To The Moon

$ESS Tech Inc.(GWH)$ has spent 15 years developing battery technology that powers communities, businesses, and data centers without the safety risks and supply chain vulnerabilities of lithium-ion. Recognized by TIME as one of America's Top Green Tech Companies and by Fortune as one of the Most Innovative Companies in America for 2025 and 2026 ESS has built a proven track record in long-duration iron flow energy storage. Now, responding to surging demand from AI data centers and critical infrastructure operators, the company is making one of its most significant strategic moves to date.

On June 23, 2026, ESS announced it is accelerating development of a sodium-ion battery energy storage system, focused on short- and medium-duration applications that have historically been served by lithium-ion. Since signing a letter of intent with Alsym Energy seven weeks earlier, the company has identified early-stage commercial opportunities approaching $1 billion in sodium-ion solutions, driven by strong customer interest from data centers, critical infrastructure operators, and utilities, exceeding demand expectations with limited outbound marketing.

"The demand we're seeing for sodium-ion is unlike anything in our company's history," said Drew Buckley, Chief Executive Officer. "Energy demand is changing faster than the market can respond, and it's clear the solutions of the past won't fill the gap. We're moving decisively to meet that need, accelerating our path towards near-term revenue while establishing the foundation to deliver at the scale and speed the market needs."

AI Data Center Demand Is Creating an Energy Storage Emergency

Demand for AI compute capacity is expected to drive a nearly $1 trillion investment in new data centers and a 165% increase in data center power requirements by 2030. By 2028, data centers are projected to consume between 6.7% and 12% of total U.S. electricity. Grid infrastructure cannot keep pace, and data center operators cannot afford to wait three to six years for new grid capacity.

Many operators are increasingly seeking safer energy storage solutions that are flexibly deployable, and less dependent on constrained global supply chains. Specifically, they need systems that avoid the fire and insurance exposure of lithium-ion, and eliminate dependence on materials sourced from Foreign Entities of Concern.

Sodium-ion is increasingly being evaluated as a model solution for this gap. It virtually eliminates thermal runaway risk and uses abundant, domestically available materials rather than the constrained lithium supply chains that underpin most competing battery technologies.

ESS Brings 15 Years of Energy Innovation to a New Chemistry

Unlike many companies entering the sodium-ion market, ESS brings more than 15 years of battery engineering, manufacturing, commercialization, and utility customer experience. The company was founded in 2011 with a mission to accelerate decarbonization through longer-lasting, safer energy storage. Its iron flow technology, built from iron, salt, and water, has been developed, tested, validated, and commercialized over more than a decade. 

ESS intends to leverage that foundation in battery commercialization, and project deployments across utilities, grid operators, critical infrastructure, and data center markets as it expands into sodium-ion. The company plans to announce sodium-ion hardware and software solution soon.

As a new global energy paradigm takes shape, a diverse set of energy storage technologies will be required. ESS intends to continue developing its iron flow technology for long-duration applications while reallocating capital and resources toward sodium-ion, where near-term commercial demand is strongest.

"This transition enables ESS to pursue attractive market opportunities while maintaining our commitment to long-term innovation," Buckley said. "We believe ESS is well-positioned to create value for customers and shareholders by focusing our organization on high-growth markets with a differentiated technology, leveraging our proven execution capabilities, and continuing to deliver American-made energy storage solutions."

A Platform Built for What Data Centers Actually Need

The addition of a sodium-ion BESS platform extends the company's reach into short- and medium-duration applications, giving data center operators a single domestic supplier across the full range of their storage needs.

Key Investment Considerations for GWH 

• Rapid commercial traction. Early-stage opportunities approaching $1 billion generated in roughly seven weeks  suggests significant customer demand in sodium-ion energy storage that existing lithium-ion suppliers are not meeting safely or reliably.

• Proven battery development and deployment expertise. ESS has a foundation in battery engineering, domestic sourcing, and customer relationships that new entrants cannot replicate quickly.

• Positioned for AI infrastructure growth. Sodium-ion's improved safety profile, domestically sourced materials, and flexible operation maps directly to what hyperscalers and data center operators are prioritizing right now.

• Dual-technology platform. ESS is positioned to address both long-duration and short/medium-duration energy storage markets through its iron flow and sodium-ion technologies, expanding its addressable market while leveraging existing battery expertise.

The speed at which ESS has identified commercial opportunities highlights growing customer interest in domestically sourced, non-lithium battery technologies is accelerating faster than almost anyone anticipated. ESS's project opportunities approaching $1 billion, built with limited marketing over seven weeks, reflects how acute the demand has become.