December 12, 2017 | News Brief | ESS, Inc., a manufacturer of safe, low-cost and long-duration flow energy storage systems, has received $13 million in new Series B funding. The round includes new investors led by global chemical industry leader BASF, as well as Cycle Capital Management, Presidio Partners Investment Management and InfraPartners Management. They were joined by ESS’s original investors, including Pangaea Ventures.
The new funding will be used to expand and automate the manufacturing process of the company’s iron flow battery, the Energy Warehouse. Leveraging the capital efficiency of the product’s advanced technology, the investment will enable 900 MWh per year production capacity. It will also support the company’s business development activities with system integrators and strategic partners, creating a stronger ecosystem for promoting its clean, low-cost, long-duration energy storage solution.
“BASF is committed to supporting new energy technologies that can transform businesses and communities by adding flexibility, expanding use of renewable sources, and building a sustainable future,” said Markus Solibieda, Managing Director, BASF Venture Capital. “After conducting extensive research across a range of battery technologies, designs and developers, we’ve concluded that ESS offers a superior combination of low-cost, clean, safe and long-life chemistry; scalable architecture, and management experience.”
“This investment underscores the strength of our technology, its value in the large, high-growth energy storage market, and our ability to execute strategically,” said Craig Evans, founder and CEO of ESS, Inc. “Customers are seeking cleaner, higher-performing alternatives to lithium-ion that can provide scalable, long-life, longer-duration storage, and in combination with renewables, achieve economic parity with conventional generation. ESS’s safe, low-cost, and sustainable all-iron flow battery is the ideal solution.”
