ESS Tech has acquired the intellectual property and assets of VoltStorage GmbH in a move designed to expand its technology portfolio and accelerate the development of flexible, lower-cost long-duration energy storage solutions.
The transaction combines ESS’ established iron flow battery platform with VoltStorage’s iron-salt battery technology, bringing together complementary approaches aimed at improving performance, sustainability, and affordability in long-duration storage. The acquisition adds VoltStorage’s patents and technical development work to ESS’ existing intellectual property base and brings key VoltStorage executive and engineering personnel into the company, strengthening its commercial and technical bench.
ESS said it expects the combined capabilities to support strategic growth, broaden its market reach, and reinforce its position in the long-duration energy storage sector. The integrated platform is intended to help utilities, renewable energy developers, and industrial customers discharge energy over extended durations, enhancing grid reliability and increasing the usable value of intermittent renewable generation. The company stated that the combined solution is designed to deliver what it describes as the industry’s lowest levelized cost of energy.
According to the company, the merged technologies offer several advantages. These include greater flexibility across applications ranging from grid-scale storage to industrial microgrids, cost efficiencies through the use of abundant and sustainable materials, and environmental and operational benefits associated with iron-based chemistry. ESS also noted that the acquisition supports its U.S. manufacturing strategy by integrating international development expertise into its American production facilities.
ESS, which trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker GWH, was established in 2011 with a mission to accelerate decarbonization through long-duration energy storage. Its iron flow technology uses iron, salt, and water to deliver energy security, reliability, and resilience, enabling customers to manage rising energy demand and maximize the value of excess generation.
KEY QUOTE:
“This acquisition accelerates our mission to provide clean, reliable, and affordable energy storage solutions worldwide. By combining decades of iron flow battery expertise across two companies at ESS, we are accelerating innovation to create the most advanced iron-salt battery platform for long-duration storage.”
Drew Buckley, CEO of ESS Tech
