Peak Energy Picks Sacramento for America's First Sodium-Ion Grid Storage Gigafactory
Peak Energy is investing up to $71M to build America's first grid-scale sodium-ion battery factory in Sacramento, producing 4 GWh of passively cooled BESS annually starting Q1 2027.
Key Takeaways
Peak Energy will invest up to $71 million in a 183,000-sq-ft Sacramento gigafactory producing up to 4 GWh of sodium-ion battery systems annually, with shipments starting Q1 2027 — America's first grid-scale sodium-ion battery factory.
The Metro Air Park project, backed by a $10.5 million CalCompetes tax credit, will create 239 local jobs over 18 months at average wages above $90,000, and 348 net new California jobs by 2030 including Peak's Burlingame HQ.
Peak's GS1.1 BESS uses patent-pending passive cooling that eliminates HVAC hardware, cutting storage costs about 20% and guaranteeing 99% uptime for 20+ years with no scheduled maintenance; eliminating battery refrigeration could save California ratepayers roughly $100 million annually.
The company has over 6 GWh in customer commitments, including a 4.75 GWh phased contract with Jupiter Power, deals with RWE Americas and Energy Vault, and a June 2026 GM Ventures-backed strategic partnership with General Motors.
The announcement rides a wave of non-Chinese battery manufacturing driven by AI, data center, and grid modernization demand, alongside Eni's LFP gigafactory in Brindisi and Reliance's 40 GWh Jamnagar plant.
Kaan Tınmaz
Peak Energy, a US-based sodium-ion grid storage startup, has selected Sacramento, California as the site of America's first grid-scale sodium-ion battery gigafactory — a 183,000-square-foot facility that will produce up to 4 GWh of battery systems annually beginning shipments in Q1 2027.
Sacramento, sodium-ion, and a $71 million investment
Peak will invest up to $71 million into the Sacramento site and create 239 local jobs over 18 months at an average annual wage of more than $90,000. Located in Sacramento's Metro Air Park, the project is backed by a $10.5 million CalCompetes tax credit awarded in May 2026. Together with Peak's Burlingame headquarters, the company expects to create 348 net new jobs across California by 2030. Governor Newsom's GO-Biz office and the Greater Sacramento Economic Council both anchored the announcement.
A drop-in replacement for lithium-ion BESS
Peak's GS1.1 sodium-ion battery energy storage systems (BESS) use passive cooling — a patent-pending architecture that eliminates HVAC hardware, reducing energy storage costs by roughly 20% and delivering a 99% guaranteed uptime for more than 20 years without scheduled maintenance. In California alone, eliminating battery refrigeration could save ratepayers an average of $100 million annually. Peak has more than 6 GWh of customer commitments already in place, including a 4.75 GWh phased contract with Jupiter Power, agreements with energy storage buyers pivoting to non-lithium chemistries, and a June 2026 strategic partnership with General Motors backed by GM Ventures.
A sodium-ion moment for US grid storage
Peak's Sacramento announcement lands as US grid storage demand accelerates on the back of AI, data centers, and grid modernization. It joins Eni's LFP gigafactory groundbreaking in Brindisi and Reliance's 40 GWh Jamnagar plant as a wave of non-Chinese cell manufacturing capacity comes online. Customer wins with RWE Americas, Jupiter Power, Energy Vault, and GM position Peak as the first US firm with a domestic sodium-ion production line for the utility market.
Reporting based on coverage from Peak Energy's press release, PR Newswire, Energy Storage News, and Solar Power World Online.
When will Peak Energy's Sacramento sodium-ion factory begin shipping batteries?
The 183,000-square-foot facility in Sacramento's Metro Air Park will begin shipments in Q1 2027, producing up to 4 GWh of sodium-ion battery energy storage systems annually.
How do Peak Energy's sodium-ion systems differ from lithium-ion BESS?
Peak's GS1.1 systems are drop-in replacements that use a patent-pending passive cooling architecture, eliminating HVAC hardware. This reduces energy storage costs by roughly 20% and delivers 99% guaranteed uptime for over 20 years without scheduled maintenance.
Who are Peak Energy's customers?
Peak has more than 6 GWh of customer commitments, including a 4.75 GWh phased contract with Jupiter Power, deals with RWE Americas and Energy Vault, and a June 2026 strategic partnership with General Motors backed by GM Ventures.
What economic impact will the factory have on Sacramento and California?
Peak will invest up to $71 million and create 239 local jobs over 18 months at average annual wages above $90,000, supported by a $10.5 million CalCompetes tax credit. Combined with its Burlingame headquarters, Peak expects 348 net new California jobs by 2030.
