ESS Tech Inc. joins Project New Horizon LDES efforts

<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img alt="energy storage system operator" class="wp-image-58328" height="468" src="https://solarbuildermag.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/dreamstime_s_267292676-2-700x468.jpg" width="700" /></figure>

<p>Long-duration energy storage (LDES) system manufacturer <a href="https://essinc.com/">ESS Tech Inc.</a> has announced what it calls &#8220;a collaboration framework&#8221; with <a href="https://www.srpnet.com/">Salt River Project (SRP)</a> and <a href="https://about.google/">Google</a>, to provide LDES solutions for a pilot program known as Project New Horizon.</p>

<p>Located in Florence, Arizona, Project New Horizon is part of SRP&#8217;s <a href="https://solarbuildermag.com/news/arizonas-largest-solar-project-dedicated-in-florence/">Copper Crossing</a> project, and is set to provide 5 MW (or 50 MWh) to the Grand Canyon State&#8217;s energy grid. The project will deploy ESS Tech&#8217;s iron flow utility-scale <a href="https://essinc.com/energy-base/">Energy Base storage technology</a>, and &#8220;represents a significant commercial validation milestone&#8221; for the company&#8217;s tech, platform, and products.</p>

<p>This pilot version of the program is expected to support SRP&#8217;s current evaluation of <a href="https://solarbuildermag.com/news/non-lithium-rd-leads-recent-u-s-battery-supply-chain-announcements/">non-lithium LDES</a> solutions, ESS Tech says. If successful, the pilot could help to unlock further opportunities for the company as it looks to expand commercially.</p>

<p>&#8220;This phase of Project New Horizon represents an important commercial validation of Energy Base and a clear signal that utilities are actively pursuing scalable, non-lithium long-duration storage as part of long-term resource planning,&#8221; says Drew Buckley, CEO of ESS Tech. &#8220;The collaboration with SRP, along with Google’s participation and cost sharing, reinforces the relevance of long-duration storage for grid reliability and for large energy users focused on carbon-free energy. Successful execution can serve as a blueprint for broader deployments and meaningful follow-on opportunities.&#8221;</p>

<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-scaling-long-duration-energy-storage-solutions">Scaling long-duration energy storage solutions</h3>

<p>ESS Tech&#8217;s Energy Base technology is designed for scalability to utility-scale solutions, and enables &#8220;flexible configuration across diverse use cases.&#8221; This practice differentiates the technology from other LDES solutions, the company says, and is expected to deliver cost-efficiency perks as it scales to larger projects.</p>

<p>As part of the program, SRP is set to partner with the <a href="https://www.epri.com/">Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI)</a> in order to support product testing, company representatives say. </p>

<p>&#8220;Project New Horizon is part of SRP&#8217;s effort to evaluate the impact of long-duration energy storage technologies that could ultimately support SRP&#8217;s mission of providing reliable, affordable and sustainable power,&#8221; says Chico Hunter, manager of innovation and development at SRP. &#8220;We look forward to working with ESS, Google, and EPRI to assess performance in real-world conditions and advance our understanding of how long-duration storage can serve future system needs.&#8221;</p>

<p>Google is already a participant in a variety of energy storage projects, including the Copper Crossing energy storage center. The tech giant is funding a portion of the project&#8217;s payments through an existing cost sharing arrangement with the company.</p>

<p>The collaboration between Google and SRP is intended to test the real-world efficacy of non-lithium LDES solutions, the companies say, and &#8220;generate learnings relevant to grid reliability, renewable integration, and broader LDES deployment pathways.&#8221;</p>

<p>&#8220;Long-duration energy storage is needed to improve grid resilience and unlock around-the-clock clean energy,&#8221; says Lucia Tian, head of advanced energy technologies at Google. &#8220;This collaboration with SRP is intended to accelerate learning and innovation from real-world deployments of a portfolio of emerging long-duration energy storage technologies, including this first pilot with ESS. We’re excited to work with a utility partner who shares our commitment to supporting a range of technologies and diverse supply chains that can bring reliable, affordable, and clean energy to Arizona and across the United States.&#8221;</p>

<p>Manufacturing is set to begin on Project New Horizon&#8217;s LDES pilot program sometime this year, with full delivery expected by the end of 2027, according to ESS Tech officials. Design on the product&#8217;s infrastructure is already underway.</p>
<p>-- Solar Builder magazine</p>