Author: sHq_LoGiNz
Peak Energy’s solution is the first battery energy storage system to remove nearly all moving parts with new patent-pending technology, driving significant cost-savings
DENVER, July 31, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Peak Energy, a U.S.-based company developing low-cost, giga-scale energy storage technology for the grid, today announced the launch and shipment of its sodium-ion battery energy storage system (ESS) that delivers a patent-pending passive cooling design to dramatically reduce lifetime energy costs. With this milestone, Peak Energy removes the components implicated in the vast majority of battery storage system fires analyzed by independent third party reports. Cost-competitive with state of the industry products while offering dramatically lower operating and maintenance costs, Peak Energy’s product is the first ever fully passive megawatt-hour scale battery storage system, the largest sodium-ion phosphate pyrophosphate (NFPP) battery system in the world, and the first grid-scale sodium-ion storage solution ever deployed to the U.S. electric grid. Deploying the system in a shared pilot with nine leading utility and independent power producer (IPP) customers this summer, Peak Energy is fast-tracking its promise to onshore battery manufacturing.
With a design that eliminates all moving parts, including active cooling and ventilation components, Peak Energy’s NFPP grid storage battery architecture completely eliminates the most common failure modes in typical battery storage systems, dramatically increasing reliability and reducing operating and maintenance costs. Peak Energy’s NFPP grid storage system marks a landmark shift in America’s burgeoning energy storage business by capitalizing on the advantages of sodium-ion batteries to build a more reliable and lower-cost solution. Sodium-ion is poised to win the storage market as its chemistry allows operations at a wide range of hot and cold temperatures without requiring auxiliary cooling systems. This innovation is a first-of-its-kind development in grid-scale energy storage as incumbent lithium-ion technologies require active cooling and ventilation systems to preserve cell life and prevent fires. Passive cooling allows Peak Energy to offer massive lifetime cost-savings compared to current market-leading systems by eliminating several of the most-likely-to-break components in today’s grid storage products.
Peak’s grid-scale battery storage solution arrives at a decisive moment for the evolution of the American energy industry. Recent changes to federal policies have elevated the urgency to develop domestic energy supply chains and manufacturing capabilities. These policy forces, coupled with skyrocketing energy demand in the U.S., are proving battery storage to be essential for improving grid resilience and reducing energy costs. Incumbent solutions are complex, pose significant fire risks, and are more costly to build, operate, and maintain for grid applications. In addition to its performance benefits, sodium-ion presents the United States’ best opportunity to lead in battery chemistries due to the country’s natural advantage in raw materials. The United States holds the world’s largest reserves of soda ash, the mineral precursor to sodium-ion, and the full raw material supply chain for sodium-ion can be sourced domestically or from allied nations.
“We see energy storage not only as an economic imperative, but also as a national security priority. Time is of the essence if the U.S. wants to take ownership and maintain control of its energy future,” said Landon Mossburg, CEO and Co-Founder at Peak Energy. “We are committed to onshoring the manufacturing of this critical industry, and this launch proves our ability to execute quickly on our vision to establish the U.S. as a global leader in battery manufacturing.”
Peak Energy has conducted extensive performance testing of its ESS, where the results indicate record-level cost-savings and reliability for the industry. This includes:
- At least $1 million in annual operational cost savings per gigawatt hour installed, representing up to 90% reduction in auxiliary power use
- Approximately 20% in lifetime cost savings vs. LFP in an average deployment
- 33% reduction in battery degradation over a 20-year project lifespan
“This isn’t just another product launch – it’s a breakthrough in energy storage,” said Paul Durkee, VP of Engineering at Peak Energy. “We’ve taken a very stable chemistry and invested its benefits back into our passive cooling architecture. The system is dead-simple with no moving parts, no planned maintenance and negligible aux loads. It’s the lowest total-cost grid storage technology to be deployed anywhere in the world. I’m incredibly proud of the creativity and grit our team has shown in bringing our vision to life.”
Peak Energy’s pilot marks a significant first step in commercializing sodium-ion battery storage in the United States and unlocks nearly 1GWh of future commercial contracts currently under negotiation. Following the pilot, Peak Energy will deploy several hundred megawatt hours of commercial-scale storage products to serve multiple IPP and hyperscaler partners over the next two years, with further announcements anticipated this fall. Peak Energy is on track to fulfill its commitment to develop grid scale battery supply chains, with its first U.S. cell factory under development and planned to start production in 2026. This news comes just one year after Peak raised its $55M Series A and less than two years since launching from stealth in 2023.
To learn more about Peak’s revolutionary battery storage solutions, visit www.peakenergy.com.
About Peak Energy
Founded in 2023, Peak Energy is a U.S.-based company developing low-cost, giga-scale energy storage technology to secure America’s energy economy. Founded by industry veterans from Tesla, Enovix and Apple, the company is on a mission to drastically lower the cost of energy storage and establish the U.S. as a global leader in the battery market. For more information, visit www.peakenergy.com.
Media Contact:
Inkhouse for Peak Energy
peak-energy@inkhouse.com
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SOURCE Peak Energy Technologies
Henkel is proud of our robust internship program, welcoming students from across the region to join teams across both BUs and functions. Throughout their internships, they have made a true impact and reminded us that learning and mentorship are a two-way street. Read on for more!
For university students, internships are a crucial opportunity to network, make an impact through meaningful projects, and sharpen technical skills before entering the workforce. Knowing that internships help students to find their passions and bridge the gap between the lifestyle of a student and that of a full-time employee, Henkel takes pride in providing a robust internship program that helps students craft their future careers.
This summer, Henkel welcomed over 200 interns from nearly 100 universities across the United States to work in our Consumer Brands and Adhesive Technologies business units and Functional areas such as HR and Finance. Interns have had the opportunity to jump right into ongoing projects, complete special fixed-term projects, and participate in programs such as speed networking, weekly workshops, community service and more.
Making an Impact: 2025 Special Projects
Henkel interns are pioneers at heart and came in with an entrepreneurial spirit that led to incredible results.
- In our Rocky Hill, CT office, interns started an internal podcast, Pioneering Henkel, that spotlighted how some of their fellow interns were making an impact.
- The intern influencer program included around 30 students who created engaging social media videos showcasing what a day in the life at Henkel looks like, what it means to work on their teams, and how Henkel and its brands are pioneers in innovation, sustainability, and digitalization.
- Intern site ambassadors also planned and executed visits from interns based in other locations, providing a more holistic view of the different opportunities Henkel has to offer.
Soccer Spotlight: Growing On the Field and in the Workplace
One of Henkel’s key partnerships is with the U.S. Soccer Federation. We believe in the power of sports to help students excel in the classroom and in the workplace, and asked some of our student-athlete interns to share what soccer has meant to them.
Soccer has been a constant in my life since I was young, shaping my character and values both on and off the field. From playing recreational and travel to varsity in high school and now intramurals, the sport has taught me the importance of teamwork, communication, and striving for continuous improvement. I’ve always loved working towards a common goal with others, learning through both wins and losses. The discipline, competitiveness, and dedication I developed through soccer are qualities I now bring into my personal and professional life every day.
Rachel Yap, Marketing and Activation Intern, Henkel Adhesive Technologies
Learning is a Two-Way Street
It isn’t just the interns who benefit from this robust program – each team that employed a student gained valuable insight from the technical skills, fresh perspective, and enthusiasm that interns bring to the table. At Henkel, we believe that the teaching and learning that occurs between interns and mentors goes both ways.
“Supporting emerging talent as they explore and develop their career paths is incredibly fulfilling to our Henkel employees,” said Lori Baylock-Tomkiewicz, head of the Henkel Internship Program in the United States. “This summer, it’s been a pleasure to collaborate with our interns and see firsthand the meaningful impact they’ve made within our organization. Their enthusiasm and drive were evident in every workshop and program we held, consistently leaving me feeling energized and inspired. The chance to grow and learn together continues to be an experience that will leave a lasting impression.”
What Comes Next?
From the first day of onboarding through final project presentations, our internship program is structured to provide the skills, knowledge, and network that students need to succeed in a full-time role at Henkel.
As we start looking forward to next summer’s program, anyone who is interested in applying to be a 2026 Henkel intern will see applications begin to open in late August. Check out the Henkel Internships page for more information.
HERSHEY, Pa., July 31, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Milton Hershey School (MHS) students enrolled in a college-level summer course have a unique opportunity to explore leadership concepts while earning credits for future academic pursuits. More than 20 high school students entering their junior and senior years at MHS are spending six weeks taking an intensive course: Theories of Leadership.
The course, offered to students through a partnership with the University of Pittsburgh College in High School Program, aims to empower students to develop as intentional, authentic, and resilient leaders by cultivating self-awareness, a growth mindset, and the skills needed to inspire, empower, and adapt with integrity. It emphasizes that leadership is learned through effort, reflection, and purposeful action rather than innate talent. Under the guidance of John Karavage, a high school social studies teacher at MHS, students engage with college-level readings, deep reflection exercises, and opportunities to connect the material to their own lives and leadership journeys. Throughout the course, students are encouraged to step outside their comfort zones, embrace discomfort as part of the learning process, and see challenges as essential opportunities for growth.
“The structure of the course emphasizes that true leadership development comes from facing challenges head-on, reflecting honestly, and continually striving to improve rather than avoiding difficulties or giving up when setbacks occur,” said Karavage. “We have had some great discussions on unlocking leadership potential by building grit, service, and growth within teams. We have explored concepts like servant and sacrificial leadership, overcoming challenges, and guiding teams through adversity.”
Along with their in-person class time and assignments, students participated in special off-campus activities, such as attending a Leadership Program at the Lincoln Leadership Institute in Gettysburg, taking a tour of the White House and the U.S. Capitol, and holding a roundtable discussion with author Dr. Angela Duckworth to discuss one of the required course texts, “Grit: The Power and Passion of Perseverance.”
Karavage’s hope was for this to be not just a class, but a transformative experience designed to empower students to grow into the strongest versions of themselves.
For senior Eden Newman, Karavage’s hope has become a reality. Newman was interested in the course because she has always felt naturally drawn to leadership roles, including working in Student Government and the school’s admissions office.
“The course meant more to me than I had expected. The environment was positive and gave me the freedom to grow and shift away from a fixed mindset to consider all perspectives,” said Newman. “I never knew about finding my ‘why’ or what I was passionate about, but after taking this course, I feel ready to make my mark on the world and become the leader I’ve hoped to be.”
“What’s been most powerful is watching them go beyond just completing assignments,” said Karavage. “They’ve been engaging deeply with the material, embracing feedback, and even challenging their own assumptions about leadership. The growth I’ve seen has been incredible. They’re locking in on key ideas, pushing themselves, and working hard to apply what they’re learning to become more thoughtful, intentional leaders.”
Enrolled students can earn three credits from the University of Pittsburgh once they successfully complete the course.
ABOUT MILTON HERSHEY SCHOOL
Milton Hershey School is one of the world’s best private schools, where qualifying students in pre-kindergarten through 12th grade live on campus and receive an exceptional educational experience—with all costs covered. For more information, visit mhskids.org.
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SOURCE Milton Hershey School
Since its launch in 2013, the Aspire Scholarship has empowered nearly 50 dependents of Covia employees in the U.S. to pursue a postsecondary education. Administered by the Cleveland Foundation in partnership with College Now, the program supports and inspires the children of full-time Covia team members as they take the next step in their academic journeys.
In 2025, the program received a strong pool of applications. After a thorough review by an independent selection committee, six exceptional students were awarded scholarships: Alexandria Nevison, Alexa Feicks, Dominic Ricciardi, Daniele Nazario Jr., Madison Hutson, and Abigail Michels. Each recipient received a meaningful financial award to offset tuition costs and support their educational goals.
This year also marks an exciting milestone—the launch of the Covia Canada Aspire Scholarship. In partnership with ScholarTree, based in Burlington, Ontario, Covia expanded its scholarship program to support dependents of full-time employees at its Canadian facilities. Modeled after the U.S. program, the Canadian initiative awarded scholarships to five inaugural recipients: Braydon Wayne Cooper, Chloe Cooper, Elizabeth Cox, Isabelle Cox, and Hrish Dave. This furthers Covia’s commitment to community investment for Covia Canada dependents.
Aspire Scholarship Winner (US)
- Alexandria Nevison – Attending Ursinus College, majoring in Biology (Premed) and Spanish. Alexandria is excited to begin her junior year this fall, prepare for the MCATs in the spring, and continue pursuing her goal of becoming an Emergency Room doctor.
- Alexa Feicks – Attending Purdue University, majoring in Biomedical Engineering. Alexa is excited to explore new experiences and deepen her knowledge in a field she’s passionate about.
- Dominic Ricciardi – Enrolled at Kent State University for Construction Management. Dominic values the recognition and support the scholarship represents.
- Daniele Nazario, Jr. – Studying Pastoral Ministry at Highlands College. Daniele is grateful for the opportunity to pursue his calling and future as a pastor.
- Madison Hutson – A sophomore at the University of Alabama majoring in English. Madison looks forward to diving into major-specific courses like Creative Writing and American Literature.
- Abigail Michels – Heading to Illinois State University to study Early Childhood and Bilingual Education. Abigail is eager to apply her learning in clinicals and student teaching.
Covia Canada Aspire Scholarship Winners
- Braydon Cooper – Attending Trent University, to earn a Bachelor of Science degree. Braydon is looking forward to a new beginning as he starts this next chapter of his life at Trent University.
- Chloe Cooper – Attending Trent University, to earn a Bachelor of Education degree. Chloe is looking forward to being in the classroom and doing what she loves most – teaching.
- Elizabeth Cox – Heading to Carleton University, majoring in Architectural Conservation and Sustainability Engineering. Elizabeth is looking forward to meeting like-minded people and expanding her understanding of how we can make our built environment more sustainable.
- Isabelle Cox – Isabelle is studying biomedical engineering technology at Durham College. She is looking forward to engaging in hands-on learning and understanding how life-saving machines work as she enters this new chapter.
- Hrish Dave – Enrolled at McMaster University, concentrating on Integrated Biomedical Engineering & Health Sciences. Hrish is excited to take a more active role in his learning and implement what he studies in his community.