ESS Launches Modular Sodium-Ion Battery for Data Centers and Grid Storage — ESS Tech, Inc.

Event summary

ESS introduced Bridge™, a modular sodium-ion battery energy storage system (BESS) for grid-scale, data center, and commercial applications.
The 1.2 MWh building-block AC battery system is designed to eliminate thermal runaway risks and requires no complex cooling systems.
ESS has generated over $1 billion in early-stage customer opportunities since announcing its sodium-ion market entry.
Bridge can operate in environments from -40° C to 50° C with a 20-year operating design life.

The big picture

ESS's launch of Bridge™ underscores the growing demand for safer, non-lithium energy storage solutions, particularly in AI-driven data centers and critical infrastructure. The company is positioning itself as a key player in the U.S.-made energy storage market, aiming to bridge the gap between current energy needs and future resilience. With over $1 billion in early-stage opportunities, ESS is capitalizing on the shift towards more secure and flexible energy storage technologies.

What we're watching

Market Adoption: Whether ESS can sustain the $1 billion in early-stage customer opportunities with actual sales and deployments.
Technological Edge: How Bridge's safety and operational benefits will affect its competitiveness against conventional lithium-ion systems.
Supply Chain Dynamics: The pace at which ESS can develop a domestic energy storage supply chain to reduce exposure to critical minerals and geopolitical risks.