The useful question is what changes for users, developers or buyers, and whether the announcement stays industry context or becomes something people can actually use.

Intermittent wind and solar power require long-duration energy storage to stabilize grids and meet rising demand from AI data centers and electrification. ESS Tech and LEAG are advancing a 50 MW / 500 MWh iron flow storage project at Boxberg Power Station in Eastern Germany, a former coal plant. This initiative aligns with LEAG’s goal to build Europe’s largest clean energy hub, including up to 14 GW of wind and solar, 2-3 GWh of storage, and hydrogen projects, replacing fossil baseload generation. The project has drawn interest from public and private stakeholders as a model for transitioning coal-dependent regions to renewable energy.

In August 2023, Queensland, Australia, announced two utility-scale projects using ESS systems, supplied by ESI and manufactured in the U.S. The Stanwell Clean Energy Hub and an Energy Queensland network battery project mark Australia’s first long-duration storage deployments. These projects aim to replace coal baseload generation and modernize legacy networks, with demand for storage expected to reach 40 GW by 2040. The first fully assembled ESS system was delivered to Australia in October 2022 and is operational at Queensland University of Technology.

ESS and ESI will collaborate to deliver storage solutions, with ESI beginning local assembly of Energy Warehouse systems in Australia in 2025. Core components, including power modules and software, will continue to be supplied from the U.S., while balance-of-plant components will be sourced locally. Until ESI’s facility is operational, ESS will supply fully assembled systems to meet immediate demand, such as New South Wales’ procurement of 2 GW of long-duration storage by 2030.

Victoria has set an even more ambitious target, aiming for 2.6 GW of storage by 2030, scaling to 6.3 GW by 2035. These projects underscore the growing role of long-duration storage in replacing coal-fired generation across Australia, with ESS and ESI positioned to support regional decarbonization through localized manufacturing and global supply chains.