ESS Tech, Inc., one of the major companies providing sustainable energy storage solutions (LDES), has announced that it has signed an agreement letter for partnering with Alsym Energy, which has been at the forefront of manufacturing nonflammable and advanced sodium-ion batteries, for an additional capacity of 8.5 GWh of sodium-ion cells and modules.
The collaboration between ESS Tech and Alsym Energy the marks a significant step toward enhancing Bnon-lithium batteries adoption across emerging economies. This new generation battery system is aimed at solving application problems that have always been handled using the lithium-ion technology and the situations where lithium-based batteries cannot be applied, all the while eliminating the possibility of thermal run-away.
The deal represents the first time that ESS will offer its products in the medium and short-term BESS (Battery Energy Storage System) category, which has traditionally been led by lithium-ion batteries. This deal significantly increases the Company’s addressable market by moving from its current long-duration storage products. The use of Alsym sodium-ion batteries reduces the risks of thermal runaways while lowering costs. Moreover, the product does not need any sophisticated HVAC installations, is highly efficient, and provides fast charging and discharging services.
“Sodium-ion and iron flow are complementary technologies,” said Drew Buckley, Chief Executive Officer of ESS. “Alsym’s sodium-ion Na-Series is an ideal solution for ESS’s short- and medium-duration applications where high power, fast cycling, and rapid response are paramount. ESS’s existing Energy Base® iron flow platform is engineered for the 8–24 hour long-duration segment, where deep daily cycling, 25-year asset life, and zero capacity degradation deliver the lowest levelized cost of storage. Together, the two chemistries form a unified, non-lithium platform that enables ESS to meet customers’ full storage needs from a single trusted provider, whether the application calls for firming renewables over a few hours, shifting energy across a full day, or pairing both within a single project to optimize economics across the full duration curve.”
Randall Selesky, Chief Commercial Officer at ESS, added, “This partnership represents a major milestone in our strategy to become a full-spectrum, non-lithium solutions provider for the entire energy storage market with safer, more sustainable technologies. By combining Alsym’s high performance, non-flammable sodium‑ion technology with ESS’ systems expertise and Energy Base® long‑duration solutions, we are giving customers a clear pathway beyond lithium‑ion without compromising performance or economics.”
“Unlike lithium‑ion batteries and many other sodium-ion batteries, Alsym’s Na-Series batteries are non‑combustible and thermally stable, reducing system complexity, improving safety, and lowering total cost of ownership by reducing the need for extensive fire suppression and HVAC infrastructure. Alsym’s Na-Series has been developed using a proprietary, physics-informed AI platform for battery development that dramatically shortens the time to bring innovation to the market. The batteries utilize non-foreign entity of concern (“FEOC”) sourced materials and provide integrators and OEMs with a safe, cost-effective, supply-secure battery solution,” Selesky concluded.
Mukesh Chatter, Chief Executive Officer for Alsym Energy, commented, “ESS is a leading innovator in stationary storage, and we are very pleased to be partnering with them. As demand grows, it is increasingly clear that the industry needs solutions beyond lithium-ion to meet the speed and scale projections. By combining high performance, inherent safety, and supply chain resilience, Alsym’s Na-Series delivers that capability and ESS brings deep experience delivering grid-scale systems that maximize the value of renewable energy. Together, we are enabling a better path forward for energy storage.”
With the combined sodium-ion and iron-flow platform, ESS is positioned to support utilities, IPPs, data centers, and C&I customers seeking American-made, flexible, and future‑proof energy storage solutions across a wide range of applications.
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