Briefs: Partnerships Push Batteries, Data Centers, and More

When tech companies combine their expertise and resources—whether through acquisitions, partnerships, or joint projects—it can lead to significant advancements. Recent collaborations will impact batteries for energy storage systems, electric trucks, data center power systems, electric power controls, geothermal systems, and a hydrogen PEM electrolyzer.

Technologies benefitting from joint projects or collaborations.

Tesla To Buy ESS Batteries in $2B Deal With Samsung SDI

Tesla plans to purchase $2 billion in energy storage batteries from South Korean-based Samsung SDI. The batteries could be used in Tesla’s Megapack grid-scale energy storage systems.

The tech giant is reportedly seeking to reduce its reliance on batteries from China. The batteries would be manufactured in Samsung SDI’s facility in Indiana, which it will share with Stellantis. The factory is still under construction.

Tesla electric Semi. Image used courtesy of Tesla

In other news, Tesla’s dedicated Semi truck factory in Nevada is approaching completion. The plant will begin operation in 2026, with a 50,000-unit annual planned output. The all-electric Class 8 truck has an estimated 300- to 500-mile range on a single charge.

Littelfuse To Acquire Basler Electric To Grow Industrial Markets

Littelfuse will pay about $350 million in cash to acquire Basler Electric Company, a privately held Illinois-based company specializing in electrical controls, power generation, grid and utility infrastructure, and data centers. After tax benefits, the net transaction value will be about $320 million. Basler has manufacturing and service facilities in Illinois, Texas, Colorado, China, and Mexico.

Littelfuse stated the acquisition will open new growth opportunities for its products. Basler has a global market reach of over 1,600 customers in applications such as power transmission, HVAC, data centers, and industrial and electrical equipment. Littelfuse expects the deal to generate as much as $125 million in revenue.

Emerson, Prevalon Energy Partner for Data Center Power and Energy Storage

Emerson and Prevalon Energy have entered a strategic collaboration to deliver advanced energy solutions for data centers.

The project will combine Prevalon’s HD5 Energy Storage Platform and insightOS Energy Management System with Emerson’s Ovation Automation Platform. The deal aims to provide energy resilience, system intelligence, and grid reliability to data centers. Prevalon specializes in integrated battery energy storage systems.

Prevalon’s HD5 Energy Storage Platform. Image used courtesy of Prevalon

The Prevalon HD5 is a modular AC battery system that features high energy density and incorporates safety and cybersecurity measures. It is designed for data centers, microgrids, utility-scale projects, or renewable energy systems. The insightOS Energy Management System offers optimization, remote monitoring and diagnosis, dynamic control, and cybersecurity.

The companies will partner in development, marketing, and customer service initiatives.

Clean Energy and Qymera Collaborate on Geothermal Systems

Clean Energy Technologies (CETY) and Qymera Global Energy will join forces to advance and commercialize the DeepFyre geothermal system to provide scalable, zero-emissions power for island nations and emerging economies.

The collaboration will combine CETY’s heat-to-power and organic rankine cycle systems with Qymera’s DeepFyre monobore geothermal platform. The next-generation well architecture uses advanced resin-based casing to enhance heat transfer and ease drilling. The project aims to deploy 5 MW to 50 MW geothermal units that reduce costs and accelerate time-to-power. DeepFyre can reduce drilling costs by up to 30% and shorten deployment time by half.

Qymera’s DeepFyre technology. Image used courtesy of Qymera

Globally, the geothermal market was valued at about $8.75 million in 2024 and is projected to grow to over $12 million by 2033. CETY noted that Caribbean nations hold an estimated 55-70 GW of geothermal capacity but have deployed only about 15 MW. The companies will first target the Caribbean and Central American markets and then focus on Southeast Asia and Africa.

Smoltek Hydrogen, Heraeus Plan Electrolyzer Project

Smoltek Hydrogen and Heraeus Precious Metals are teaming up to advance low-iridium porous transport electrodes (PTEs) for PEM electrolyzers. The project aims to advance these PEM electrolyzers toward industrialization.

In the project, Smoltek Hydrogen will produce PTEs, which Heraeus will integrate into full PEM electrolyzer cells for testing in its laboratories. The project will begin in fall 2025, with completion slated for early 2026.

Smoltek’s PTEs comprise an ultra-thin iridium layer measuring 0.1 mg/cm², a performance level not known anywhere else. The hard, corrosion-resistant iridium is among the rarest elements on Earth. Supplies often face bottlenecks, as iridium is found primarily in South Africa and Russia.