ESS Tech (GWH) Signs Agreement With Juniper Energy for 500 MWh or More of Sodium-Ion Energy Storage Deployments

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On July 22, 2026, ESS Tech, Inc. (GWH) announced the signing of a Letter of Intent with Juniper Energy LLC, a California-based renewable energy developer, covering the deployment of 500 MWh or more of sodium-ion battery energy storage systems. Recognized by TIME and Fortune as one of America's most innovative energy companies in both 2025 and 2026, ESS has spent more than 15 years developing non-lithium energy storage solutions. This agreement marks the first major commercial commitment behind its sodium-ion strategy.

New LOI Begins With an 80 MWh California Project and Establishes a Long-Term Framework Through 2032

The proposed partnership is structured in two layers. The first is an initial 10 MW / 80 MWh energy storage project in California, targeted for commercial operation in 2027. This project is expected to deploy ESS's Bridge™, the company's modular sodium-ion AC solution, alongside an ESS Energy Management System. The second is a longer-term procurement framework under which Juniper Energy has expressed its intent to procure 500 MWh or more of ESS battery energy storage systems by 2032, subject to successful project execution and continued project development.

"This agreement with Juniper Energy supports ESS' strategy to expand our technology portfolio and bring sodium-ion energy storage to market," said Drew Buckley, Chief Executive Officer of ESS. "The planned deployment and long-term procurement framework reflect the accelerating customer demand we are seeing for safer, domestically sourced alternatives to conventional lithium-ion batteries."

Bridge™ Puts ESS's Sodium-Ion Technology Into Commercial Deployment for the First Time

The California project is the first planned commercial deployment of Bridge™, ESS's modular sodium-ion solution designed for utility-scale, commercial, and industrial energy markets. Bridge™ does not require liquid cooling or complex fire suppression systems, reducing two significant operational challenges associated with large-scale battery storage deployment. It is built around a domestic supply chain designed to reduce exposure to Foreign Entity of Concern restrictions that complicate lithium-ion supply chains.

ESS will also deploy its Energy Management System alongside Bridge™ for the Juniper project, providing software-level optimization of battery performance and system health across the deployment.

"Juniper Energy is focused on partnering with companies that can successfully bring innovative energy technologies from development into commercial operation," said Keith McDaniels, Managing Partner of Juniper Energy. "ESS has demonstrated its ability to integrate, deploy, and scale advanced energy storage solutions, giving us confidence in its ability to execute on next-generation sodium-ion technology. We look forward to working together to validate the ESS Bridge energy storage platform and support its broader adoption across future energy storage projects."

Commercial Demand for Domestically Sourced, Non-Lithium Storage Is Accelerating

ESS’ expansion into the sodium-ion energy storage market follows increasing customer demand for domestically sourced, non-lithium battery technologies. Following its initial Letter of Intent with Alsym Energy earlier this year, the Company identified early-stage commercial opportunities approaching $1 billion within roughly seven weeks. The Juniper Energy LOI is the first of those opportunities converting into a signed commercial framework with defined projects and deployment timelines.

The demand is being driven by a consistent set of customer requirements: storage systems that are safe, domestically sourced, deployable without lithium supply chain exposure, and eligible for domestic content incentives. ESS believes its sodium-ion technology is well-positioned to address these requirements directly while continuing to develop its iron flow battery technology for long-duration applications, giving ESS the ability to cover both short and medium duration needs through Bridge™, and long-duration needs through its core iron salt technology.

Key Investment Considerations for GWH

First Signed Commercial Framework for Bridge™

The Juniper LOI moves Bridge™ from announced product to active deployment. An initial 80 MWh California project and the broader 500 MWh framework establishes a real-world validation timeline for potential customers across utility, data center, and industrial markets.

Long-Term Procurement Framework Extends Revenue Visibility

The 2032 procurement intent of 500 MWh or more, subject to project execution, gives ESS a commercial framework that extends well beyond the initial deployment. If the California project performs as planned, the scale of the subsequent commitment is meaningful.

Domestic Supply Chain Is a Growing Differentiator

As FEOC restrictions tighten and domestic content requirements under U.S. energy policy expand, ESS's commitment to a domestic sodium-ion supply chain becomes increasingly valuable to customers who need to qualify for incentives and avoid foreign material exposure.

A Dual-Technology Platform With Expanding Commercial Reach

Bridge™ serves short and medium duration markets. ESS's iron salt flow technology serves long-duration needs. The combination provides exposure to short, medium and long-duration storage applications across multiple customer use cases and creates cross-selling opportunities as customers evaluate their full energy storage stack.

ESS Tech trades on the NYSE under the ticker GWH.

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