Reducing carbon-intensive energy remains a policy goal for utilities and large customers across the U.S. According to SEPA, 81 percent of customers are served by electric utilities that have aggressive Net Zero Carbon targets by 2035. In addition, large commercial and industrial customers are seeking more than just Renewable Energy Credits (REC); they are seeking hourly matching of carbon-free energy as part of their corporate objectives. These policy goals have created a unique opportunity for long-duration energy storage (LDES) technologies to deliver this value. ESS Tech, Inc. is emerging as a frontrunner in this space with its American-made long-duration iron flow batteries. A leading manufacturer of LDES solutions, the company aims to accelerate decarbonization, safely and sustainably, through longer-lasting energy storage. Unlike traditional lithium-ion batteries that have proven short-duration capabilities, ESS Tech’s solutions are designed to provide 10 plus hours of reliable power. With increasingly faster charging, the ESS batteries can maximize increase efficient energy consumption by capturing lowest cost solar and wind energy during their generation window. “Our product’s ability to charge during the day and discharge during the night helps utilities, industrial customers, developers and independent power producers to achieve green base load,” says Paul Notti, Vice President of Sales and Business Development. To maximize energy storage efficiency, ESS Tech leverages a proprietary iron-based electrochemistry that converts liquid iron into solid form through electroplating. The solid iron is deposited onto membranes of varying thickness, enabling a flexible and scalable storage capacity. During the discharge phase, the solid iron turns into liquid, releasing stored energy in a controlled and sustainable manner. Scalability is another key feature of its solutions. The ability to offer over 10 potential discharge hours is controlled by the amount of electrolyte stored. Placing bigger tanks enables users to access longer discharge hours by adding more electrolyte. In addition, the electrolyte is made from earth-abundant elements like iron, salt and water, ensuring easily sourced, safe materials. ESS’s batteries are built to last 25 years with no performance degradation and unlimited cycling. They are capable of enduring thousands of charge-discharge cycles without having to replace cells or electrolyte..