Ford Motor Company – in the form of its new subsidiary Ford Energy – has signed a five-year framework agreement with EDF Group subsidiary EDF power solutions North America covering up to 20GWh of battery energy storage systems (BESS), marking a major step in Ford’s expansion into the stationary energy storage sector.
Under the agreement, EDF power solutions North America will be able to procure up to 4GWh per year of Ford Energy’s DC Block BESS products for utility-scale projects across the US. Deliveries are expected to begin in 2028.
The deal is the first major publicly announced agreement for Ford Energy, the automaker’s newly launched battery energy storage subsidiary. The business will assemble grid-scale BESS products in the US, using manufacturing capacity in Glendale, Kentucky, that had originally been earmarked for EV battery production.
Ford said the agreement highlights growing demand for domestically manufactured energy storage systems as utilities and developers seek to strengthen grid resilience and integrate more renewable generation.
Lisa Drake, president of Ford Energy, said: “This agreement with EDF power solutions validates the market’s need for a BESS supplier that combines industrial-scale manufacturing discipline with full lifecycle accountability.”
She added: “We are not simply delivering hardware. We are delivering the kind of predictable quality and long-term operational confidence that grid operators and large-scale developers require. Ford Energy was purpose-built to serve customers who cannot afford uncertainty in their energy storage supply chain.”
According to Ford, the DC Block system is a standardised 20-foot containerised BESS with a rated capacity of 5.45MWh per unit. The product uses 512Ah lithium iron phosphate (LFP) prismatic cells and will be available in both two-hour and four-hour discharge configurations. The operating voltage range is 1,040-1,500V DC and the systems use integrated liquid-cooled thermal management.
Ford said the systems are designed for applications including frequency regulation, voltage support, energy arbitrage, peak load shifting, demand response, backup power and microgrid integration.
Tristan Grimbert, chief executive of EDF power solutions North America, said: “As we continue to expand our energy storage portfolio, supply chain reliability and product quality are paramount.”
Ford Energy’s commitment to domestic manufacturing
He added: “Ford Energy’s commitment to domestic manufacturing and its rigorous approach to traceability and lifecycle support align with the standards we hold across our portfolio. This framework agreement gives us the supply visibility and product confidence we need to execute at the pace the energy transition demands.”
The announcement comes as automakers increasingly explore grid-scale storage opportunities amid slowing EV demand growth and rising electricity demand linked to AI data centres and electrification. Reuters reported that Ford’s move follows a $19.5 billion writedown on its EV programmes last year, after which the company accelerated plans to repurpose battery manufacturing infrastructure for stationary storage products.
EDF power solutions North America has operated in the US, Canada and Mexico since 1987 and has developed more than 26GW of renewable energy projects, according to the companies.
