{"version":"1","article":{"id":"ess-drew-buckley-sodium-ion-storage-interview-2026","slug":"drew-buckley-ess-sodium-ion-battery-storage-interview-2026","language":"en","url":"https://haberpaper.com/en/news/drew-buckley-ess-sodium-ion-battery-storage-interview-2026","api_url":"https://haberpaper.com/api/v1/articles/drew-buckley-ess-sodium-ion-battery-storage-interview-2026?lang=en","title":"Drew Buckley on ESS’s sodium-ion pivot and path to scale","summary":"The ESS CEO discussed sodium-ion opportunities, a slower iron-flow rollout and the company’s liquidity.","category":"energy","region":"world","topics":[],"published_at":"2026-10-04T21:20:00+03:00","modified_at":"2026-10-04T21:20:00+03:00","publication_basis":"publication-record","event_period":"2026-09-04","event_period_basis":"event-or-reference-period","sources":[{"name":"ESS News — Drew Buckley interview","url":"https://www.ess-news.com/2026/09/04/interview-with-ess-inc-ceo-drew-buckley/","checkedAt":"2026-10-04","publishedAt":"2026-09-04"}],"translations":[{"language":"tr","url":"https://haberpaper.com/tr/news/drew-buckley-ess-sodium-ion-battery-storage-interview-2026","api_url":"https://haberpaper.com/api/v1/articles/drew-buckley-ess-sodium-ion-battery-storage-interview-2026?lang=tr"},{"language":"en","url":"https://haberpaper.com/en/news/drew-buckley-ess-sodium-ion-battery-storage-interview-2026","api_url":"https://haberpaper.com/api/v1/articles/drew-buckley-ess-sodium-ion-battery-storage-interview-2026?lang=en"},{"language":"ar","url":"https://haberpaper.com/ar/news/drew-buckley-ess-sodium-ion-battery-storage-interview-2026","api_url":"https://haberpaper.com/api/v1/articles/drew-buckley-ess-sodium-ion-battery-storage-interview-2026?lang=ar"},{"language":"fr","url":"https://haberpaper.com/fr/news/drew-buckley-ess-sodium-ion-battery-storage-interview-2026","api_url":"https://haberpaper.com/api/v1/articles/drew-buckley-ess-sodium-ion-battery-storage-interview-2026?lang=fr"},{"language":"es","url":"https://haberpaper.com/es/news/drew-buckley-ess-sodium-ion-battery-storage-interview-2026","api_url":"https://haberpaper.com/api/v1/articles/drew-buckley-ess-sodium-ion-battery-storage-interview-2026?lang=es"}],"data_types":[],"data":null,"data_compilations":[],"data_downloads":[],"content":{"paragraphs":["In a question-and-answer interview published by ESS News on 4 September 2026, CEO Drew Buckley described how the company plans to pursue two storage technologies. ESS is adding sodium-ion cells to systems for short- and medium-duration uses while retaining iron-flow batteries as a long-duration option. Buckley said the company is placing more emphasis on sodium-ion, which it expects could reach revenue sooner, and will move more selectively with iron-flow commercialization.","He said ESS had identified nearly $1 billion in early-stage opportunities for sodium-ion solutions. A letter of intent announced with Juniper Energy totals 500 MWh and includes an 80-MWh California project with a utility. These are early-stage opportunities and an LOI, not confirmed sales or deliveries. Buckley separately cited $5.6 million in unrestricted cash in the company’s latest quarterly report and about $3.2 million raised in a direct offering earlier in the month.","ESS said it was testing its first Bridge modules, planned to start certification toward year-end and targeted pilot and commercial deliveries in 2027. Those are management timelines, not completed capacity or revenue. The interview shows the company trying to balance a broader technology portfolio with liquidity and capital discipline."],"key_points":[],"sections":[]},"text":"The ESS CEO discussed sodium-ion opportunities, a slower iron-flow rollout and the company’s liquidity.\n\nIn a question-and-answer interview published by ESS News on 4 September 2026, CEO Drew Buckley described how the company plans to pursue two storage technologies. ESS is adding sodium-ion cells to systems for short- and medium-duration uses while retaining iron-flow batteries as a long-duration option. Buckley said the company is placing more emphasis on sodium-ion, which it expects could reach revenue sooner, and will move more selectively with iron-flow commercialization.\n\nHe said ESS had identified nearly $1 billion in early-stage opportunities for sodium-ion solutions. A letter of intent announced with Juniper Energy totals 500 MWh and includes an 80-MWh California project with a utility. These are early-stage opportunities and an LOI, not confirmed sales or deliveries. Buckley separately cited $5.6 million in unrestricted cash in the company’s latest quarterly report and about $3.2 million raised in a direct offering earlier in the month.\n\nESS said it was testing its first Bridge modules, planned to start certification toward year-end and targeted pilot and commercial deliveries in 2027. Those are management timelines, not completed capacity or revenue. The interview shows the company trying to balance a broader technology portfolio with liquidity and capital discipline.","corrections":[],"editorial_illustration":{"kind":"symbolic-editorial-illustration","documentary":false,"scope":"section","asset_id":"energy","url":"https://haberpaper.com/assets/illustrations/energy-1536.webp","width":1536,"height":1024,"alt":"Symbolic energy landscape with solar panels, wind turbines and transmission lines.","language":"en"},"section_illustration":{"kind":"symbolic-editorial-illustration","documentary":false,"scope":"section","asset_id":"energy","url":"https://haberpaper.com/assets/illustrations/energy-1536.webp","width":1536,"height":1024,"alt":"Symbolic energy landscape with solar panels, wind turbines and transmission lines.","language":"en"}}}