Mark Henley
Boeing
Mark Henley serves as Boeing’s primary interface in evaluating next-generation advanced research and technology development options for Energy business. In 17 years with Boeing, he has managed a wide variety of energy technology programs, supporting DoE, DARPA, and NASA objectives for applications both on Earth and in Space. Mark’s focus in recent years has been on down-to-Earth evaluation of renewable energy systems in utility-scale applications. His earlier work in Space energy technology included applications for the International Space Station, other satellite systems, and future options for use on the moon and even on Mars. His background includes integration of various solar, wind, and nuclear energy systems, as well as energy management, transmission, and energy storage. Before joining Boeing, Mark spent over 10 years at General Dynamics. He attended UCSD for a BA in Physics and Earth Science and an MS in Aerospace Engineering.
Grid-Scale Energy Storage Technology Opportunities
Energy storage will become a significant requirement as we modernize the electrical grid, increasing renewable energy generation, and using more electricity for transportation. The need to store energy on a multi-megawatt scale will grow to accommodate sporadic renewable resources (e.g., wind). Conventional grid-scale energy storage (e.g., pumped hydro) has limited growth potential, opening doors for new technologies. New battery technologies may offer an effective solution, and there is a significant opportunity to integrate the batteries of plug-in hybrid/electric vehicles with the grid, both in storing energy generated at night for transportation in the daytime, and, with bi-directional charging, for vehicles to feed power back to the grid in certain circumstances. Next-generation technologies may also have great value: examples include advances in flywheel energy storage and potentially even plug-in hybrid/electric aircraft (akin to tomorrow’s ground vehicles, but on a larger scale) in the farther future.