ESS Tech Appoints Industry Veteran Jigish Trivedi as Chief Operating Officer to Lead Next Phase of Growth
ESS Tech, Inc. (“ESS” or the “Company”) (NYSE: GWH), a pioneering manufacturer of iron flow long-duration energy storage (LDES) systems for both commercial and utility-scale applications, today announced a significant leadership appointment aimed at accelerating its growth strategy. The company has named Jigish Trivedi as its new Chief Operating Officer (COO), bringing to the role more than three decades of high-level executive experience in scaling global operations for fast-growing technology enterprises.
This leadership change comes at a strategic moment for ESS, which is focusing on operational excellence, scalability, and global market penetration as it executes its vision to support the clean energy transition with durable and sustainable energy storage solutions.
A Leader Poised to Accelerate ESS’s Strategic Goals
“We are thrilled to welcome Jigish to the ESS executive team,” said Kelly Goodman, Interim Chief Executive Officer of ESS. “His extensive experience in both the energy and semiconductor sectors, combined with a demonstrated ability to build and manage world-class scalable operations, is precisely the skill set ESS needs right now. We are in the midst of a strategic pivot to our Energy Base platform, and Jigish’s leadership will be instrumental in ensuring our operational foundation can match the pace of our growth plans.”
Goodman highlighted that ESS is at a critical inflection point — moving from its early commercialization phase into a period of significant operational scaling. “As demand for long-duration energy storage grows worldwide, execution is everything,” she said. “Jigish’s proven track record in leading companies through rapid expansion will be invaluable as we meet growing customer needs, streamline our supply chain, and ramp up production.”
From Startups to Global Players — Trivedi’s Career Journey
Jigish Trivedi joins ESS from Electric Hydrogen, a rapidly emerging leader in green hydrogen production technology. As Senior Vice President of Operations and Global Supply Chain at Electric Hydrogen, Trivedi played a pivotal role in scaling the company from a small team of around 10 employees to a global workforce of more than 350. Under his operational leadership, the company achieved “unicorn” status — a valuation exceeding $1 billion — thanks to its strong market positioning, technological advancements, and operational discipline.
Before that, Trivedi held senior leadership positions at First Solar, one of the largest global manufacturers of solar photovoltaic modules, where he was deeply involved in operational process optimization, manufacturing scale-up, and global logistics. His work contributed to First Solar’s ability to meet rapidly increasing demand for renewable energy solutions across multiple continents.
Earlier in his career, Trivedi served at Micron Technology, a leading global semiconductor company, where he oversaw critical aspects of product development, manufacturing operations, and supply chain strategy. His experience in the semiconductor industry gave him deep expertise in managing complex, technology-driven manufacturing environments — expertise that translates directly to the high-precision, high-reliability requirements of ESS’s iron flow battery systems.
A Mission That Resonates
In his first public remarks since accepting the role, Trivedi expressed enthusiasm about joining ESS during this transformative stage.
“I am excited to join ESS at such a pivotal moment in its journey,” Trivedi said. “The company’s mission — enabling the clean energy transition with innovative long-duration storage solutions — is not just timely, it’s essential. As the world pushes to decarbonize power systems, reliable and sustainable storage will be the backbone of a resilient clean energy grid.”
He added that his focus will be on building a robust operational foundation capable of supporting both rapid growth and long-term sustainability. “We have the opportunity to deliver a product that meets a critical global need. I look forward to working closely with the entire ESS team to strengthen our manufacturing, optimize our supply chain, and ensure every customer receives best-in-class performance.”
Why This Appointment Matters for ESS
ESS is widely recognized for its iron flow battery technology, a long-duration energy storage solution that stands apart from conventional lithium-ion systems. Using abundant, non-toxic, and fully recyclable materials such as iron, salt, and water, ESS’s batteries offer 4 to 12 hours of storage capacity, making them particularly well-suited for integrating variable renewable energy sources like wind and solar into the grid.
The appointment of a seasoned operations leader like Trivedi signals ESS’s readiness to move from innovation and pilot deployments toward high-volume commercialization. This shift requires:
- Scaling manufacturing capacity to meet increasing demand from utilities, commercial customers, and grid operators.
- Streamlining global supply chains to ensure timely delivery of components and finished products.
- Establishing operational excellence to keep costs competitive while maintaining product reliability.
- Expanding into new markets where long-duration storage can unlock renewable energy potential.
Trivedi’s background in scaling operations for companies at both startup and multinational levels positions him well to guide ESS through this stage.
The Strategic Pivot to Energy Base
ESS’s interim CEO Goodman mentioned the company’s strategic pivot toward the Energy Base, its next-generation platform designed to be a modular, scalable solution for large-scale energy storage deployments. The Energy Base system aims to provide flexible deployment options for utilities and large energy consumers, with a focus on:
- Long operational life — up to 25 years with minimal degradation.
- Environmental sustainability — no hazardous materials and full recyclability at end-of-life.
- High safety standards — non-flammable electrolytes reduce fire risk compared to lithium-ion batteries.
Trivedi’s operational leadership will be critical in bringing the Energy Base to market at scale, ensuring that manufacturing processes are not only efficient but also aligned with the company’s sustainability mission.
Industry Context: Growing Demand for Long-Duration Storage
The global push for decarbonization is driving unprecedented interest in energy storage solutions that can go beyond the short-duration needs traditionally met by lithium-ion batteries. Long-duration energy storage (LDES) is viewed as a key enabler of high renewable energy penetration, as it can smooth fluctuations in generation, provide backup during multi-day low-renewable periods, and support grid resilience during extreme weather events.
Industry analysts project that the global LDES market could reach hundreds of gigawatt-hours of installed capacity by 2040, representing trillions of dollars in investment. Governments worldwide — including in the U.S., Europe, Australia, and parts of Asia — are enacting policies and incentives to accelerate adoption.
ESS, with its safe, sustainable, and cost-competitive iron flow technology, is well positioned to capture a significant share of this market. The appointment of a COO with proven experience in scaling manufacturing-intensive technology companies is a clear move to ensure the company can keep pace with market opportunities.
