Four battery energy storage system (BESS) units at a Microsoft data centre in Sweden from Saft have entered operation, while ABB has added ZincFive as a technology supplier for its own UPS solutions.

Startup ZincFive, maker of a novel nickel-zinc battery for stationary storage applications, has brought its total investment raised since founding seven years ago to more than US$200 million.

Microsoft’s project to equip a data centre with a ‘grid-interactive’ battery storage system shows “what is possible”.

ZincFive, a US company developing nickel-zinc battery technology for applications including data centre UPS has closed a Series D round.

Ambri system commissioned at Microsoft data centre reduces the use of fossil fuels and enables ancillary service market participation.

Microsoft will be the latest big tech player to use battery storage at data centres which will provide grid flexibility services.

Facilities aimed at making products for the BESS industry announced by Turkey-headquartered Kontrolmatik and Ireland-headquartered Eaton.

News in brief from around the world in energy storage.

A 100kW/1.5MWh zinc-based battery energy storage system (BESS) will be installed at a 32-building housing development in Queens, New York, supported by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA). 

Google will procure energy from a US$600 million portfolio of renewables and energy storage assets specially-designed to enable the search engine company’s data centres in Virginia to run on 90% carbon-free electricity.