fuel cells, batteries, and electrochemical devices, with 17 pending patent applications. He was named the Distinguished Inventor of Battelle in 2017 and PNNL Inventor of the Year in 2014. In addition, he currently serves as director of DOE-OE’s Rapid Operational Validation Initiative.

Sprenkle received his undergraduate and doctoral degrees in ceramic engineering from the Missouri University of Science and Technology.