• Deflagration testing conducted by Fluence and DNV, along with large-scale fire testing by Fluence and CSA Group, confirms Gridstack Pro 2000, featuring Fluence’s U.S.-manufactured battery modules, as the first domestic content solution to exceed the industry’s top safety standards  

ARLINGTON, Va., Dec. 12, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Fluence Energy, Inc. (“Fluence”) (NASDAQ: FLNC), a global market leader delivering intelligent energy storage, operational services, and asset optimization software, today announced the successful completion and passing of rigorous deflagration and fire safety testing for the first Gridstack Pro system. The fire test included Fluence’s U.S-manufactured battery modules, which began production in Utah earlier this year and recently achieved UL1973 certification. The modules, along with other U.S.-sourced components, are a key part of Fluence’s U.S.-manufactured product offering.  

A series of dispersion and deflagration tests to evaluate the explosion mitigation features of Gridstack Pro 2000 was conducted at DNV’s Spadeadam Research and Testing in Cumbria, U.K., a world-leading fire and explosion research and testing facility. Dispersion testing verifies how quickly gases will dissipate from within the enclosure to prevent explosion conditions. Gases are accumulated within the test enclosure but are not ignited. Deflagration testing verifies explosion protection features, such as deflagration panels, work as designed. During deflagration testing, gases are intentionally ignited to cause deflagration. The results from the Gridstack Pro 2000 testing validate the deflagration vents and panels effectively mitigate explosion risks, meeting NFPA 68 and NPFA 855 requirements. A detailed report from DNV validates these safety performance results. 

The large-scale fire test, conducted under the observation of the product testing, inspection, and certification organization CSA Group, significantly exceeded the requirements of the UL 9540A test standard. While UL 9540A unit level testing evaluates how thermal runaway may propagate through a battery system, it does not require actual fire conditions. The large-scale fire test on Gridstack Pro 2000, conducted at Safe Laboratories in North Carolina, involved a fully developed fire to validate enclosure separation distances, meeting the new large-scale fire test requirements in the upcoming NFPA 855 (2026). During testing, a fully populated enclosure burned without any fire suppression or firefighting efforts and self-extinguished without propagating to any neighboring enclosures or exposures. This worst-case scenario confirmed the system’s ability to mitigate fire risks and contain thermal events to the enclosure of origin. A detailed report from CSA validates these safety performance results. 

“During the UL 9540A unit level test, Gridstack Pro 2000 with Fluence modules successfully contained thermal runaway to one module without propagating to additional modules, fire ignition, or deflagration,” said Chris Reed, CSA Group Product Safety Engineer. “Large-scale fire testing further reinforced the system’s safety credentials, demonstrating that no propagation occurred between enclosures when spaced at the minimum allowable distance, even under fully developed fire conditions.” 

“This achievement marks a significant milestone for our Gridstack Pro line, designed with safety-first principles that underpin every Fluence solution,” said Rebecca Boll, Fluence SVP & Chief Product Officer. “The successful testing of Gridstack Pro 2000 demonstrates its strong safety performance and reliability, reinforcing customer and stakeholder confidence in our commitment to exceeding industry safety standards.”

In addition to validating fire containment performance, Fluence has taken the lead to exceed industry standards by collecting gas data during large-scale fire testing and conducting product-level plume modeling. Plume modeling analysis is used to better understand the composition and dispersion of smoke and gases generated during such events and support the development of safety guidelines for permitting authorities and first responders, with the goal of aligning emergency response measures with real-world conditions.  

As a pioneer in deflagration and large-scale fire tests that have helped define safety standards since 2022, Fluence continues to lead the industry on safety. Fluence systems integrate advanced safety features, including incipient gas detection, fault detection, and deflagration panels, which work together to prevent, detect, and contain thermal events. These measures are intended, in the unlikely event of an incident, to minimize impacts, and reduce potential damage and downtime.  

Fluence also engages proactively with permitting authorities and first responders by offering comprehensive training programs. These programs include instructor-led courses on battery energy storage safety and operations, covering topics such as system design, failure modes, and incident response. The goal is to prepare responders to address potential hazards safely and effectively. 

About Fluence  

Fluence Energy, Inc. (Nasdaq: FLNC) is a global market leader delivering intelligent energy storage and optimization software for renewables and storage. The Company's solutions and operational services are helping to create a more resilient grid and unlock the full potential of renewable portfolios. With gigawatts of projects successfully contracted, deployed, and under management across nearly 50 markets, the Company is transforming the way we power our world for a more sustainable future. 
  
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Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements   

The statements contained in this press release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements regarding anticipated safety performance of Gridstack Pro 2000 and ability to mitigate fire risks and intended ability of safety measures incorporated into the energy storage solution to minimize impacts from any thermal event, as well as beliefs, assumptions, prospects, plans, and objectives of management. Such statements can be identified by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. When used in this press release, words such as "may," "possible," "will," "should," "expects," "plans," "anticipates," "could," "intends," "targets," "projects," "contemplates," "commits", "believes," "estimates," "predicts," "potential," or "continue" or the negative of these terms or other similar expressions and variations thereof and similar words and expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. 

The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are based on our current expectations and beliefs concerning future developments, as well as a number of assumptions concerning future events, and their potential effects on our business. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of performance, and there can be no assurance that future developments affecting our business will be those that we have anticipated. These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties (some of which are beyond our 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, unforeseen circumstances outside of Fluence’s control which may cause the energy storage system to not perform as anticipated and such  factors set forth under Item 1A."Risk Factors" in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2024, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") on November 29, 2024, and in other filings we make with the SEC from time to time. New risks and uncertainties emerge from time to time and it is not possible for us to predict all such risk factors, nor can we assess the effect of all such risk factors on our business or the extent to which any factor or combination of factors may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should any of the assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary in material respects from those projected in these forward-looking statements. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements made in this press release. Each forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date of the particular statement, and we undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that occur, or which we become aware of, after the date hereof, except as otherwise may be required by law. 

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