Chicago startup Blip Energy is collaborating with the National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR) through the Wells Fargo Innovation Incubator (IN2) to advance its smart home battery system, blipOne. With $200,000 in nondilutive funding for technical assistance, the partnership aims to validate the unit’s potential to cut electric bills by up to $300 annually per household while strengthening grid reliability.
In the quest to stabilize an overburdened electrical grid, a solution the size of a carry-on suitcase is making a big entrance. Chicago startup Blip Energy is working with researchers at the National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR) to rigorously test and scale its plug-and-play smart battery, blipOne. The collaboration, part of the Wells Fargo Innovation Incubator (IN2), seeks to transform how homes and buildings manage energy, turning everyday appliances into a decentralized tool for grid support.
At the heart of the project is blipOne, a compact, self-install battery that plugs into a standard wall outlet behind high-load appliances like air conditioners or refrigerators. Its mission is simple yet powerful: charge when electricity is cheap and automatically discharge during expensive peak hours. “Blip units charge when electricity is cheapest and automatically discharge during peak hours—typically in the early evening—helping users save money while easing strain on the grid,” explained Chance Cobb, cofounder and CEO of Blip Energy.
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But can a single small battery make a meaningful difference? This is where NLR’s deep expertise comes in. Ravi Kishore, a mechanical engineer on NLR’s building technologies team, is leading a techno-economic analysis to answer that very question. The lab is modeling how fleets of blipOne units perform across different building types, climates, and utility rate structures. The goal is to move beyond the single-family home and prove value at scale. “If you combine multiple rooms, the overall impact is much more significant than one single-family home,” Kishore noted, highlighting the potential in commercial buildings and multi-family apartments where demand patterns are more predictable.
The implications for grid reliability are significant. As energy demand outpaces infrastructure expansion, utilities are increasingly turning to demand-side solutions. A distributed network of blipOne batteries could act as a virtual power plant, reducing peak demand and delaying the need for costly new power plants or grid upgrades. This is especially crucial in older buildings and dense urban areas that are difficult and expensive to retrofit.
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For Blip Energy, the partnership with NLR provides more than just modeling—it offers critical third-party validation as the company prepares for UL certification and commercial launch. “The laboratory is a highly respected thought leader in the energy space,” Cobb said, acknowledging that NLR’s unbiased analysis brings “tremendous credibility” to their work. This credibility is vital for attracting follow-on investment and partnerships with utilities and building owners.
The Wells Fargo Innovation Incubator (IN2), now in its 14th cohort, is designed to bridge the gap between clean energy innovation and the market. By connecting startups like Blip with national lab resources, it de-risks technology development. The program has a strong track record, with companies typically leveraging every $1 of IN2 funding into over $121 in subsequent capital.
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As extreme weather and rising electrification strain the grid, flexible, behind-the-meter solutions are becoming essential. The collaboration between Blip Energy and NLR represents a practical path forward—one where saving on your electricity bill also contributes to a more resilient and efficient energy system for everyone.
