ESS Achieves “Awardable” Status Through Department of War’s Tradewinds Solutions Marketplace

Designation Provides a Faster Procurement Pathway for ESS’s Energy Storage Solutions by Department of War Customers Seeking Resilient, Domestically Sourced Energy Solutions

WILSONVILLE, Ore.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--ESS Tech, Inc. (NYSE: GWH) ("ESS" or the "company"), a leading provider of safer, non-lithium energy storage solutions, today announced that it has achieved Awardable status through the Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office’s (“CDAO”) Tradewinds Solutions Marketplace, positioning the company’s energy storage technology for consideration by Department of War customers seeking innovative solutions to support energy resilience and other mission-critical applications.

The Tradewinds Solutions Marketplace is the premier offering of Tradewinds, the Department of War’s (“DoW’s”) suite of tools and services designed to accelerate the procurement and adoption of Artificial Intelligence (“AI”)/Machine Learning (“ML”), digital, and data analytics capabilities. The Marketplace is designed to accelerate the government’s identification and acquisition of innovative technologies by assessing industry solutions and making those deemed Awardable available through streamlined procurement pathways.

"Being selected for the Tradewinds Solutions Marketplace is an important milestone for ESS and expands our visibility within the U.S. Department of War and broader federal community," said Drew Buckley, CEO of ESS. "As the military continues to strengthen energy resilience and operational readiness, our flexible, non-lithium energy storage solutions are well positioned to help deliver reliable power for mission-critical applications while supporting emerging domestic supply chains."

The Awardable designation provides ESS with an additional pathway to engage with Department of War organizations and positions the company’s solution for consideration by government customers that have been assessed through the Tradewinds process. Unlike traditional government solicitation, the Tradewinds Solutions Marketplace enables government customers to identify and evaluate commercially available solutions through a centralized marketplace, shortening the path from technology identification to procurement.

ESS’s energy storage solutions, including Bridge™, a modular, sodium-ion battery container, are designed to enable safer, more resilient, and more cost-effective energy systems through domestically sourced and manufactured battery solutions. They are particularly well suited for use in data centers, large-scale utility applications, commercial and industrial sites, and critical infrastructure.

ESS was recognized among a competitive field of applicants to the Tradewinds Solutions Marketplace whose solution videos demonstrated innovation, scalability, and potential impact on Department of War missions. Government customers interested in viewing the solution video and hearing more about the company can create a Tradewinds Solutions Marketplace account at www.tradewindAI.com.

About ESS Tech, Inc.

ESS (NYSE: GWH) is a leading provider of non-lithium energy storage solutions designed to deliver safer, more reliable and resilient energy infrastructure. Founded in 2011, ESS develops and deploys energy storage technologies spanning short-, medium- and long-duration applications, including sodium-ion and iron flow battery systems and advanced energy management software. Using abundant, responsibly sourced materials, ESS solutions help utilities, businesses and critical infrastructure operators meet growing energy demand, integrate renewable energy, improve resilience and maximize the value of energy assets. For more information, visit www.essinc.com.

About the Tradewinds Solutions Marketplace

The Tradewinds Solutions Marketplace is a digital repository of post-competition, readily Awardable solution videos that address the Department of War’s (DoW’s) most significant challenges in the Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning (AI/ML), digital, and data analytics space. All Awardable solution videos have been assessed through complex scoring rubrics and competitive procedures and are available to Government Customers with a TSM account. Government Customers can create an account at www.tradewindai.com. Tradewinds is housed in the DoW’s Chief Digital Artificial Intelligence Office (CDAO).

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Forward-Looking Statements

This communication contains forward-looking statements (including within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended) concerning the company and other matters that involve substantial risks and uncertainties. These statements may discuss the management team’s goals, beliefs, hopes, intentions and expectations as to future plans, trends, events, results of operations and financial condition, or otherwise, based on current beliefs of the management of the company, as well as assumptions made by, and information currently available to, the company’s management. These forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology, including the words “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intends,” “may,” “might,” “plan,” “possible,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “should,” “will,” “would,” or, in each case, their negative or other variations or comparable terminology may identify forward-looking statements, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. These forward-looking statements, which are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions about us, may include our ability to engage and attract customers on the Tradewinds Solutions Marketplace, our anticipated growth strategies and anticipated trends in our business. Examples of forward-looking statements include, among others, ESS’ plans for its business, the demand for non-lithium and domestic battery solutions, the timeline for ESS’ development of the Bridge product, power demands and energy storage, statements by ESS’ CEO, and ESS’ ability to grow and our ability to meet the growing demand for energy storage. These forward-looking statements are based on ESS’ current expectations and beliefs concerning future developments and their potential effects on ESS. Many factors could cause actual future events to differ materially from the forward-looking statements in this communication. There can be no assurance that the future developments affecting ESS will be those that we have anticipated. These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties (some of which are beyond ESS control) or other assumptions that may cause actual results or performance to be materially different from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements, which include, but are not limited to, the demand for our Bridge product not developing as anticipated; our ability to realize and capitalize on sodium-ion opportunities; delays in the development of the Bridge product; our ability to expand our portfolio; our products being in the early stage of commercialization and aspects of our technology not having been fully field tested; our inability to develop our business and effectively commercialize our energy storage products; our dependence on third-party suppliers; our ability to secure or maintain long-term supply relationships with critical suppliers; our ability to secure or maintain a domestic supply chain; our ability to secure binding orders; failure to deliver the benefits offered by our technology; inability to achieve market acceptance of our products; our ability to sell effectively to large customers; failure to accurately estimate future supply and demand for our products and services; expansions into new markets, product lines or services; and our ability to raise capital in the near future and other risks and uncertainties described more fully in Exhibit 99.2 of the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed by the Company on August 11, 2026 and the Company's other filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Except as required by law, ESS is not undertaking any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.