Ford Energy Secures 20 GWh of Energy Storage with EDF Power

Ford has established Ford Energy as a wholly owned subsidiary to manufacture battery energy storage systems.

The company could become a supplier for utility-scale projects and residential energy storage markets by repurposing EV battery manufacturing infrastructure in Kentucky.

The automaker plans to deploy at least 20 GWh of battery energy storage systems each year. First customer deliveries are planned for 2027.

"Ford Energy allows us to maximise the value of our battery manufacturing capabilities," says Lisa Drake, President of Ford Energy.

"We're building a business focused first on utility-scale battery energy storage systems for large customers while also offering battery cells for residential energy storage solutions."

Repurposing existing manufacturing facilities

Ford Energy will operate from a site in Glendale, Kentucky.

The facility was previously part of BlueOval SK, a joint venture between Ford and SK On that manufactured EV batteries.

The Glendale site contains two of three plants that were intended for the joint venture.

In December 2025, Ford announced a US$19.5bn strategic reset that cancelled plans for next-gen large electric trucks and pure-EV commercial vans.

The company dissolved the joint venture with SK On. All workers at the Kentucky plant were laid off in February 2026.

The facility now houses Ford Energy and will manufacture battery energy storage systems instead of EV batteries.

Framework agreement with EDF

EDF Power Solutions North America has signed a five-year framework agreement with Ford Energy.

The agreement gives EDF the ability to procure up to 4 GWh of battery energy storage systems each year.

Total potential volume under the agreement could reach 20 GWh over the full term.

Deliveries under this agreement are expected to begin in 2028.

"As we continue to expand our energy storage portfolio, supply chain reliability and product quality are paramount," says Tristan Grimbert, CEO of EDF Power Solutions North America.

"Ford Energy's commitment to domestic manufacturing and its rigorous approach to traceability and lifecycle support align with the standards we hold across our portfolio."

"This framework agreement gives us the supply visibility and product confidence we need to execute at the pace the energy transition demands."

Growing demand for storage

Advancements in lithium-ion and emerging chemistries have cut average global battery energy storage system prices to roughly a third of 2020 levels.

Technologies like data centres and renewable energy are boosting demand for battery energy storage systems around the world.

Grid resilience requirements are also increasing demand. According to the Solar Energy Industries Association, battery energy storage systems in the US are expected to see up to 70 GWh of growth in 2026 alone.

Manufacturing capacity remains limited across the supply chain.

According to Wood Mackenzie, US battery cell manufacturing capacity met only around 6% of domestic demand in 2025.

Technical specifications and applications

Ford Energy's flagship product is the DC Block, designed for utility-scale applications.

These include frequency regulation, voltage support, energy arbitrage, peak load shifting, demand response, backup power and microgrid integration.

The DC Block is a standardised, 20-foot containerised energy storage system with capacity of 5.45 MWh per unit.

The system uses 512 Ah lithium iron phosphate prismatic cells.

It is available in two hour and four hour discharge configurations.

The operating voltage range is 1,040–1,500 VDC and includes integrated liquid-cooled thermal management.

Ford Energy could address both utility-scale energy storage demand and supply chain constraints in the US market through domestic manufacturing.