Battery maker ESS signs 2-GWh framework deal with SB Energy

US long-duration iron flow battery maker ESS Inc is looking to deploy 2 GWh of its batteries through 2026 under a framework agreement with SB Energy, a wholly owned subsidiary of SoftBank Group Corp (TYO:9984) and an ESS investor.

The first ESS system as part of the pact has already been shipped to an SB Energy site in Davis, California and will be commissioned in October, ESS said today. SB Energy intends to install more ESS batteries to complement its solar portfolio in Texas and California.

According to Rich Hossfeld, co-chief executive at SB Energy and ESS board member, ESS’s batteries using iron, salt and water allow SB Energy to offer its customers safe, sustainable and low-cost energy storage.

“The energy transition will require massive amounts of storage capacity in the coming years and we are focused on scaling up our manufacturing capacity to help meet that demand,” said ESS chief executive Eric Dresselhuys.

ESS is poised to become a public company after an announcement in May it will merge with special purpose acquisition company ACON S2 Acquisition Corp (NASDAQ:STWO).

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