Berkeley Lab Leads Three DOE-Funded Projects to Boost U.S. Industrial Competitiveness
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) has been selected to lead three projects under a $155 million Department of Energy (DOE) investment aimed at enhancing American industrial innovation and productivity. Announced on March 12, 2026, these initiatives focus on load flexibility, data center cooling, and food processing efficiency. The Resource-secure Energy Flexibility (REFLEX) project aims to harness industrial load flexibility to stabilize the electric grid and reduce operational costs. The Data Center Cooling Collaborative will establish a testbed network to advance cooling technologies, addressing the surging energy demands of AI and modern computing. Additionally, the Food & Beverage Operational Optimization and Deployment (FOOD) Center seeks to catalyze innovation across the food value chain, from agriculture to waste management. These projects are designed to strengthen onshoring, build a secure industrial sector, and drive technological adoption. By leveraging Berkeley Lab’s expertise in demand flexibility and energy research, the initiatives aim to lower costs for consumers and increase prosperity for American workers while ensuring the U.S. remains competitive in critical industries.
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Berkeley Lab Leads Three DOE-Funded Projects to Boost U.S. Industrial Competitiveness
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) has been selected to lead three projects under a $155 million Department of Energy (DOE) investment aimed at enhancing American industrial innovation and productivity. Announced on March 12, 2026, these initiatives focus on load flexibility, data center cooling, and food processing efficiency. The Resource-secure Energy Flexibility (REFLEX) project aims to harness industrial load flexibility to stabilize the electric grid and reduce operational costs. The Data Center Cooling Collaborative will establish a testbed network to advance cooling technologies, addressing the surging energy demands of AI and modern computing. Additionally, the Food & Beverage Operational Optimization and Deployment (FOOD) Center seeks to catalyze innovation across the food value chain, from agriculture to waste management. These projects are designed to strengthen onshoring, build a secure industrial sector, and drive technological adoption. By leveraging Berkeley Lab’s expertise in demand flexibility and energy research, the initiatives aim to lower costs for consumers and increase prosperity for American workers while ensuring the U.S. remains competitive in critical industries.
Berkeley Lab News Center