Inlyte Energy has entered a partnership with NTS Colocation AG to deploy iron-sodium battery energy storage at NTS’s Bern data center in Switzerland. The deployment includes a 600 kWh pilot in 2026 and plans to scale capacity to 2 MW by 2028. The project evaluates long-duration, non-lithium storage for data center resilience and energy management.
PROJECT SNAPSHOT
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Project | NTS Bern Iron-Sodium Storage Pilot |
| Location | Bern, Switzerland |
| Partners | Inlyte Energy, Inc. | NTS Colocation AG |
| Technology | Iron-Sodium Battery (Long-Duration) |
| Initial Installation | 600 kWh |
| Commissioning Target | End-2026 |
| Planned Deployment | Up to 2 MW by 2028 |
US-based iron-sodium battery manufacturer Inlyte Energy has partnered with Swiss data centre operator NTS Colocation AG to deploy 2 MW iron-sodium battery energy storage systems across data center facilities in Switzerland. The collaboration will begin with a pilot installation at NTS’s data center in Bern, Switzerland. The companies targeting 600 kWh installations scheduled for commission at the end of this year.
The pilot project will assess operational performance, system integration and compatibility with existing electrical and control infrastructure in a live data center environment. Upon successful validation, the companies plan to expand deployments across additional NTS facilities, including sites in Zurich and a new data center currently under development in the Bern region.
Inlyte’s iron-sodium battery technology has been designed to deliver long-duration energy storage ranging from multi-hour to multi-day discharge. The system integrates daily load leveling capability, extended backup duration exceeding 24 hours and uninterruptible power supply functionality within a single platform. The iron-sodium chemistry eliminates fire propagation risks and reduces permitting complexity for indoor installations when compared with conventional lithium-ion systems. It also avoids fuel storage, emissions and maintenance requirements associated with diesel-based backup generation.
The deployment aligns with increasing electricity demand from data centers driven by artificial intelligence workloads, cloud computing expansion and digital infrastructure growth. The operators face high grid fees, limited land availability and strict permitting frameworks in Switzerland. The revised EU Energy Efficiency Directive requires disclosure of fossil fuel usage, prompting operators to evaluate alternative storage technologies that enhance operational resilience and optimize grid interaction.
Niklaus Hug, CEO of NTS, stated that the company is expanding beyond traditional UPS and diesel systems by evaluating Inlyte’s iron-sodium storage for safety, long-duration discharge and asset life in real-world data center operations.
Antonio Baclig, CEO of Inlyte Energy, stated that data centers require high-performance, inherently safe, long-life storage and that the company’s iron-sodium technology provides multi-hour to multi-day capacity without lithium-ion fire risks or diesel-related emissions and permitting constraints.