AESC and NEXTES have entered into a three-year strategic supply agreement to deliver 1.5 GWh of energy storage cells for grid-scale deployments in Japan and select international markets. Announced at SMART ENERGY WEEK in Tokyo, this commitment represents the largest single energy storage cell order in Japan in 2026.
Under the agreement, deliveries will begin in 2026. Japan’s utility-scale energy storage sector imposes stringent requirements including Japanese Industrial Standards (JIS) certification, compatibility with local grid frequency and voltage, and performance guarantees extending up to 20 years. AESC’s proven capability in high-capacity cell manufacturing—evident in its progression from 300+ Ah to 500+ Ah and now 700+ Ah cells—alongside a global certification portfolio covering JIS, IEC, and UL standards and a safety record free of critical incidents across more than 100 GWh delivered worldwide, were key factors in NEXTES’s decision.
NEXTES, a Japanese energy storage systems integrator, has built a pipeline of grid-scale projects both domestically and abroad. AESC’s extensive manufacturing footprint—comprising 14 gigafactories across Asia, Europe, and North America—will support NEXTES’s need for regionally certified products and sustained operational partnerships. In Japan, AESC’s Yokohama-based R&D and production facility will provide NEXTES with direct technical assistance and streamlined logistics.
The partnership comes at a time when Japan’s grid-scale storage market is poised for steady expansion, driven by accelerating renewable energy integration and ongoing power market reforms. By aligning proven safety performance, certified quality, and long-duration cell life, the AESC-NEXTES collaboration is positioned to meet rising demand and support large-scale energy storage deployment.
AESC, founded in 2007 and headquartered in Yokohama, is a global leader in high-performance batteries for electric vehicles and energy storage systems, operating 14 gigafactories and delivering over 100 GWh of cells across more than 400 projects worldwide. NEXTES, established in 2008 and rebranded in April 2026, provides advanced lithium-ion battery control and integration solutions for long-life energy storage applications.
Source: PR Newswire
