ESS Tech, Inc. (“ESS,” “ESS, Inc.” or the “Company”) (NYSE: GWH), a leading manufacturer of long-duration energy storage systems (LDES) for commercial and utility-scale applications, today announced the execution of a $9.9 million contract with Concurrent Technologies Corporation (“CTC”) and the United States Air Force Research Laboratory (“AFRL”) for a large capacity energy storage (LCES) system at the U.S. Clear Space Force Station in Alaska.
The Air Force Research Laboratory is the primary scientific research and development center for the Department of the Air Force. AFRL plays an integral role in leading the discovery, development, and integration of affordable warfighting technologies for its air, space, and cyberspace force. The prime contractor, Concurrent Technologies Corporation, is an independent, nonprofit, applied scientific research and development professional services organization, and provides comprehensive energy and sustainability solutions for military installations.
Under the contract, ESS will deploy up to 27 MWh of its American-made iron flow battery (IFB) systems to support operations at Clear Space Force Station in Alaska. The project is part of an AFRL initiative to demonstrate new and emerging advanced energy storage and energy efficiency technologies capable of meeting demanding military requirements in some of the harshest environments on earth, including temperatures below -40°C. ESS’s iron flow battery technology will integrate with microgrids, advanced controls and complementary systems to optimize energy use and provide continuous, reliable power for mission critical operations at the station.
“This project is a significant validation of ESS battery technology and its ability to provide reliable energy every day and support grid resiliency when it matters most,” said Drew Buckley, Chief Executive Officer of ESS. “Building on our recent 50 MWh project for Salt River Project in Arizona, our technology is being chosen for essential grid resilience capabilities and optimized energy consumption at mission-critical infrastructure including defense installations and data centers.
“The Department of Defense is actively seeking long duration resilient microgrids to improve readiness, with a keen interest in ‘Made in USA’ software and systems to reduce risk of foreign cyber security vulnerabilities. We believe this award will further unlock long duration storage opportunities with the DoD and the growing microgrid market,” concluded Buckley.
Kevin Merichko, Director, Infrastructure at CTC added, “By enabling localized power (islanding), rapid recovery and a stable electricity supply during grid instability or disruptions, resilient grids help avert severe safety, operational and financial consequences while assuring critical missions continue without interruption. We look forward to working with ESS, AFRL and the U.S. Space Force, to further improve Clear Space Force Station resilience.”
About ESS, Inc.
ESS (NYSE: GWH) is the leading manufacturer of long-duration iron flow energy storage solutions. ESS was established in 2011 with a mission to accelerate decarbonization safely and sustainably through longer lasting energy storage. Using easy-to-source iron, salt, and water, ESS iron flow technology enables energy security, reliability and resilience. We build flexible storage solutions that allow our customers to meet increasing energy demand without power disruptions and maximize the value potential of excess energy.
