Amazon has partnered with Unbound Potential, a Swiss battery startup, to trial its battery energy storage (BESS) technology in a pilot project at Amazon's European logistics centers.

Amazon aims to use the battery to support the challenge of limited solar energy utilization due to 24/7 operations, enabling the transition to off-grid fulfillment centers powered entirely by renewable sources.

Unbound Potential
Unbound Potential battery – Unbound Potential

During the pilot phase, Amazon will work closely with the startup, providing feedback, troubleshooting assistance, and opportunities to refine their technologies to ensure they work smoothly in their placements.

Upon completion, environmental impacts, financial viability, and overall effectiveness of the pilot will be assessed to determine whether it can be scaled across other sites as part of a long-term partnership.

Unbound is a Swiss company that develops a novel membrane-less redox flow battery technology. Unlike lithium-ion batteries, the battery cell does not require a membrane, which, according to the company, will bring the overall costs down significantly.

Unbound Potential CEO Taylor says: “The benefits of our battery solution can potentially fit perfectly with Amazon's storage needs. Compared to conventional redox flow batteries, our membrane-less system allows for lower maintenance despite significantly lower investment costs. Our next goal is to scale up the technology so that we can offer our systems on an industrial scale.”

Researchers have demonstrated that the technology is effective in lab settings. However, Unbound Potential asserts it’s the first to achieve membrane-free redox flow battery construction at an industrial scale.

In addition, the firm states that its battery solution will last at least twice as long as a lithium battery, with over 10,000 charging cycles.

Unbound participated in the Amazon Sustainability Accelerator, an equity-free program that supports start-ups driving sustainable innovation.

Amazon has taken an increasing interest in the BESS market over recent years. In May, its first solar and battery storage project, the 150MW Baldy Mesa solar + 75MW storage project outside of San Bernardino, California, went live.

Amazon said it is investing in the development of 10 solar energy projects paired with battery storage across California and Arizona, representing nearly 1.5GW of battery energy storage capacity to date.