ESS Bridge Sodium-Ion Battery Launches for Data Centers & Grid
July 9, 2026 — ESS Tech, Inc. announced on July 8, 2026, the launch of its ESS Bridge™ sodium-ion battery energy storage system. This modular sodium-ion battery energy storage system offers a compelling, safer alternative to lithium-ion battery technology for high-demand applications.
The introduction comes as the company reports generating more than $1 billion in early-stage customer opportunities for its sodium-ion platform. Surging power needs from AI data centers and critical infrastructure are driving strong interest in non-lithium battery storage solutions.
What is the ESS Bridge™ Sodium-Ion Battery System?
The ESS Bridge sodium-ion system is a 1.2 MWh building-block AC battery energy storage system (BESS). It integrates advanced sodium-ion cells with ESS’s expertise in system design, controls, and energy management.
Each unit arrives in a compact 10-foot container fully equipped with battery modules, racking, power conversion, cabling, and a battery management system (BMS). An energy management system (EMS) enables plant-level optimization. The modular blocks are stackable, delivering up to 4.8 MWh in the footprint of a traditional 20-foot container. This design maximizes site utilization and simplifies logistics with plug-and-play installation using a heavy-duty forklift.
Key Features and Benefits of Bridge Sodium-Ion BESS
The ESS Tech Bridge platform stands out with several advantages tailored for demanding environments:
- Superior safety: Virtually eliminates thermal runaway fire risk, a major concern with lithium-ion systems.
- Simple cooling: Requires only basic air cooling, no complex HVAC or liquid systems reducing maintenance and operational complexity.
- Wide temperature range: Operates reliably from -40°C to 50°C.
- Long lifespan: 20-year operating design life minimizes costly replacements and augmentation cycles.
- Flexible duration: Supports charge and discharge profiles from 1 to 16 hours or more.
- Supply chain resilience: Built with abundant materials, it supports domestic U.S. manufacturing and reduces exposure to critical minerals and Foreign Entities of Concern (FEOC).
These features lower the total cost of ownership while enhancing reliability for mission-critical applications.
Why Sodium-Ion Batteries Are Gaining Momentum in 2026
Sodium-ion technology is rapidly emerging as a viable non-lithium battery storage option. Industry interest has accelerated due to AI-driven power demand and supply chain vulnerabilities in lithium chemistries.
| Feature | Sodium-Ion (Bridge) | Lithium-Ion |
|---|---|---|
| Safety | No thermal runaway risk | Thermal runaway risk |
| Cooling Needs | Simple air cooling | Complex HVAC/liquid cooling |
| Temperature Range | -40°C to 50°C | Narrower range |
| Supply Chain | Abundant materials, domestic focus | Constrained minerals, geopolitical risks |
| Lifespan | 20-year design | Often requires earlier augmentation |
| Cost of Ownership | Lower due to simplicity | Higher maintenance |
This comparison highlights why many operators view sodium-ion battery energy storage systems as a strategic hedge. With AI workloads reshaping data center requirements, solutions like the ESS Bridge sodium-ion battery address power density and safety needs more effectively than traditional options.
Target Applications
The ESS Bridge sodium-ion system is engineered for diverse high-growth segments:
- AI data centers: Provides high-power, reliable backup and peak shaving for energy-intensive computing loads.
- Grid-scale and utilities: Supports renewable integration and grid stability with scalable, flexible duration.
- Commercial & industrial (C&I): Offers cost-effective energy management for facilities seeking lower operational risks.
- Critical infrastructure: Delivers resilient power in extreme conditions for operators prioritizing safety and uptime.
Its modular design allows easy scaling from commercial sites to large utility projects.
Quotes from ESS Leadership
“Bridge is how we meet the demand we’re already seeing,” said Drew Buckley, CEO of ESS. “AI workloads are reshaping what data centers need from energy storage, and sodium-ion handles those power needs more effectively than conventional technologies. Bridge is built to deliver that, which is why we’ve generated nearly a billion dollars in early-stage opportunity since entering sodium-ion.”
“Today’s battery asset owners are looking for solutions that improve upon the conventional model,” said Randall Selesky, Chief Commercial Officer, ESS. “They want systems that improve safety, simplify operations, provide flexibility and support long-term energy security objectives. Bridge is designed to deliver those benefits in a single platform.”
Source: ESS
What This Means for the Energy Storage Industry
The launch of the ESS Tech Bridge marks a significant step in diversifying battery chemistries beyond lithium. By leveraging abundant materials, ESS strengthens U.S. manufacturing capabilities and helps customers mitigate supply chain risks.
Lower total cost of ownership through reduced cooling needs, longer life, and simpler maintenance could accelerate adoption across sectors. As AI power demand grows and regulators emphasize domestic sourcing, sodium-ion BESS platforms like Bridge are well-positioned to capture market share in the expanding energy storage landscape.
This development reinforces the shift toward multiple battery technologies tailored to specific use cases rather than a one-size-fits-all lithium approach.
Conclusion
ESS’s new ESS Bridge sodium-ion battery energy storage system delivers a practical, safer alternative to lithium-ion battery technology. With strong early customer interest exceeding $1 billion, the platform is poised to play a key role in powering AI infrastructure, strengthening the grid, and advancing commercial energy resilience.
As the industry navigates 2026’s energy transition challenges, innovations like Bridge highlight the value of chemistry diversity and domestic supply chains.
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