ESS Tech, Inc. has introduced a new sodium-ion battery energy storage platform called Bridge, marking the Oregon-based company's latest step in building out a non-lithium storage portfolio aimed at utilities, data centers, and commercial infrastructure operators.

The announcement positions Bridge as an alternative to conventional lithium-ion systems at a time when AI-driven data centers are driving sharp increases in demand for reliable energy storage.

A New Platform Built Around Sodium-Ion Chemistry

Bridge is a 1.2 megawatt-hour modular AC battery system that ESS describes as a building block for larger deployments. Each unit is housed in a 10-foot container and includes battery cells, modules, racking, power conversion, cabling, and both battery management system hardware and software. ESS is also supplying an energy management system to enable plant-level monitoring, optimization, and control across installations.

The modular units are stackable, with ESS stating that configurations can deliver up to 4.8 megawatt-hours of storage capacity within the same physical footprint as a traditional 20-foot battery container.

The company says this approach is intended to maximize site utilization for asset owners working within constrained physical footprints. The system is designed to scale from commercial applications up to large utility-scale deployments.

ESS says Bridge is engineered to operate across a temperature range of -40 degrees Celsius to 50 degrees Celsius and carries a 20-year operating design life. The company states this longevity is intended to help owners avoid the costs and risks associated with battery replacement and augmentation cycles over time.

Safety and Operational Simplicity as Differentiators

A central part of ESS's pitch for Bridge centers on its approach to safety and operational requirements. Unlike conventional lithium-ion systems, the company states that Bridge is designed to eliminate the risk of fire from thermal runaway, a known hazard associated with lithium-ion chemistry that has drawn scrutiny from regulators, insurers, and facility operators.

The system requires no complex HVAC or liquid cooling infrastructure, relying instead on simple air cooling. ESS argues this reduces operational complexity, maintenance requirements, and total cost of ownership compared to competing lithium-ion installations that demand more intensive thermal management.

Bridge is also described as a plug-and-play unit capable of installation with a heavy-duty forklift, a design choice the company frames as simplifying logistics and deployment across varied site conditions.

The system supports charge and discharge profiles ranging from one hour to 16 hours or more, depending on configuration, giving operators flexibility across different use cases.

Supply Chain Strategy and Domestic Manufacturing Positioning

ESS is explicitly framing Bridge as a response to growing concerns about supply chain exposure in the energy storage industry. The company states that Bridge is built around abundant and widely available materials, positioning sodium-ion chemistry as a path to reduced dependence on the constrained critical minerals associated with lithium-ion batteries.

The Wilsonville, Oregon-based company says Bridge supports the development of a domestic energy storage supply chain and is designed to help customers manage exposure to Foreign Entities of Concern, a regulatory designation that has taken on increasing significance as federal procurement and incentive programs scrutinize the origins of battery components and materials.

ESS describes itself as a U.S.-based company and has framed its broader sodium-ion strategy around serving customers who face both technical and geopolitical considerations when selecting energy storage technologies.

Market Demand and Early Pipeline

ESS CEO Drew Buckley tied the Bridge launch directly to a pipeline of customer interest that the company says has accumulated rapidly. According to ESS, the company has generated more than one billion dollars in early-stage customer opportunities since first announcing its entry into the sodium-ion market. Buckley characterized that figure as evidence of existing demand rather than anticipated interest.

"Bridge is how we meet the demand we're already seeing," Buckley said. "AI workloads are reshaping what data centers need from energy storage, and sodium-ion handles those power needs more effectively than conventional technologies."

Chief Commercial Officer Randall Selesky echoed that framing, describing the target customer as an asset owner looking for improvements over the conventional lithium-ion model on dimensions including safety, operational simplicity, flexibility, and long-term energy security.

Strategic Context Within ESS's Portfolio

ESS describes Bridge as a significant milestone in its broader strategy to build a portfolio of non-lithium energy storage solutions spanning short-, medium-, and long-duration applications.

The company is already known for its iron flow battery technology, and the introduction of a sodium-ion platform represents an expansion of its addressable market into segments where duration requirements and infrastructure considerations differ from those suited to flow battery chemistry.

The Bridge name, according to the company, is intended to reflect the platform's role in connecting energy generation and consumption while linking current energy infrastructure needs to what ESS characterizes as a more secure and resilient energy future.

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