Southern Company invests in Johnson energy storage facility

Published 4 hours ago

Posted by South Company

South Company

Southern Company, through a subsidiary, has made an early-stage investment in Johnson Energy Storage (JES). This investment reflects Southern Company’s long-standing commitment to providing customers with clean, safe, reliable and affordable energy solutions, as well as its commitment to supporting and advancing local entrepreneurship in the communities it serves.

JES is an Atlanta-based company founded by entrepreneur and former NASA engineer Dr. Lonnie Johnson. JES has been focusing on the development of solid-state battery technology for over 20 years.

Solid-state battery innovators like JES are developing new ways to assemble batteries, eliminating the need for liquid electrolytes to increase the safety of traditional lithium-ion batteries.

In particular, JES developed a solid glass electrolyte and glass separator that JES expects to be cheaper than other solid-state approaches.

Many believe that solid-state batteries have several advantages over existing lithium-ion batteries, which are currently used in a wide range of devices and systems, especially electric vehicles (EV) and renewable energy storage solutions.

Potential advantages of solid-state batteries for electric vehicles include faster charging times that don’t degrade the battery at the same rate as lithium-ion batteries typically do, and a much longer range. The commercial viability of solid-state batteries is often considered to have the potential to be a game-changer in the rollout of electric vehicles. JES is seeking to develop a solid-state battery that is safer and cheaper to produce than others currently in development.

“We are very grateful for Southern Company’s recent investment and support for our ongoing work,” said Dr. Lonnie Johnson, founder and chairman of the board of Johnson Energy Storage. “We are excited about the potential of our battery innovations to scale across electric vehicles and other energy applications. We believe that successfully refining and scaling our technology can significantly impact the energy ecosystem.”

“Southern Company’s investment in Johnson Energy Storage underscores our commitment to supporting innovative energy solutions and supporting clean energy technologies in our communities,” said Robin Lanier, director of New Ventures at Southern Company. “This investment is just another way Southern Company is building for the future of energy.”

South Company

Southern Company (NYSE: SO) is a leading energy provider serving 9 million customers throughout the Southeast and beyond through its family of companies. Our mission is to provide clean, safe, reliable and affordable energy with excellent service. The company has electric utilities in three states, natural gas distribution companies in four states, a competitive power generation company, a leading national distributed energy distribution company, a fiber optic network and telecommunications services. With an industry-leading commitment to innovation, resilience and sustainability, we take action to meet the needs of our customers and communities while meeting our goal of net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Our uncompromising values ensure we consider the needs of those we serve at the heart of everything we do and are key to our ongoing success. We transform energy into the economic, environmental and social progress of tomorrow. Our corporate culture and hiring practices have earned the company national awards and recognition from numerous organizations, including Forbes, The Military Times, DiversityInc, Black Enterprise, J.D. Power, Fortune, Human Rights Campaign and others. More information can be found at www.southerncompany.com.