NeoVolta Power, a joint venture between NeoVolta and PotisEdge—a subsidiary of LONGi Green Energy—has officially opened its first U.S. battery energy storage system (BESS) manufacturing plant in Pendergrass, Georgia. The facility, located about an hour northeast of Atlanta, marks a significant step in domestic energy storage production, with a capacity to manufacture 4 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of lithium-ion batteries annually, expandable to 8 GWh with a second production line.
The plant’s launch comes as the U.S. energy sector increasingly prioritises domestic battery manufacturing to meet growing demand for grid-scale storage. NeoVolta CEO Ardes Johnson told Solar Power World that the facility is designed to support FEOC-compliant (Foreign Entity of Concern) and domestic content-eligible solutions, aligning with federal incentives aimed at reducing reliance on foreign-sourced components. The plant’s focus is on integrating proprietary technology—including a battery management system (BMS), storage energy management system (EMS), and an intelligent cell contact system (iCCS)—to enhance safety, performance, and grid integration.
NeoVolta’s journey from a residential battery startup to a large-scale manufacturer reflects shifting market dynamics. Founded in 2018 in California, the company initially specialised in home energy storage systems like the NV14, shipping its first units in 2019 and going public on Nasdaq in 2022. However, changes in federal incentives led to a contraction in the residential market, prompting NeoVolta to pivot toward commercial, industrial, and utility-scale storage—while also expanding into manufacturing.
The Pendergrass facility, spanning roughly 210,000 square feet, represents a strategic partnership with PotisEdge, which brought critical manufacturing expertise. While the plant is highly automated, NeoVolta is currently hiring engineers, operations staff, and support roles to scale production efficiently. Johnson acknowledged that navigating FEOC compliance—given PotisEdge’s Chinese parent company—required careful structuring, with NeoVolta holding a controlling stake and 100% of the board to ensure adherence to U.S. regulations. The IRS’s evolving rules on domestic content have also added complexity, particularly as non-FEOC content requirements rise toward 2030.
One of the plant’s standout features is its iCCS, which monitors individual battery cells in real time, detecting issues like thermal events within minutes and predicting degradation months in advance. This system, combined with the BMS and EMS, allows NeoVolta’s batteries to participate in grid services such as frequency regulation and energy arbitrage—beyond simple storage. The facility’s first production line is now operational, with plans to ramp up as demand grows.
The opening of NeoVolta’s Georgia plant underscores the U.S. energy sector’s push for domestic battery production, a key priority as the country accelerates its transition to renewable energy. With the plant’s advanced monitoring and grid-ready systems, NeoVolta aims to set a new standard for safety and efficiency in large-scale energy storage.
