ZBB, Zest in energy storage deal

Milwaukee, Wis.-based ZBB Energy (Amex: ZBB), a manufacturer of energy storage solutions, announced today that it signed a sales distribution agreement with Australia's Zest Energy.

Zest specializes in the use of regenerative fuel cells for energy storage. ZBB said the deal is for the marketing, sale and distribution of its energy storage products in Australia and New Zealand. Financial terms of the contract were not disclosed.

"Australia is an important market region for energy storage and renewable energy," said Kevin Dennis, VP of sales and marketing at ZBB, in a statement. "Australia has vast areas with remotely located towns, communities and mining camps, many of which rely on localized power production and distribution and are isolated from connection to its national grid."

"Renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind, are playing an ever increasing important role in Australia's energy future, and we know that storage is integral to that future."

Under the agreement, Zest will market and distribute the ZESS 50 and ZESS 500 systems manufactured and shipped from ZBB's Menomonee Falls, Wis. facility.

The ZESS 50 consists of one 50 kilowatt module, a power conversion system, and an overall system control package. The ZESS 500 is made up of ten 50 kilowatt modules electrically configured in two series strings to achieve 500 kilowatts of energy storage.

Last year, ZBB announced a contract with the Australian federal government to accelerate development of the company's zinc-bromine storage systems for renewable energy projects (see ZBB gets Australian contract for renewable energy storage).

ZBB said the Australian Department of the Environment and Water Resources would put up $2.6 million over two years for the zinc-bromine project.