Ford Energy and EDF Power Solutions Sign 20 GWh Five-Year BESS Supply Framework for US Grid Storage

Ford Energy and EDF Power Solutions North America have signed a five-year framework agreement under which EDF Power Solutions will have the ability to procure up to 4 gigawatt hours of DC Block battery energy storage systems annually from Ford Energy, representing a total potential volume of up to 20 gigawatt hours over the agreement term. Deliveries under the agreement are expected to begin in 2028, with Ford Energy positioned as a key BESS supplier for EDF Power Solutions' growing portfolio of grid-scale energy storage projects across the United States. The deal provides early commercial validation for Ford Energy, which was formally introduced earlier this month as a wholly owned subsidiary of Ford Motor Company targeting the rapidly expanding domestic utility storage market.

 

Strategic Significance of the Agreement

 

The framework agreement is notable both for its scale and for the supplier selection rationale expressed by EDF Power Solutions. Tristan Grimbert, Chief Executive Officer of EDF Power Solutions North America, said supply chain reliability and product quality are paramount as the company expands its energy storage portfolio. He highlighted Ford Energy's commitment to domestic manufacturing and its approach to traceability and lifecycle support as aligning with the standards EDF Power Solutions holds across its portfolio, and said the agreement provides supply visibility and product confidence needed to execute at the pace the energy transition demands.

Lisa Drake, President of Ford Energy, said the agreement validates the market's need for a BESS supplier that combines industrial-scale manufacturing discipline with full lifecycle accountability. She emphasised that Ford Energy is not simply delivering hardware but delivering predictable quality and long-term operational confidence for grid operators and developers who cannot afford uncertainty in their energy storage supply chain. The framing positions Ford Energy's century-old manufacturing heritage as a direct competitive advantage in a market where supplier execution risk has become a critical procurement consideration.

 

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The Ford Energy DC Block Product

 

The Ford Energy DC Block is a standardised 20-foot containerised energy storage system with a rated capacity of 5.45 megawatt hours per unit, utilising 512 ampere-hour lithium iron phosphate prismatic cells with an operating voltage range of 1,040 to 1,500 volts DC. The system integrates liquid-cooled thermal management and is available in two-hour and four-hour discharge configurations, covering the range of durations required for most current utility-scale storage applications. The DC Block is designed for a broad spectrum of grid applications including frequency regulation, voltage support, energy arbitrage, peak load shifting, demand response, backup power and microgrid integration.

The standardised containerised format is particularly important for large-scale project developers such as EDF Power Solutions, as it reduces engineering complexity, simplifies logistics and accelerates installation timelines across a diversified project portfolio. LFP chemistry aligns with the broader industry trend toward safer, longer-cycle battery chemistries for stationary storage, offering thermal stability and reduced fire risk compared with other lithium-based alternatives. The combination of standardisation, chemistry choice and thermal management positions the DC Block for the utility-grade performance requirements that grid operators and project finance counterparties increasingly mandate.

 

EDF Power Solutions' Portfolio and Market Context

 

EDF Power Solutions North America is an entity of the EDF Group with an expanding portfolio of grid-scale energy storage projects across the United States. The company's growing storage deployment ambitions reflect the accelerating demand for dispatchable clean energy capacity driven by rising AI infrastructure load, renewable energy integration and grid resilience requirements. Securing long-term supply visibility through a framework agreement addresses one of the most significant operational risks facing grid-scale storage developers, namely the uncertainty of equipment availability during periods of high market demand.

The United States energy storage market is experiencing a period of rapid capacity addition, with utility operators, independent power producers and renewable developers all competing for BESS equipment supply. Domestic manufacturing commitments also carry increasing strategic importance as Foreign Entity of Concern compliance requirements shape procurement decisions for projects seeking to qualify for federal investment tax credits. Ford Energy's Kentucky manufacturing footprint provides a domestic supply chain advantage that is directly relevant to the eligibility requirements underpinning EDF Power Solutions' project economics.

 

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Outlook for the US Domestic Battery Storage Market

 

The Ford Energy and EDF Power Solutions agreement reflects a structural shift in how large-scale storage developers are approaching supply chain management, with multi-year framework agreements replacing transactional purchasing as the dominant procurement model. As annual deployments continue to rise and equipment lead times lengthen, early access to committed manufacturing capacity is becoming a competitive differentiator for project developers. Ford Energy's ability to secure a 20 gigawatt hour framework commitment within weeks of its formal introduction underscores the appetite for new domestic BESS suppliers with credible manufacturing backing.

Whether Ford Energy can successfully commission its Glendale, Kentucky manufacturing facility and begin deliveries at scale in 2028 will be the critical test of the commercial promise behind this framework agreement. Sustained execution would establish Ford Energy as a leading domestic BESS supplier and create a template for similar long-term supply partnerships across the broader utility storage market. The deal also signals that the convergence of AI-driven grid demand, policy support for domestic manufacturing and the energy transition is creating durable commercial conditions for new entrants with the scale and credibility to compete in utility-grade energy storage.

 

Source: Ford Energy