John Clifford, Relectrify Chairman,? The Hon. Sarah Witty MP, Member. Kate Thwaites MP, Special Envoy for Climate Change Adaptation and Resilience, James Hutchinson ARENA, Program Manager Jeff Renaud, Relectrify CEO
– AC1 battery energy storage system (AC1 BESS) designed for grid-scale and industrial use
– AC1 BESS delivers 20% more lifetime energy than conventional BESS technology
– Market launch backed by $25 million in new funding from ARENA
Relectrify has today unveiled a world-leading battery energy storage system (BESS) set to make BESS technology more efficient, resilient and cost-effective. The Australian-engineered AC1 Battery Energy Storage System (AC1 BESS) is designed for both grid-scale and industrial deployment with Relectrify securing $25 million from The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) to support its launch.
The ARENA support comes after Relectrify recently completed a $19 million equity funding round to support general operations, featuring backing from six existing investors, including Virescent Ventures, and a new, minority investment from Houston, Texas-based Fortune 500 company NRG Energy.
Relectrify’s AC1 BESS utilises the company’s patented CellSwitch® technology, which independently controls and optimises the performance of every battery cell within a BESS. This technological breakthrough ensures the AC1 BESS delivers more energy every time it is cycled while also significantly extending BESS lifetime relative to conventional battery systems.
Relectrify CEO Jeff Renaud said: “AC1 BESS neutralises weaknesses in today’s battery systems with a proprietary architecture that can independently optimise the usage of every battery cell. The AC1 does things no other BESS can do, generating grid-compliant AC power directly from battery cells, without the need for a separate inverter. This all translates into enhanced safety, reliability and investment returns for BESS owners.
“Commercial and industrial energy users are the ‘missing middle’ in Australia’s energy transition and the AC1 is designed to fill this gap. While there has been an uptick in household battery deployments, without accelerated adoption of battery technology by industrial energy users, Australia’s transition is at risk of stalling.
“Not only is the AC1 BESS capable of being deployed at a grid level, but it is flexible and cost effective enough to be deployed by large energy users such as manufacturing, agricultural, data centre and commercial property businesses. With unpredictable energy costs leading to increasing uncertainty for businesses, the AC1 BESS gives large energy users the ability to take control of their energy use and reduce costs, all while supporting Australia’s transition to renewables. We’re thrilled that it is now available to Australian businesses.”
ARENA funding will support Relectrify to deploy the AC1 BESS at a number of commercial and industrial and small front-of-the-meter BESS sites. ARENA has previously supported Relectrify with two prior grants to help it develop its innovative battery management technology.
ARENA CEO Darren Miller said the project highlights the importance of backing early-stage technology and Australia’s leadership in battery innovation. “With early-stage support from ARENA, Relectrify was able to develop its technology and test its first deployments. Not everything went to plan, but through these early trials Relectrify developed a breakthrough with the potential to reduce costs and improve performance.
“What began as a project to reuse end-of-life batteries has now grown into a world-class battery management technology with the potential to transform energy storage. By backing home-grown innovators like Relectrify, we’re helping to bring forward technologies that could unlock new value from batteries and support the transition to a more flexible, low-emissions grid.”
The AC1 BESS is now available for order with first deliveries in Q1 2026. Businesses interested in being among the first to deploy this next-generation BESS technology in Australia are encouraged to register this interest now: www.relectrify.com/au/commercial-enquiries
About Relectrify
Relectrify is a Melbourne-based technology company that is engineering battery energy storage systems from the cell up to reduce the cost of renewable energy for everyone. Recently recognised by TIME Magazine as one of the world’s top GreenTech companies for 2025, Relectrify’s AC1 BESS and patented CellSwitch® platform have the potential to redefine the global battery storage sector and help accelerate the world’s energy transition. www.relectrify.com
About ARENA
ARENA supports the global transition to net zero emissions by accelerating the pace of pre-commercial innovation, to the benefit of Australian consumers, businesses and workers.
https://arena.gov.au/
About Relectrify’s AC1 BESS and CellSwitch® technology
The AC1 BESS is a 250 kW / 1.2 MWh inverter-less alternating current (AC) battery, which delivers 20 per cent more energy over its lifetime, improving the economics for battery energy storage and giving businesses a new tool to reduce their energy costs.
In conventional battery systems, performance and longevity is limited by the weakest cell in a battery string. Relectrify’s patented CellSwitch® technology controls and optimises the performance of every battery cell, eliminating this weakness and maximising energy use and performance. The ability to switch individual cells also eliminates the need for conventional inverters, resulting in a simpler, lower-cost battery system. The technology:
- Generates grid-compliant AC power directly from the battery cells without an inverter
- Increases system throughput by more than 20 per cent over life
- Improves safety and reliability by bypassing failed or unsafe cells without compromising the performance of the rest of the system
- Avoids outages and downtime.
Engineered in Australia and manufactured in Taiwan, the AC1 BESS is now available for grid scale energy developers and industrial users to order with first deliveries from Q1 2026
For more information visit www.relectrify.com.
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