Star Charge plans 32 GWh of battery storage projects in US

Star Charge Americas, an Ohio-based manufacturer of battery storage systems, EV charging equipment, and microgrid solutions, has partnered with New Jersey-headquartered infrastructure developer Beneficial Holdings, Inc. under a master service agreement (MSA) to roll out a large-scale battery energy storage project program across the United States and Puerto Rico.

The companies plan to deploy a series of projects totaling more than 32.24 GWh, with a combined value exceeding $3.2 billion. The initiative aims to ease grid congestion and support the growing data center industry in key regions.

“The implications of this deal extend far beyond mere numbers. It signals a monumental shift in the US energy storage industry, particularly as it relates to the burgeoning demand for data centers,” said Andreas Fornwald Chief Development Officer at Star Charge Americas.

Star Charge, headquartered in Fremont, California, with manufacturing operations in Columbus, Ohio, provides a range of energy technologies for commercial, industrial, and utility applications. “Star Charge Americas is a critical partner as we accessed non Foreign Entity of Concern (FEOC) partnerships to maximize the investment tax credits (ITC) for our grid scale projects,” said Greg Senkevitch CEO of Beneficial Holdings.

Data center grid connections in the US are often delayed due to long interconnection queues, limited regional grid capacity, and lengthy permitting and utility review processes. To accelerate connections, operators are increasingly deploying on-site battery energy storage systems, which can supplement or temporarily supply power while full grid infrastructure is upgraded. Batteries enable flexible interconnection, reduce initial load on the grid, and support hybrid or microgrid operation, allowing data centers to begin operations sooner.

Battery storage is becoming a cornerstone of US energy infrastructure. BloombergNEF data indicates that nearly 67 GW/287 GWh of new utility-scale batteries will be built over the next five years, tripling the nation’s cumulative storage capacity from 27.3 GW in 2024.