ESS Tech Signs $9.9M Contract with U.S. Air Force
ESS Tech announced the execution of a $9.9M contract with Concurrent Technologies Corporation and the United States Air Force Research Laboratory for a large capacity energy storage system at the U.S. Clear Space Force Station in Alaska. Under the contract, ESS will deploy up to 27 MWh of its American-made iron flow battery systems to support operations at Clear Space Force Station. "This project is a significant validation of ESS battery technology and its ability to provide reliable energy every day and support grid resiliency when it matters most," said Drew Buckley, CEO of ESS. "The Department of Defense is actively seeking long duration resilient microgrids to improve readiness, with a keen interest in 'Made in USA' software and systems to reduce risk of foreign cyber security vulnerabilities. We believe this award will further unlock long duration storage opportunities with the DoD and the growing microgrid market."
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- Project New Horizon Launch: ESS collaborates with Salt River Project (SRP) and Google to introduce a 5MW, 50MWh long-duration energy storage system, marking a significant commercial validation milestone for the company's next-generation utility-scale platform, expected to drive the evaluation and application of non-lithium LDES technologies.
- Technological Advantages: ESS's iron flow Energy Base technology differs from previous containerized solutions by enabling flexible configurations, anticipated to deliver cost advantages at scale, thereby assisting SRP in achieving its sustainability objectives.
- Collaboration for Clean Energy: Google participates in the project through a cost-sharing agreement, aiming to evaluate the real-world operational performance of non-lithium LDES, enhancing grid reliability and renewable integration while promoting broader deployment pathways for long-duration energy storage.
- Blueprint for Future Development: The CEO of ESS stated that this collaboration not only validates long-duration energy storage commercially but also provides solutions for large energy users focused on carbon-free energy, with successful execution laying the groundwork for broader deployments and meaningful follow-on opportunities.
- Executive Appointment: ESS Tech, Inc. has appointed Randy Selesky as Chief Commercial Officer, responsible for global commercial strategy, sales, and marketing, aiming to accelerate the commercialization of its long-duration energy storage solutions and enhance market competitiveness.
- Extensive Experience: Selesky brings over 20 years of leadership experience in the energy sector, having previously served as CCO at VoltStorage, where he successfully drove market expansion and commercial strategy implementation, which is expected to provide new growth momentum for ESS.
- Growing Market Demand: With the rising global demand for long-duration energy storage solutions, Selesky's addition will help ESS expand its market share and meet the increasing needs for grid reliability and renewable integration, facilitating the company's transition towards a decarbonized energy system.
- Strengthened Strategic Execution: This appointment is part of ESS's leadership transformation aimed at enhancing governance and financial discipline, with Selesky playing a crucial role in improving execution and delivering high-performing market-ready solutions.

- Conference Call Details: ESS Tech will hold a conference call on March 5, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. EST to discuss its financial results for Q4 and the full year 2025, with a press release detailing these results to be issued beforehand.
- Executive Leadership: The call will be hosted by CEO Drew Buckley and CFO Kate Suhadolnik, followed by a Q&A session aimed at enhancing investor engagement and providing deeper insights into the company's strategic direction.
- Updates on Organizational Changes: The meeting will provide updates on recent organizational changes, commercial progress, and customer deployments, reflecting the company's ongoing development and adaptability in the long-duration energy storage sector.
- Reaffirming Strategic Priorities: ESS Tech will outline its strategic priorities for the future during the call, emphasizing its leadership in sustainable energy storage solutions and commitment to accelerating decarbonization efforts.

- Conference Call Announcement: ESS Tech will hold a conference call on March 5, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. EST to discuss its financial results for Q4 and the full year 2025, with a press release to provide detailed insights prior to the call.
- Executive Leadership: The call will be hosted by CEO Drew Buckley and CFO Kate Suhadolnik, followed by a Q&A session, aimed at enhancing investor engagement and transparency regarding the company's performance.
- Strategic Updates: The discussion will include updates on recent organizational changes, commercial progress, and customer deployments, reflecting ESS Tech's ongoing commitment to advancing sustainable energy storage solutions and strategic priorities.
- Replay Availability: A telephone replay will be accessible until March 12, 2026, allowing investors who missed the live call to obtain key information by dialing the provided numbers, ensuring comprehensive communication of essential updates.
- Strategic Acquisition: ESS Tech, Inc. announced the acquisition of VoltStorage GmbH's intellectual property and assets, combining two complementary technologies to deliver the most flexible and cost-effective long-duration energy storage solution on the market, which is expected to enhance the company's competitive position in the industry.
- Technology Integration: This acquisition adds VoltStorage's portfolio of patents and technical developments to ESS's expertise in iron flow batteries, which is anticipated to accelerate innovation and drive strategic growth while expanding market reach.
- Setting New Industry Standards: The combined platform is set to establish new industry standards for performance, sustainability, and affordability, enabling utilities, renewable developers, and industrial customers to discharge energy over extended durations, thereby improving grid reliability and increasing the usable value of intermittent renewable generation.
- Cost Efficiency Advantage: ESS expects that by integrating these technologies, it will provide the industry's lowest Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE), further advancing its mission to deliver clean, reliable, and affordable energy storage solutions worldwide.
- Technology Portfolio Expansion: ESS's acquisition of VoltStorage's intellectual property and assets combines two complementary technologies aimed at delivering the most flexible and cost-effective long-duration energy storage solution on the market, thereby enhancing the company's competitiveness in renewable energy storage.
- Talent Acquisition: The transaction provides ESS access to skilled personnel with deep backgrounds in electrochemistry, materials science, and technology development, which is expected to accelerate strategic growth and expand market reach, further solidifying its leadership in long-duration energy storage solutions.
- Lowest Cost Storage: By leveraging VoltStorage's patented technology, ESS's solution will achieve the industry's lowest Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE), enabling utilities, renewable developers, and industrial customers to discharge energy over extended durations, thus improving grid reliability.
- Sustainability and Scale: ESS's iron-based chemistry ensures environmental responsibility and operational safety, while deploying international development expertise at its U.S. manufacturing facility enhances the company's manufacturing platform to support future business expansion.

