Baker Hughes and Hydrostor Deepen Strategic Collaboration to Advance Reliable, Resilient and Sustainable Power Systems
Rhea-AI Summary
Baker Hughes (NASDAQ: BKR) and Hydrostor announced a strategic technology and equity agreement on January 28, 2026, expanding a relationship that began in 2019. Baker Hughes will integrate equipment into Hydrostor’s A-CAES design and may supply up to 1.4 GW of power generation and compression technology for flagship projects.
The deal supports Hydrostor’s move toward construction on flagship projects and aims to accelerate long-duration energy storage deployment to improve grid reliability and resilience.
Positive
- Up to 1.4 GW of Baker Hughes equipment orders
- Expanded strategic equity relationship since 2019
- Integration of Baker Hughes compression, expander, motor and generator technology
Negative
- None.
Key Figures
Market Reality Check
Peers on Argus
BKR was modestly higher by 0.37% while key peers were mixed: SLB +0.74%, FTI +1.50%, TS +0.81%, NOV +0.91%, and HAL -0.35%. With peer_momentum scanners showing no sector-wide move, this collaboration appears more company-specific than part of a broad industry rotation.
Previous Partnership Reports
| Date | Event | Sentiment | Move | Catalyst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 02 | JV partnership | Positive | +3.5% | Surface pressure control joint venture with Cactus delivering $344.5M cash proceeds. |
| Mar 03 | CCS partnership | Positive | -2.2% | Frontier Infrastructure CCS and power partnership tied to data center, storage projects. |
| Feb 03 | Tech collaboration | Positive | +2.6% | Joint development with Hanwha for small-size ammonia turbines for multiple applications. |
Partnership announcements have generally been received positively, with two out of three prior deals producing gains above 2.5%, but one notable negative reaction highlights that outcomes are not uniformly favorable.
Recent history shows Baker Hughes using partnerships and portfolio actions to reposition toward higher-return and low-carbon opportunities. The January 2026 joint venture with Cactus generated $344.5M in cash proceeds and saw a 3.51% gain. Earlier collaborations in 2025 with Frontier Infrastructure (CCS and data center projects, move -2.22%) and Hanwha on ammonia turbines (move +2.64%) focused on decarbonization technologies. Today’s Hydrostor agreement fits this pattern of leveraging Baker Hughes’ technology in energy transition partnerships.
Historical Comparison
In the past year, BKR disclosed 3 partnership deals with an average move of 2.79%. This Hydrostor collaboration extends the same strategy of technology-focused, energy-transition agreements.
Partnerships have progressed from ammonia turbines and CCS infrastructure toward broader low-carbon and grid-resilience solutions, positioning Baker Hughes’ technology in emerging clean energy and storage applications.
Market Pulse Summary
This announcement expands Baker Hughes’ role in long-duration energy storage through a deeper collaboration with Hydrostor, including up to 1.4 GW of potential equipment orders. It complements prior partnerships in ammonia turbines and carbon capture, underscoring a consistent focus on energy-transition technologies. Investors may track how these projects convert into firm orders, construction milestones on U.S. and Australian flagship sites, and any subsequent updates on pipeline expansion tied to growing AI data center power needs.
Key Terms
equity investment financial
long duration energy storage technical
LDES technical
advanced compressed air energy storage technical
AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.
- Collaboration includes an equity investment and up to 1.4 GW of power generation and compression technology orders for Hydrostor’s flagship projects
FLORENCE, Italy and DENVER, Colo., Jan. 28, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Baker Hughes (NASDAQ: BKR), an energy technology company, and Hydrostor, a leading global long duration energy storage (LDES) developer and operator, announced Wednesday a strategic technology solutions and equity agreement. Baker Hughes will deepen its relationship with Hydrostor, integrating Baker Hughes’ technology capabilities as part of Hydrostor’s core design offering for its advanced compressed air energy storage (A-CAES) solution. This includes up to 1.4 GW of Baker Hughes equipment orders for Hydrostor’s flagship projects. The announcement was made at the 2026 Baker Hughes Annual Meeting in Florence.
"Increasing pressure on electric grids is making long-duration energy storage an urgent priority. Hydrostor's innovative approach offers a low-carbon solution to ensure power reliability across a diverse mix of generation resources," said Lorenzo Simonelli, chairman and CEO of Baker Hughes. “We are proud to support Hydrostor with critical technology to accelerate these projects, supporting greater global grid resilience, and enabling sustainable power systems at scale.”
“The agreement Hydrostor has signed with Baker Hughes underscores the momentum behind our A-CAES technology platform that is able to cost-effectively provide reliability and resiliency to grids around the world,” said Curtis VanWalleghem, cofounder and CEO. “We’re excited to build on our relationship with Baker Hughes as we near construction for our flagship projects and work to expand our project pipeline, as load grows and AI data center infrastructure is being built out globally.”
Baker Hughes has been an investor in Hydrostor since 2019. This latest strategic agreement marks an expansion of the relationship as Hydrostor nears construction on its flagship projects in the U.S. and Australia. In the initial phase of the expansion, Hydrostor will be deploying up to 1.4 GW of power generation and compression technology solutions from Baker Hughes’ extensive portfolio including compression, expander, motor and generator technology.
About Baker Hughes
Baker Hughes (NASDAQ: BKR) is an energy technology company that provides solutions to energy and industrial customers worldwide. Built on a century of experience and conducting business in over 120 countries, our innovative technologies and services are taking energy forward – making it safer, cleaner and more efficient for people and the planet. Visit us at bakerhughes.com.
About Hydrostor Inc.
Hydrostor is a leading developer and operator of long duration energy storage systems, leveraging a proven, patented technology solution for delivering long duration energy storage to power grids around the world, using compressed air and water to store energy.
Founded in 2010 and with headquarters in Toronto, Canada, and offices in Melbourne, Australia, and Denver, USA, Hydrostor is backed by Goldman Sachs Alternatives, CPP Investments, Canada Growth Fund, and other forward-thinking institutional investors, providing financial security to commit to top-tier energy projects. Hydrostor has an extensive pipeline of A-CAES projects in North America, Australia, and Europe, poised to meet evolving grid and reliability needs.
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To learn more, visit https://www.hydrostor.ca/.
Advisors
Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, National Bank Capital Markets, and Rothschild & Co. acted as financial advisors to Hydrostor.