ESS Tech, a U.S.-based provider of non-lithium energy storage solutions, has launched its latest product, the ESS Bridge, a modular sodium-ion battery energy storage system designed for utilities, AI-driven data centers, critical infrastructure operators, and commercial and industrial customers. The company says Bridge supports short-, medium-, and long-duration applications and helps “bridge the gap” between present energy needs and a more resilient, secure grid.
Since entering the sodium-ion market, ESS has amassed more than $1 billion in early-stage customer opportunities, demonstrating strong demand for safer, non-lithium storage technologies in sectors with high power requirements. According to ESS leadership, sodium-ion chemistry addresses the rapid charge and discharge profiles demanded by modern data centers more effectively than conventional lithium-ion solutions.
Bridge is delivered as a 1.2 MWh building-block AC system housed in a 10-foot container. Each unit integrates battery cells, modules, racking, power conversion, cabling, and a battery management system (BMS), along with an energy management system (EMS) for plant-level monitoring and control. The plug-and-play design simplifies logistics—installation requires only a heavy-duty forklift—and allows operation in varied environments with simple air cooling.
The modular blocks are stackable, enabling up to 4.8 MWh of capacity in the footprint of a standard 20-foot container. This scalability supports both commercial deployments and larger utility-scale projects. ESS emphasizes that Bridge eliminates the fire risk associated with thermal runaway, and its air-cooled design removes the need for complex HVAC or liquid-cooling systems, reducing operational complexity, maintenance requirements, and total cost of ownership.
Engineered for reliability, Bridge is rated to operate in temperatures from –40 °C to 50 °C and is built for a 20-year design life, minimizing replacement cycles and long-term costs. By using abundant, widely available materials, the system aims to diversify supply chains away from critical mineral constraints and geopolitical risks. ESS also notes that Bridge supports the development of a domestic energy storage supply chain and helps customers manage exposure to foreign sourcing concerns.
Source: Business Wire
