Affordable Power Conference & Expo: Innovative Power Generation and Energy Storage Solutions for Data Centers and Other Large Loads

The website is now live and registration is open for the Affordable Power Conference & Expo in Syracuse, NY on November 3-5, 2026. To get more information, register to attend, and get information about exhibiting and sponsoring at the conference and expo, click here.

NAATBatt and NY-BEST are partnering on a new conference and expo focused on the energy storage and power generation needs of data centers and other large loads. The Expo will be a free-to-attend event offering companies providing energy storage and energy generation products to data centers and other large loads the opportunity to highlight their expertise and meet potential customers. The Expo will be co-located with a conference discussing the policy drivers, economics, and innovative new energy technologies shaping this rapidly growing market. It will also address the important question of how the explosive need of data centers for electric power can, through the deployment of innovative new energy technologies and thoughtful policies, be made to benefit all electricity users.

NAATBatt and NY-BEST have released a Call for Speakers, seeking proposals to give talks about new power generation and energy storage technologies that can address the data center/large load power challenge as well as policy initiatives to try to enure that the addition of these large new loads do not raise electricity prices for everyone else. This is the most important issue in the data center industry today. If your company has a technology solution, please apply to speak. A lot of people are looking for effective solutions. To see the Call for Speakers, click here.

NAATBatt 2027 Annual Meeting & Conference

It is not too early to start planning for NAATBatt 2027. NAATBatt 2027, the 18th annual meeting of NAATBatt International, be held on February 8–11, 2027, at the Westin Rancho Mirage in Rancho Mirage, California, just outside Palm Springs. The NAATBatt annual meeting features presentations by leading consulting firms and market analysts about various sectors of the battery market, in-person meetings of all 18 NAATBatt communities, Member Update Presentations by NAATBatt member firms, and simply the best socializing and networking available anywhere in the North American advanced battery industry. Mark your calendar and watch this newsletter for updates about NAATBatt 2027.

New! NAATBatt Job Board

Looking to hire talent in the advanced battery industry or explore new career opportunities? NAATBatt is pleased to launch its new Job Board, designed to connect employers with professionals across the battery and energy storage ecosystem.

NAATBatt members may post job openings free of charge, while non-members can post positions for $250 per listing. All job postings are featured on the NAATBatt website and promoted in the NAATBatt Weekly newsletter for added visibility within the industry.

Whether you are recruiting top talent or searching for your next opportunity, the NAATBatt Job Board is a valuable new resource for the advanced battery community.

Visit the Job Board today:

NAATBatt Job Board 

New Market Report on Energy Storage for Data Centers

NAATBatt has published a new comprehensive report on the energy storage market for data centers prepared by Avicenne Energy. Available exclusively to NAATBatt members through the NAATBatt Resources page, the report provides insights into one of the fastest-growing sectors of the battery industry.

NAATBatt plans to release 3-4 Market Reports annually covering key sectors of the advanced battery market. The next report on the market for LFP CAM and pre-CAM materials in North America prepared by CRU Group is expected to be released in July 2026. Access to these reports is included with NAATBatt membership, offering significant value compared to the cost of purchasing similar research from major consulting firms. Companies interested in gaining access to current and future reports can learn more and apply through the NAATBatt Membership page.

NAATBatt Lithium-Ion Battery Supply Chain Database

Since 2021, NAATBatt has retained the National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR) (formerly the National Renewable Energy Laboratory), to produce a comprehensive database of all companies in North America active in the lithium-ion battery supply chain. The database can be accessed by clicking here: NLR/NAATBatt Lithium-Ion Battery Supply Chain.

NAATBatt membership dues pay for the database. As a public service, NAATBatt makes the database available to all users. The database is a public resource intended to make doing business in the North American lithium-ion supply chain easier and more efficient. Thanks to all NAATBatt members for doing their part to make this available to everyone!

The updated database now identifies more than 1,000 companies and more than 1,200 facilities involved in manufacturing, supplying, designing or supporting lithium-ion battery technology in North America. It includes companies involved in mining, material processing, electrode/cell/pack manufacturing, cell component production, recycling/repurposing, and supporting infrastructure such as equipment makers, R&D startups, services, consulting, product distributors, and professional services.

Access the database now to make use of this resource. If your company or facility is not listed but should be, complete the online questionnaire to be include in the next update. Companies are encouraged to review the database and send any corrections to LIB.SupplyChain@nlr.gov.

NAATBatt Communities

NAATBatt has 18 active subject matter committees/communities, offering NAATBatt members a way to hear about new developments in 18 different sectors of the advanced battery industry. And here's the kicker: It costs nothing to join a NAATBatt committee and participate in the community discussions. Just sign up here. NAATBatt subject matter communities are the new "water cooler" of the North American advanced battery industry: the place to hear the scuttlebutt about what is really going on. It makes no sense not to join.

Click here for a list of upcoming meetings.

Community Update

NAATBatt Communities, Reimagined

The next chapter of NAATBatt Communities is officially underway.

As Executive Director Jim Greenberger shared with members on July 15, NAATBatt is introducing a new online platform designed to keep connections, conversations, and collaboration moving long after each meeting ends.

The Communities themselves are not new. Members will continue collaborating around energy storage, recycling, materials, manufacturing, safety, workforce development, and other critical industry priorities. What is new is a more dynamic, centralized space that brings discussions, updates, questions, and resources together in one place.

Whether you are already active in a Community or ready to become more involved, there is a place for you in this next chapter.

Meet You in the Community

>  Already involved?

Your new online Community space is on the way. Watch for access details and additional updates coming soon.

>  Ready to participate?

Select the NAATBatt Communities that match your interests, expertise, and industry priorities.

>  Need a hand?

Contact Community Director Patty Anderson at panderson@naatbatt.org.

Community Pulse

Sodium’s Breakout Moment

Sodium battery technology is no longer waiting in the wings. New capacity announcements, major commercial commitments, and expanding federal interest are positioning it as one of the energy storage market’s most closely watched growth stories.

At this week’s NAATBatt Sodium Battery Community meeting, Graeme Grant with Alsym Energy introduced the American Battery Leadership Coalition, a new industry-led effort focused on building federal support for a strong domestic sodium-ion ecosystem. The coalition brings together companies including MANA Battery, Peak Energy, and Alsym Energy.

The market is moving quickly. Tyler Evans of MANA Battery shared that nearly 84 gigawatt-hours of sodium-ion capacity have been announced worldwide in 2026, including 24 gigawatt-hours from U.S. companies. According to Evans, the technology is scaling far faster than lithium-ion did in its early years, potentially reaching 80 gigawatt-hours of capacity within just three to five years.

MANA is helping fuel that momentum with an anode-free sodium-ion cell designed to exceed the energy density of lithium iron phosphate batteries while relying on a fully domestic supply chain free of critical minerals. The company is already shipping samples, conducting safety testing with the U.S. Army and tier-one manufacturers, and has secured more than $100 million in annual offtake agreements through 2029.

Members also heard about federal funding opportunities and the growing potential of molten sodium and molten-salt technologies.

Want a front-row seat to what comes next? Join the NAATBatt Sodium Battery Community to connect with innovators, exchange insights, and help shape this rapidly emerging market.

Li-Bridge Corner

OEMs Signal EV Sector Resilience

While headlines continue to mention EV demand slowdowns, two OEMs just delivered a powerful counterpoint showing some sector resilience. 

First, Hyundai and battery partner SK On have begun early production at their $5 billion joint-venture plant. With planned annual capacity of roughly 35 GWh, the facility will supply batteries for Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis vehicles built on American soil. It deepens Hyundai's domestic supply chain and advances its push to become America's #2 EV brand. The investment follows Hyundai’s battery partnership with LG Energy Solution and comes as competition intensifies around battery costs and pricing. 

Second, GM is proving the sector's staying power by broadening what US battery infrastructure can do. Through GM Energy, GM is partnering with Redwood Materials to repurpose new and second-life EV batteries for energy storage, converting part of its Tennessee Ultium Cells production to grid-scale BESS cells, and exploring lower-cost sodium-ion technology with Peak Energy.

Together, these moves suggest that the North American battery localization is showing signs of strength and green shoots of growth. Reports of the EV transition's demise, it seems, may be a bit exaggerated. 

Advanced Battery Industry News

BYD Energy Storage has signed a contract with Masdar for the RTC (round-the-clock) renewable energy project in Abu Dhabi. The project has a single-station scale of 1,644MW/11,275 MWh (megawatt-hour) or 1.644GW/11.275GWH (gigawatt-hour) using the company’s Haohan system. (Source: BYD)

Alfen N.V. and CATL announced a collaboration to deploy 5GWh of CATL's sodium-ion battery energy storage systems (BESS) across Europe. (Source: Alfen)

Cypress Creek and Google broke ground on the Steel River Energy Center, 3-phase project that will provide 2.5GWdc of solar and 2.9GWh of battery storage to the Arkansas grid system by 2029. LG Energy Solution Vertech will be supplying the BESS. (Source: Cypress Creek)

Meta is investing over $50 billion to expand its Richland Parish, Louisiana data center to 5GW of compute capacity. (Source: Meta)  

GIGA Storage has secured $514.3 million (€450 million) in debt financing for its 700MW/2800MWh Green Turtle energy storage project in Belgium. Construction is set to begin in September, with operations planned for 2028. (Source: GIGA Storage)

The Tamil Nadu government has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Vikram Solar to set up a Rs 15,037 crore ($1.6 billion) BESS manufacturing plant at the SIPCOT Industrial Park in Gangaikondan in Tirunelveli district. (Source: Times of India)

JBM Electric Vehicles has signed an MOU with Drivn to supply 500 electric buses (ebuses) over the next 12 months. The initial deliveries will include luxury intercity coaches. (Source: Economic Times India)

Guatemala is preparing to purchase 300 ebuses next year and is evaluating a local assembly plant. (Source: Mobility Portal)

Avantus and Clean Power Alliance announced a 20-year power purchase agreement for the Rexford 2 200MWac solar and 200MW/800MWh storage project in Tulare County, California. The project is scheduled to begin construction in 2027 and become operational in late 2028. Fluence Energy will provide its Smartstack™ battery energy storage solution for the project. (Source: Avantus)

Spearmint Energy announced that the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission has approved a site permit for the 150MW/600MWh Midwater Energy Storage Project (BESS) in Freeborn County, Minnesota. (Source: Spearmint Energy) 

Frontier Power USA (FPUSA) has selected the 100MW/400MWh Wildfire BESS project in Caldwell County, Texas for development on its energy storage platform under its agreement with Bimergen Energy. The project is expected to use Eos Z3 batteries. (Source: FPUSA)

Nofar USA has acquired a 400MWh BESS project and is in the process of signing a 15-year offtake agreement. Construction is expected to begin within the next 12 months with commercial operation planned by the end of 2028. (Source: Nofar)

Sonnedix has acquired a 260MW/1040MWh BESS portfolio from Sphera Energy. The portfolio located in Tuscania, Italy consists of 160MW/640MWh and 100MW/400MWh systems. (Source: Sonnedix)

Enfinity Global and E Energy Invest (investment vehicle of the Strioga Family Foundation) are partnering on a 150MW/600MWh BESS project in Tuscany, Italy. Enfinity will retain a 50.1% controlling stake. (Source: Enfinity)

Hyundai SK Battery Manufacturing America, the $5 billion battery joint venture formed in 2023 by SK On and Hyundai Motor Group, has begun production at its 35GWh battery plant in Georgia. The plant is supplying batteries to Hyundai Motor Group's electric vehicle (EV) plant in Savannah. (Source: The Korea Herald)

Electrovaya signed an agreement with Amazon to support deployment of its Ifinity battery technology in material handling, with potential expansion into robotics and energy storage. (Source: Electrovaya)

LG Chem has begun supplying battery cathode materials to Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America. The two companies signed a 2.86 trillion won ($1.9 billion) cathode supply agreement in October 2023, with deliveries scheduled through December 2030. (Source: The Elec) 

Stryten Energy has signed a definitive agreement to acquire C&D Technologies and Trojan Battery, creating C&D Trojan. The transaction is expected to close in 3Q26. Following the acquisition, Stryten will operate 15 U.S. manufacturing and component facilities. (Source: Stryten Energy)

ChargePoint and Onvo are partnering to install charging stations at 12 Onvo travel plazas across Pennsylvania and New York. (Source: ChargePoint)

New York State is imposing a freeze of up to one year on new hyperscale data centers. The pause would apply to data centers that use 50 MW or more of power. (Source: The Hill)

ZEEKR, TPM Automotive and SINEXCEL announced the opening of Thailand's 1st MW-level charging station in Bangkok. (Source: SINEXCEL)

Trinidad and Tobago has signed agreements with Hummingbird AI Holdings and Ernst & Young to advance plans for data centers. The projects include a proposed 300MW data center and a 150MW (expandable to 500MW) AI infrastructure facility. (Source: AP News)

ABB is acquiring Advantics (France-based), a provider of silicon carbide power conversion solutions. Financial terms were not disclosed, and the transaction is expected to close by 4Q26. (Source: ABB)

Eos Energy Enterprises has been awarded the Golden Dome for America contract by the Department of War to support national defense infrastructure resilience. The company will deploy its Z3™ zinc-based energy storage technology to support this effort. (Source: Eos Energy)

Source: CRU Group

Executive Director's Notes

Advertisements and Announcements

CALSTART Battery Strategy Roundtable

July 20, 2026 | 2:30 PM ET

Join CALSTART for an exclusive virtual roundtable exploring the future of the U.S. battery supply chain.

Hear from CALSTART CEO Michael Berube and leaders from the CEC, DOE, NAATBatt, Dow, and ANL as they discuss strategies to strengthen domestic battery production, address critical midstream challenges, and advance industry collaboration.

Attendees will also gain insights from CALSTART's recent trip to China and learn about findings from new commercial and military projects.

Register here: Meeting Registration – Zoom