Today's development follows the recent success of Sinteza in securing a €25 million National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP) co-financing funds for the electrolyte that is used in GridStar® Flow large-scale batteries.
The letter of intent was signed by Ray Piselli, Vice President of International Business at Lockheed Martin, and the CEO of Sinteza S.A., Gelu Stan, in the presence of Romanian Minister of Energy, Sebastian Burduja the U.S Ambassador to Romania, H.E. Kathleen Kavalec.
It establishes a pathway for the parties to begin the development process for a future €50 million factory which will produce 30,000 tons of negative electrolyte per year, starting in the summer of 2026. This will be the world's largest and first European facility of its kind.
This announcement follows discussions held with Romanian Minister of Energy Sebastian Burduja earlier this year in the United States, focused on how the GridStar Flow battery can help Romania achieve its net zero goals.
Romania's Energy Minister Sebastian Burduja said: “With this project, Romania is attracting a strategic American investor with cutting-edge technology that is in no way dependent on imports of raw materials from outside Western markets, in a field that is growing exponentially globally. Once this investment is finalized, our country will have a strategic advantage in the European Union in the development of renewable energy projects.
“I'm excited by the prospects for this new partnership in Romania - our first project in the commercial sector and one which helps address net zero ambitions in country,” said Ray Piselli, Vice President, International Business at Lockheed Martin. "GridStar Flow is a cutting-edge solution for energy security, a key element of any nation's defence and security needs. Through this new initiative Romania can become a regional leader in this important area of energy efficiency and security.
Gelu Stan, CEO of Sinteza said: ”For Sinteza, this project is a clear way to upgrade significantly both technological level and business model. Moreover, the entire investment is an ethical one, meant to positively impact the energy green transition in Europe”.
This flow battery is designed to address new disruptive challenges faced by the electric energy sector, enabling clean, reliable and secure energy. As the clean energy evolution continues, Lockheed Martin remains focused on GridStar Flow's role in the future of energy security. Currently, GridStar Flow is the world's only flow battery offering that can counter anticipated and unforeseen grid disruptions.
Lockheed Martin is a global defense technology company driving innovation and advancing scientific discovery. Our all-domain mission solutions and 21st Century Security vision accelerate the delivery of transformative technologies to ensure those we serve always stay ahead of ready. More information at Lockheedmartin.com.
Sinteza S.A. is a Romanian company with over 100 years of experience in the chemical industry, aiming to transition the business from benzoic acid to green energy.
