US Grid Storage Deal Points Beyond Lithium-Ion

A new joint development agreement highlights how some US developers are exploring non-lithium storage to diversify supply, manage risk, and enable longer-duration projects

16 Dec 2025

The race to clean up the US power grid is no longer just about building more batteries. It is about choosing the right ones.

A new joint development agreement between Bimergen Energy and Eos Energy suggests the storage market is entering a more deliberate phase. As renewable energy grows and battery demand climbs with it, developers are taking a closer look at how projects are designed, financed, and supplied from the start.

The partnership links a grid-scale storage developer with a manufacturer focused on zinc-based batteries rather than lithium-ion. The deal is less about ribbon cuttings and more about early planning. Several megawatt-hour projects are now moving through initial development, with the goal of smoothing future delivery and widening the menu of technology options.

Energy storage has become essential as wind and solar take on a larger role in the US power mix. Batteries help balance the grid when the sun dips or the wind stalls. Lithium-ion systems still dominate, but developers increasingly point to supply concentration, price swings, and safety concerns as reasons to look elsewhere, especially for projects that need longer run times.

Bimergen is leaning into those concerns by pulling battery decisions forward in the development process. By working closely with suppliers early on, the company aims to give investors and grid operators clearer expectations around cost and performance. That clarity matters as interconnection queues stretch longer and competition for capital sharpens.

For Eos, the agreement is another step toward proving its zinc-based technology at commercial scale. The company has cited a project pipeline nearing 8 gigawatt-hours and system designs offering roughly four to more than 16 hours of duration, based on current specifications. Those figures reflect stated plans and could shift as projects advance.

Analysts note that non-lithium batteries face tougher scrutiny due to shorter track records. Joint development models can help close that gap by pairing newer technologies with experienced developers.

Taken together, the Bimergen and Eos deal hints at a future where grid storage is not a one-size-fits-all choice. As the energy transition deepens, flexibility, supply security, and collaboration may matter as much as raw cost.