Relectrify has unveiled its AC1 Battery Energy Storage System (AC1 BESS), designed to make large-scale battery systems more efficient, durable and affordable.

Supported by a $25 million grant from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA), the AC1 BESS will be deployed across grid-scale, commercial and industrial energy sites nationwide.

The funding follows a $19 million equity raise backed by existing investors, including Virescent Ventures, and a new minority investment from NRG Energy, a Fortune 500 company based in Houston, Texas.

The AC1 BESS is powered by Relectrify’s patented CellSwitch technology, which independently controls every battery cell to deliver greater efficiency, longer lifespan and improved reliability compared to conventional systems. The system also generates grid-compliant AC power directly from battery cells, eliminating the need for a separate inverter.

Relectrify chief executive Jeff Renaud says the AC1 BESS addresses a critical gap in Australia’s energy transition by providing large commercial and industrial users with an affordable and flexible battery solution.

“Commercial and industrial energy users are the ‘missing middle’ in Australia’s energy transition,” he says.

“The AC1 is designed to fill this gap, giving large energy users the ability to take control of their energy use, reduce costs, and support the shift to renewables.”

ARENA chief executive Darren Miller says the project demonstrates the value of early-stage innovation in advancing battery technology.

“By backing home-grown innovators like Relectrify, we’re helping bring forward technologies that can improve performance, reduce costs and support a more flexible, low-emissions grid,” he says.

ARENA’s latest funding will support the deployment of the AC1 BESS at commercial, industrial and small front-of-the-meter sites.