# EnerVenue
EnerVenue Holdings, Ltd. is a grid-scale energy storage company founded in 2020 and headquartered in [Fremont, California](https://www.edgepedia.org/fremont-california), that manufactures nickel-hydrogen batteries adapted from NASA-proven chemistry for long-duration electricity storage; it remains independent and operating as of its June 2026 SEC filing.[1](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1899212/000189921226000003/0001899212-26-000003-index.htm) The company's Energy Storage Vessels are designed for discharge durations of two to twelve hours, a market aimed at data centers, petrochemical operators, and applications where flow batteries have been used.[2](https://www.ess-news.com/2026/06/08/china-is-the-place-to-be-enervenue-deploys-first-nickel-hydrogen-pilot-targets-1-gwh-production-by-2027/)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2020, based on Stanford materials science research by Yi Cui[3](https://thenextweb.com/news/enervenue-300m-series-b-metal-hydrogen-batteries) |
| Headquarters | 3500 Gateway Blvd, Fremont, CA[1](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1899212/000189921226000003/0001899212-26-000003-index.htm) |
| Leadership | Co-founder and chairman Yi Cui; CEO Henning Rath (appointed March 2026)[4](https://batterytechassociation.org/lithium-free-energy-storage-pioneer-enervenue-appoints-internationally-renowned-tech-executive-henning-rath-as-ceo-and-closes-300-million-series-b-funding-extension-round-led-by-full-vision-capital/) |
| Known financing | $12M seed (2020); $100M Series A (2021); $308M Series B (July 2024); $300M Series B extension (March 2026)[5](https://www.canarymedia.com/articles/long-duration-energy-storage/us-battery-startup-builds-factory-china) • [6](https://www.forbes.com/sites/zinnialee/2026/03/31/hong-kong-property-tycoon-peter-lee-leads-300-million-round-in-us-battery-startup/) |
| Notable investors | Full Vision Capital (Peter Lee), Hong Kong Investment Corp., Saudi Aramco Energy Ventures, Schlumberger New Energy[6](https://www.forbes.com/sites/zinnialee/2026/03/31/hong-kong-property-tycoon-peter-lee-leads-300-million-round-in-us-battery-startup/) • [5](https://www.canarymedia.com/articles/long-duration-energy-storage/us-battery-startup-builds-factory-china) |
| Claims for its battery | ~30,000 cycles, 30-year life, 90% round-trip efficiency, no fire risk[2](https://www.ess-news.com/2026/06/08/china-is-the-place-to-be-enervenue-deploys-first-nickel-hydrogen-pilot-targets-1-gwh-production-by-2027/) • [7](https://www.energy-storage.news/treating-batteries-like-infrastructure-enervenue-ceo-on-its-nickel-hydrogen-energy-storage-vessels/) |
| Status | Active and independent, Fremont CA, as of June 2026[1](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1899212/000189921226000003/0001899212-26-000003-index.htm) |
## History and founding
EnerVenue was established in 2020 with a $12 million seed round led by Peter Lee, cochairman of the Hong Kong property-to-energy group [Henderson Land](https://www.edgepedia.org/henderson-land).[6](https://www.forbes.com/sites/zinnialee/2026/03/31/hong-kong-property-tycoon-peter-lee-leads-300-million-round-in-us-battery-startup/) Its scientific foundation is the material research of [Yi Cui](https://www.edgepedia.org/yi-cui), a professor of materials science and engineering at Stanford University and an elected member of the National Academy of Sciences, who serves as the company's co-founder and chairman.[3](https://thenextweb.com/news/enervenue-300m-series-b-metal-hydrogen-batteries) • [8](https://www.enervenue.com/about)
In 2021 the company raised a $100 million Series A from investors including Saudi Aramco Energy Ventures and Schlumberger New Energy.[5](https://www.canarymedia.com/articles/long-duration-energy-storage/us-battery-startup-builds-factory-china) In 2023 its Energy Storage Vessel obtained UL1973 certification and completed UL9540A testing, the safety standards used for stationary battery systems in North America.[7](https://www.energy-storage.news/treating-batteries-like-infrastructure-enervenue-ceo-on-its-nickel-hydrogen-energy-storage-vessels/)
## Technology: how nickel-hydrogen works and what EnerVenue changed
A nickel-hydrogen cell contains a nickel hydroxide positive electrode and a hydrogen negative electrode in an alkaline electrolyte.[10](https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.1809344115) When the cell is charged, hydrogen gas is produced and stored inside a sealed, large-format cell; on discharge the hydrogen reaction is reversed.[2](https://www.ess-news.com/2026/06/08/china-is-the-place-to-be-enervenue-deploys-first-nickel-hydrogen-pilot-targets-1-gwh-production-by-2027/) Because the electrolyte is water-based rather than the flammable organic solvents used in lithium-ion cells, the company says its battery carries no risk of fire or thermal runaway.[3](https://thenextweb.com/news/enervenue-300m-series-b-metal-hydrogen-batteries) • [7](https://www.energy-storage.news/treating-batteries-like-infrastructure-enervenue-ceo-on-its-nickel-hydrogen-energy-storage-vessels/)
NASA developed nickel-hydrogen batteries in the 1980s, and the chemistry powered the [Hubble Space Telescope](https://www.edgepedia.org/hubble-space-telescope) and the [International Space Station](https://www.edgepedia.org/international-space-station) for decades; per the company, it accumulated more continuous operational hours than any other battery chemistry ever built.[7](https://www.energy-storage.news/treating-batteries-like-infrastructure-enervenue-ceo-on-its-nickel-hydrogen-energy-storage-vessels/) • [8](https://www.enervenue.com/about) NASA's version was prohibitively expensive for civilian power markets. EnerVenue's founders claimed to have swapped the platinum catalyst for a much cheaper material, and the company rebuilt the electrodes, form factor, and manufacturing processes for commercial viability.[5](https://www.canarymedia.com/articles/long-duration-energy-storage/us-battery-startup-builds-factory-china) • [7](https://www.energy-storage.news/treating-batteries-like-infrastructure-enervenue-ceo-on-its-nickel-hydrogen-energy-storage-vessels/)
The resulting Energy Storage Vessel (ESV) is a roughly two-meter-long steel tank wrapped in composite material, assembled into energy racks and containerised; it operates from minus 20 to plus 60 degrees Celsius.[7](https://www.energy-storage.news/treating-batteries-like-infrastructure-enervenue-ceo-on-its-nickel-hydrogen-energy-storage-vessels/) The chemistry uses only nickel, steel, and glass fiber composite, which the company says makes the battery nearly completely recyclable and independent of lithium and rare-earth supply chains.[2](https://www.ess-news.com/2026/06/08/china-is-the-place-to-be-enervenue-deploys-first-nickel-hydrogen-pilot-targets-1-gwh-production-by-2027/)
## Funding and investors
EnerVenue's announced rounds are a $12 million seed in 2020, a $100 million Series A in 2021, a $308 million Series B in July 2024, and a $300 million Series B extension announced March 31, 2026.[5](https://www.canarymedia.com/articles/long-duration-energy-storage/us-battery-startup-builds-factory-china) • [7](https://www.energy-storage.news/treating-batteries-like-infrastructure-enervenue-ceo-on-its-nickel-hydrogen-energy-storage-vessels/) • [6](https://www.forbes.com/sites/zinnialee/2026/03/31/hong-kong-property-tycoon-peter-lee-leads-300-million-round-in-us-battery-startup/) The July 2024 Series B placed the company in research firm Mercom Capital's top five VC deals for the first half of 2024.[7](https://www.energy-storage.news/treating-batteries-like-infrastructure-enervenue-ceo-on-its-nickel-hydrogen-energy-storage-vessels/) The extension was led by Full Vision Capital, the Hong Kong family office of Peter Lee, with participation from Hong Kong Investment Corp.; the valuation was undisclosed.[6](https://www.forbes.com/sites/zinnialee/2026/03/31/hong-kong-property-tycoon-peter-lee-leads-300-million-round-in-us-battery-startup/)
The Form D record complicates the totals. On June 9, 2026, EnerVenue Holdings, Ltd. filed a Form D.[1](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1899212/000189921226000003/0001899212-26-000003-index.htm) The filing itself does not resolve how its offering relates to the announced rounds. A third-party total of $445 million per Crunchbase was reported at the time of the extension.[3](https://thenextweb.com/news/enervenue-300m-series-b-metal-hydrogen-batteries)
## Manufacturing and traction
In 2023 EnerVenue told Canary Media it would invest $264 million to open a factory in Kentucky and produce batteries by the end of the year. In November 2024 it vacated the Shelby County, Kentucky plant, citing a decision to accelerate its fourth-generation Energy Storage Vessel; the site was subsequently bought and occupied by [Canadian Solar](https://www.edgepedia.org/canadian-solar).[5](https://www.canarymedia.com/articles/long-duration-energy-storage/us-battery-startup-builds-factory-china) • [7](https://www.energy-storage.news/treating-batteries-like-infrastructure-enervenue-ceo-on-its-nickel-hydrogen-energy-storage-vessels/) The $300 million announced in March 2026 funds a factory buildout in [Changzhou](https://www.edgepedia.org/changzhou), China instead.[5](https://www.canarymedia.com/articles/long-duration-energy-storage/us-battery-startup-builds-factory-china)
At Changzhou, where fourth-generation aqueous metal cell technology and Energy Racks are made, CEO Henning Rath said a fully automatic 250 MWh manufacturing line of fourth-generation chemistry would come online in Q3 2026, scaling to 1 GWh in 2027; the company stated these capacity targets are "now fully funded."[2](https://www.ess-news.com/2026/06/08/china-is-the-place-to-be-enervenue-deploys-first-nickel-hydrogen-pilot-targets-1-gwh-production-by-2027/) • [9](https://www.energy-storage.news/enervenue-piloting-30000-cycle-nickel-hydrogen-bess-in-china/) • [4](https://batterytechassociation.org/lithium-free-energy-storage-pioneer-enervenue-appoints-internationally-renowned-tech-executive-henning-rath-as-ceo-and-closes-300-million-series-b-funding-extension-round-led-by-full-vision-capital/)
The company is no longer pre-revenue in the pilot sense. In 2024 energy firm RWE purchased ESVs for a pilot at RWE's Milwaukee-area testing facility, which remains operational using Gen 2 technology.[7](https://www.energy-storage.news/treating-batteries-like-infrastructure-enervenue-ceo-on-its-nickel-hydrogen-energy-storage-vessels/) In 2026 EnerVenue deployed its first commercial-adjacent pilot at Towngas in China: a custom AC block with 50 aqueous metal cells in a modular outdoor-rated Energy Rack delivering 150 kWh of storage with an inverter and battery management system, alongside on-site renewables and electric bus charging.[2](https://www.ess-news.com/2026/06/08/china-is-the-place-to-be-enervenue-deploys-first-nickel-hydrogen-pilot-targets-1-gwh-production-by-2027/) • [9](https://www.energy-storage.news/enervenue-piloting-30000-cycle-nickel-hydrogen-bess-in-china/) Further Gen 4 pilots were expected online by mid-2026 across China, the US, Canada, Australia, Belgium, and Saudi Arabia.[7](https://www.energy-storage.news/treating-batteries-like-infrastructure-enervenue-ceo-on-its-nickel-hydrogen-energy-storage-vessels/) • [2](https://www.ess-news.com/2026/06/08/china-is-the-place-to-be-enervenue-deploys-first-nickel-hydrogen-pilot-targets-1-gwh-production-by-2027/)
## By the numbers
- ~30,000 charge-discharge cycles and a 30-year design life, described by CEO Henning Rath as about three times longer than lithium-ion cells[7](https://www.energy-storage.news/treating-batteries-like-infrastructure-enervenue-ceo-on-its-nickel-hydrogen-energy-storage-vessels/)
- 90% round-trip efficiency[2](https://www.ess-news.com/2026/06/08/china-is-the-place-to-be-enervenue-deploys-first-nickel-hydrogen-pilot-targets-1-gwh-production-by-2027/)
- Up to three full cycles daily without interruption, delivering roughly 4 to 6 times higher throughput than standard lithium-ion batteries[9](https://www.energy-storage.news/enervenue-piloting-30000-cycle-nickel-hydrogen-bess-in-china/)
- Discharge durations of two to twelve hours[2](https://www.ess-news.com/2026/06/08/china-is-the-place-to-be-enervenue-deploys-first-nickel-hydrogen-pilot-targets-1-gwh-production-by-2027/)
- One trade report gave an operating range of minus 20 to plus 60 degrees Celsius, while another outlet reported minus 40 to plus 50 degrees Celsius.[7](https://www.energy-storage.news/treating-batteries-like-infrastructure-enervenue-ceo-on-its-nickel-hydrogen-energy-storage-vessels/) • [3](https://thenextweb.com/news/enervenue-300m-series-b-metal-hydrogen-batteries)
- First pilot of 150 kWh; manufacturing planned from 250 MWh (Q3 2026) to 1 GWh (2027) in Changzhou[2](https://www.ess-news.com/2026/06/08/china-is-the-place-to-be-enervenue-deploys-first-nickel-hydrogen-pilot-targets-1-gwh-production-by-2027/)
## Comparison and drawbacks
Against lithium-ion, EnerVenue's claimed advantages are lifetime (three times longer by cycle and calendar life), inherent fire safety from a water-based electrolyte, freedom from lithium and rare-earth supply chains, and higher daily throughput per cell.[7](https://www.energy-storage.news/treating-batteries-like-infrastructure-enervenue-ceo-on-its-nickel-hydrogen-energy-storage-vessels/) • [2](https://www.ess-news.com/2026/06/08/china-is-the-place-to-be-enervenue-deploys-first-nickel-hydrogen-pilot-targets-1-gwh-production-by-2027/) • [3](https://thenextweb.com/news/enervenue-300m-series-b-metal-hydrogen-batteries)
The evidence also implies structural trade-offs without quantifying them. The two-meter steel vessels wrapped in composite point to a bulky form factor.[7](https://www.energy-storage.news/treating-batteries-like-infrastructure-enervenue-ceo-on-its-nickel-hydrogen-energy-storage-vessels/) • [2](https://www.ess-news.com/2026/06/08/china-is-the-place-to-be-enervenue-deploys-first-nickel-hydrogen-pilot-targets-1-gwh-production-by-2027/) The strategic pivot from a planned US plant in Kentucky to a Chinese factory concentrates manufacturing execution risk outside the United States.[5](https://www.canarymedia.com/articles/long-duration-energy-storage/us-battery-startup-builds-factory-china)
## Recent developments
2024 brought the $308 million Series B in July, the withdrawal from Kentucky in November, and the RWE pilot purchase.[7](https://www.energy-storage.news/treating-batteries-like-infrastructure-enervenue-ceo-on-its-nickel-hydrogen-energy-storage-vessels/) In March 2026 Henning Rath, previously of Enpal, was appointed CEO, and the company closed the $300 million Series B extension led by Full Vision Capital.[4](https://batterytechassociation.org/lithium-free-energy-storage-pioneer-enervenue-appoints-internationally-renowned-tech-executive-henning-rath-as-ceo-and-closes-300-million-series-b-funding-extension-round-led-by-full-vision-capital/) • [6](https://www.forbes.com/sites/zinnialee/2026/03/31/hong-kong-property-tycoon-peter-lee-leads-300-million-round-in-us-battery-startup/) Through mid-2026 it deployed the Towngas pilot and filed its Form D on June 9; construction of the new 250 MWh high-volume production line at Changzhou was due to begin later in the year.[2](https://www.ess-news.com/2026/06/08/china-is-the-place-to-be-enervenue-deploys-first-nickel-hydrogen-pilot-targets-1-gwh-production-by-2027/) • [1](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1899212/000189921226000003/0001899212-26-000003-index.htm) • [9](https://www.energy-storage.news/enervenue-piloting-30000-cycle-nickel-hydrogen-bess-in-china/)
## References
1. [EDGAR Filing Documents for 0001899212-26-000003 — Form D, EnerVenue Holdings, Ltd.](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1899212/000189921226000003/0001899212-26-000003-index.htm)
2. ['China is the place to be': EnerVenue deploys first nickel-hydrogen pilot, targets 1 GWh production by 2027 (ESS News, June 8, 2026)](https://www.ess-news.com/2026/06/08/china-is-the-place-to-be-enervenue-deploys-first-nickel-hydrogen-pilot-targets-1-gwh-production-by-2027/)
3. [EnerVenue lands $300 million to bring NASA's space batteries down to Earth (The Next Web)](https://thenextweb.com/news/enervenue-300m-series-b-metal-hydrogen-batteries)
4. [EnerVenue appoints Henning Rath as CEO and closes $300 million Series B extension round led by Full Vision Capital (company press release via Battery Tech Association)](https://batterytechassociation.org/lithium-free-energy-storage-pioneer-enervenue-appoints-internationally-renowned-tech-executive-henning-rath-as-ceo-and-closes-300-million-series-b-funding-extension-round-led-by-full-vision-capital/)
5. [US battery startup builds factory in China after pulling out of Kentucky (Canary Media)](https://www.canarymedia.com/articles/long-duration-energy-storage/us-battery-startup-builds-factory-china)
6. [Hong Kong Property Tycoon Peter Lee Leads $300 Million Round In U.S. Battery Startup (Forbes, March 31, 2026)](https://www.forbes.com/sites/zinnialee/2026/03/31/hong-kong-property-tycoon-peter-lee-leads-300-million-round-in-us-battery-startup/)
7. [Treating batteries like infrastructure: EnerVenue CEO on its nickel-hydrogen energy storage vessels (Energy-Storage.News)](https://www.energy-storage.news/treating-batteries-like-infrastructure-enervenue-ceo-on-its-nickel-hydrogen-energy-storage-vessels/)
8. [About EnerVenue | Energy Storage Infrastructure Company](https://www.enervenue.com/about)
9. [EnerVenue piloting '30,000-cycle' nickel-hydrogen BESS in China (Energy-Storage.News)](https://www.energy-storage.news/enervenue-piloting-30000-cycle-nickel-hydrogen-bess-in-china/)
10. [Pnas.1809344115 (pnas.org)](https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.1809344115)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Technology and the built world › Energy technology › Batteries and energy storage › Battery and cell manufacturers*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 30, 2026 · Edited: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 11, 2026; Oct 15, 2026 · Last review: Sep 30, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license