About
In [month] 2024, ESS Tech Inc. was awarded a $50M grant under a program administered by the U.S. Department of Energy and authorized by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The grant will help fund Project Irongate, a major initiative to expand non-lithium, grid-scale battery manufacturing in the United States.
Earth-abundant materials – iron, salt, and water, 67% lower CO2 emissions than Li-ion, and components that can be recycled with today’s systems, all make iron flow batteries a key part of a sustainable energy transition.
Project Irongate will
Increase IFB battery module manufacturing capacity over 50-fold at the company’s Oregon headquarters with the addition of 13 new automated manufacturing lines.
Expand system assembly and electrolyte production by relocating these operations to a second, existing site in the greater Portland-Vancouver metropolitan area.
Create over 1,700 quality new jobs
Achieve manufacturing scale and lower the production cost of iron flow batteries to deliver low-cost, long-duration energy storage.
Economic impact
ESS will leverage a $50M investment from the U.S. Department of Energy to deliver $120M of total investment in the greater Portland-Vancouver metropolitan area.
Build the U.S. clean technology supply chain
Over $1.5B annual impact nationwide.
Sourcing raw materials or components from 29 states.
Reinforce the domestic clean tech supply chain with 100% of upstream raw materials and 98% of ESS iron flow battery bill of materials sourced domestically by 2027.
Lowering costs
Decrease the per kWh cost for iron flow batteries by 83% by 2030.
Expanding jobs
Will directly create over 1,700 new, high-quality jobs with above-prevailing wages in addition to growing supplier/partner opportunities.
Community impact
Workforce development
Project Irongate will build the clean technology manufacturing workforce in the Portland metro region.
Partnerships with workforce organizations and other opportunities will ensure access to new jobs.
Community benefits agreements
Established community benefits agreements to support community and Justice40 priorities.
Partnerships to ensure an inclusive, community-informed CBA process.
Health and safety
Investment in clean, safe and sustainable energy technologies with lower environmental impacts than competing technologies.