Researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences say a polymerizable non-flammable electrolyte improves safety in sodium-ion batteries while maintaining performance. April 10, 2026 Tristan Rayner Image: China.com, CAS From ESS News A team of researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences Institute of Physics has published a paper in Nature Energy showing a potentially game-changing development in electrolytes for sodium-ion batteries that may accelerate the commercial use of sodium-ion technol...

The new Anker Solix Solarbank Max AC steps up from balcony-scale storage with a 3.5 kW inverter, plug-in capabilities for do-it-yourself (DIY) ease of installation, and expandability to 42 kWh, priced from €2,229. April 9, 2026 Tristan Rayner Image: Anker Solix From ESS News Chinese battery solutions maker Anker Solix has launched the Solarbank Max AC, a 7 kWh modular home battery system designed to retrofit existing rooftop solar installations, with a bidirectional 3.5 kW inverter and capacit...

A new sodium-ion cell for ESS may further improve competitiveness in large-scale systems against the weight of the lithium-ion battery sector. April 7, 2026 Tristan Rayner Image: Cornex From ESS News Chinese battery manufacturer Cornex New Energy has announced a range of sodium-ion battery cells, including new prismatic cells for stationary energy storage. For the energy storage sector, Cornex announced that its product lineup now includes 165 Ah and 58 Ah models. The 165 Ah sodium-ion cell was...

Bluetti says its FridgePower system offers a plug-and-play battery solution designed to keep refrigerators and key household devices running during outages, without permanent installation. March 27, 2026 Tristan Rayner...

The BESS insurance risk profile is shifting. In an exclusive interview, Tokio Marine GX underwriter Michael Carrington explains why insurers are looking past battery fires and sweating over supply chain bottlenecks, high-voltage transformers, and costly EPC integration errors. March 20, 2026 Tristan Rayner Image: Lumea From ESS News For underwriters insuring gigawatt-scale battery energy storage systems (BESS), thermal runaway is no longer the only bogeyman. It’s the velocity of product develo...

The US International Trade Commission (ITC) has blocked the imposition of anti-dumping and countervailing duties on Chinese active anode material (AAM), providing a massive sigh of relief for the domestic battery storage sector. March 17, 2026 Tristan Rayner Image: RoadTripGuys, Pixabay From ESS News In a vote held on March 12, the US International Trade Commission (ITC) ruled against the implementation of tariffs on graphite anode imports from China. The decision effectively kills the anti-dump...

CATL announced it expects a new trend of “sodium and lithium batteries shining brightly together.” December 29, 2025 Tristan Rayner Image: CATL From ESS News  hinese battery giant CATL has detailed a wider and larger-scale deployment of its sodium-ion battery range across multiple sectors, including battery storage. Chinese media reports said that CATL, at its supplier conference in Ningde, Fujian province in China, held on December 28, 2025, confirmed its 2026 plans for its sodium-ion batt...

The Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER) has announced the winners of its first storage procurement, also called a Section 83E energy storage solicitation. The state selected four large-scale projects totaling 1,268 MW, as it aims to reach a legislative demanded 5,000 MW of operational storage capacity by July, 2030. The winning projects include Jupiter Power’s Trimount ESS, set to be situated at a former 100-year-old Exxon oil terminal in Everett. The fossil fuel legacy infrast...