E-Power Inc. Announces Major Strategic Breakthrough with $252 Million Multi-Phase Microgrid Agreement to Power California Expansion

Rhea-AI Summary

E-Power (NASDAQ:EPOW) signed a three-phase Microgrid Construction & Services Agreement with ZL Bio to scale power from 3 MW to 50 MW for a 6,000-unit greenhouse in Middletown, California, with total project CAPEX of approximately $252 million.

Phases: 3 MW (Phase 1, $15.12M), +6 MW to 9 MW (Phase 2, $30.24M), +41 MW to 50 MW (Phase 3). E-Power will deliver turnkey EPC, LFP BESS, Tier-1 bifacial solar, a proprietary EMS/SCADA, 20ms islanding, 99.5% availability guarantee, and long-term O&M including 24/7 monitoring and emergency SLA.

Positive

• Project CAPEX of $252 million for full 50 MW deployment
• Scalable build: 3 MW → 9 MW → 50 MW across three phases
• 99.5% availability guarantee and bankable solar yield protection
• Includes long-term O&M with 24/7 remote monitoring and emergency SLA

Negative

• Major CAPEX concentrated in Phase 3 increases execution and financing risk
• Project ties a large portion of capacity to a single customer (ZL Bio) during expansion

Key Figures

Total project CAPEX: $252 million Phase 1 CAPEX: $15.12 million Phase 2 value: $30.24 million +5 more

8 metrics

Total project CAPEX $252 million Three-phase microgrid construction and services agreement

Phase 1 CAPEX $15.12 million 3 MW to power 330 greenhouse units

Phase 2 value $30.24 million Scale-up to 9 MW serving 997 units

Planned capacity 50 MW Final cumulative microgrid capacity for ZL Bio facility

Initial capacity 3 MW Phase 1 microgrid deployment

Greenhouse units 6,000 units Total industrial greenhouse facility served at full build-out

Islanding transition time 20 ms Transition to island mode on grid disturbances

Availability guarantee 99.5% System availability commitment under EPC agreement

Market Reality Check

Price: $0.7301 Vol: Volume 496,753 is 6.72x t...

high vol

$0.7301 Last Close

Volume Volume 496,753 is 6.72x the 20-day average of 73,919, showing elevated pre-news activity. high

Technical At $0.7301, shares are trading below the $0.94 200-day MA and 60.75% under the 52-week high.

Peers on Argus

EPOW was down 4.17% pre-announcement while peers were mixed: DFLI up 5%, GWH up ...

1 Up

EPOW was down 4.17% pre-announcement while peers were mixed: DFLI up 5%, GWH up 3.6%, CCTG and FLUX down, OESX flat. This pattern points to stock-specific dynamics rather than a unified sector move.

Common Catalyst Several peers, including GWH and DFLI, also issued battery and energy-technology news, highlighting broader activity in advanced storage and power solutions.

Historical Context

5 past events · Latest: 2026-05-05 (Positive)

Pattern 5 events

Date	Event	Sentiment	Move	Catalyst
2026-05-05	AI engineering expansion	Positive	-4.2%	Onboarded veteran NVIDIA-linked engineering team for ultra-dense AIDC power solutions.
2026-03-27	AI partnership	Positive	+17.0%	Strategic alliance with Raytel to launch 800G/1.6T optical modules for AI data centers.
2026-03-25	Supply chain expansion	Positive	+28.9%	Expansion into Vietnam to build “ex-China” anode material supply chain for AI and ESS.
2026-02-13	Long-term contract	Positive	+27.4%	Secured long-term anode contract and intent for 30,000-tonne plant in Indonesia.
2026-02-12	JV announcement	Positive	-2.6%	Announced U.S.-based AIDC microgrid JV with Kehui under majority-owned structure.

Pattern Detected

Recent strategic and AI-related announcements have often been followed by strong upside moves, but there are notable instances where positive news coincided with short-term declines.

Recent Company History

Over the last six months, EPOW has reported multiple strategic milestones, including AI data center partnerships, supply-chain expansions in Vietnam and Indonesia, and a joint venture for U.S. microgrids. Several of these updates, such as the Indonesia anode plant and Vietnam expansion, saw strong positive reactions of 27–29%, while others, like the Feb 12 microgrid JV and May 5 AI engineering news, coincided with modest pullbacks. Today’s large microgrid agreement extends this strategy of scaling AI-focused power and storage infrastructure.

Market Pulse Summary

The stock is surging +15.8% following this news. A strong positive reaction aligns with the company’...

Analysis

The stock is surging +15.8% following this news. A strong positive reaction aligns with the company’s history of sizable moves following strategic wins, such as prior gains of 27–29% on expansion news. This contract’s $252 million scope and planned 50 MW capacity reinforce EPOW’s positioning in AI and industrial microgrids. Investors have also seen dilution via prior private placements, so capital structure developments could influence how long enthusiasm persisted.

Key Terms

microgrid, bifacial, lithium iron phosphate, battery energy storage systems, +3 more

7 terms

microgrid technical

"a leading provider of AI Data Center (AIDC) microgrid solutions and advanced battery"

A microgrid is a small, local electricity system that combines power sources (like solar panels, small generators) and storage (batteries) with controls so it can run either connected to the main utility grid or on its own during outages. For investors, microgrids matter because they reduce outage risk, can lower energy costs, enable new revenue streams (selling excess power or grid services), and reflect growing demand for resilient, decentralized energy infrastructure.

bifacial technical

"featuring Tier-1 bifacial solar modules and high-safety Lithium Iron Phosphate"

Bifacial describes equipment—most commonly solar panels—that can capture energy from both its front and back surfaces, like a sweater that picks up warmth from both sides. For investors, bifacial technology can raise a project's power output and lower cost per unit of energy, affecting revenue forecasts, installation choices and the valuation of firms that make or install these systems.

lithium iron phosphate medical

"Tier-1 bifacial solar modules and high-safety Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) Battery"

A lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery is a type of rechargeable lithium-ion battery that uses iron and phosphate in its positive electrode, offering a safer, longer‑lasting but lower energy‑density alternative to some other lithium chemistries. Investors watch LFP because it tends to cost less, resists fire and aging better, and relies on different raw materials and supply chains—factors that influence product pricing, manufacturing costs, and market adoption in electric vehicles and energy storage.

battery energy storage systems technical

"Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS). Key technical"

Large, grid-connected rechargeable battery systems that store electricity for later use, like a giant household battery for cities or power plants. They matter to investors because they help balance supply and demand, enable more renewable energy, reduce outage risk, and create revenue through services such as selling stored power at peak times or participating in grid stability programs, while requiring upfront capital and having performance limits tied to lifespan and degradation.

islanding technical

"Instantaneous Islanding: The system is engineered to detect grid disturbances"

Islanding is when a portion of the electrical grid keeps running on local generation (like solar panels, batteries or a small generator) after it has been cut off from the larger utility network, either intentionally or by accident. For investors, islanding matters because it affects the reliability and safety of power delivery, can trigger regulatory rules or equipment costs, and influences revenue and liability for companies that supply, install or manage distributed energy resources; think of it as a neighborhood briefly operating like its own tiny power company.

capex financial

"330 greenhouse units with a capital expenditure (CAPEX) of $15.12 million."

Capex, short for capital expenditures, refers to the money a company spends to buy, upgrade, or maintain physical assets such as buildings, equipment, or technology. It matters to investors because these investments can help a company grow and improve its long-term performance, but they also represent significant costs that can impact profitability and cash flow.

service level agreement technical

"Emergency Response Service Level Agreement (SLA) to maintain maximum uptime"

A service level agreement (SLA) is a contract that spells out the measurable promises a service provider makes to its customers—such as uptime, response times, and standards of support—and the remedies or penalties if those promises aren’t met. Investors care because SLAs affect how reliable revenue will be, the risk of refunds or penalties, customer retention and brand reputation; think of an SLA like a landlord’s guarantee that heat will be on, with financial consequences if it isn’t.

AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.

DOVER, USA, May 06, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- E-Power Inc. (“E-Power”, the “Company”, “we” or “our”) (NASDAQ: EPOW), a leading provider of AI Data Center (AIDC) microgrid solutions and advanced battery materials, today announced a major milestone in its North American expansion with the signing of a landmark three-phase Microgrid Construction & Services Agreement with ZL Bio LLC. The project, located in Middletown, California, represents a significant breakthrough in the deployment of large-scale, resilient energy infrastructure for industrial-grade cultivation.

A Scalable Breakthrough in Energy Infrastructure

The Agreement establishes a comprehensive roadmap to scale ZL Bio’s power capacity from 3 MW to 50 MW, utilizing a sophisticated "Solar + Storage + Backup" architecture. This strategic framework allows for seamless expansion across three development phases, ensuring that energy supply precisely matches the operational growth of ZL Bio’s 6,000-unit greenhouse facility.

• Phase 1 (3 MW): Immediate mobilization to power 330 greenhouse units with a capital expenditure (CAPEX) of $15.12 million.
• Phase 2 (+6 MW): Incremental scale-up to 9 MW cumulative capacity serving 997 units, valued at $30.24 million.
• Phase 3 (+41 MW): A massive industrial expansion to 50 MW serving 6,000 units, bringing the total project CAPEX to approximately $252 million.

Technical Excellence and Unparalleled Reliability

Under the terms of the EPC (Engineering, Procurement, and Construction) agreement, E-Power will deliver a turnkey microgrid solution featuring Tier-1 bifacial solar modules and high-safety Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS). Key technical breakthroughs in this project include:

• Instantaneous Islanding: The system is engineered to detect grid disturbances and transition to "island mode" within 20ms, ensuring zero downtime for critical environmental controls.
• Intelligent Energy Management: Utilization of a proprietary EMS/SCADA platform for 24/7 remote monitoring, automated load shedding, and demand response.
• Guaranteed Performance: E-Power has committed to a 99.5% system availability guarantee and a bankable solar yield protection plan.

Management Commentary

"This $252 million agreement marks a major breakthrough for E-Power as we solidify our position as a premier provider of mission-critical energy infrastructure in the United States," said Mr. Haiping Hu, Chairman of E-Power Inc. "By solving the complex energy needs of ZL Bio with our integrated microgrid technology, we are demonstrating that E-Power can deliver the scale, reliability, and technical sophistication required by the next generation of high-demand industrial and AI-driven enterprises."

Long-Term Operations and Maintenance

In addition to construction, the partnership includes a long-term Operations & Maintenance (O&M) commitment. E-Power will provide 24/7 remote monitoring, quarterly technical inspections, and a high-priority Emergency Response Service Level Agreement (SLA) to maintain maximum uptime for the facility.

About E-Power Inc.

E-Power Inc., through its joint venture, is engaged in the manufacturing and sale of graphite anode material for lithium-ion batteries. The Company's joint venture has completed the construction of a manufacturing facility with a production capacity of 50,000 tons .The plant runs on inexpensive electricity from renewable sources, which helps to make E-Power a low-cost and low–environmental-impact producer of graphite anode material. Mr. Haiping Hu, the founder and CEO of the Company, is a major pioneer for the graphite anode industry in the world starting from 1999. The Company’s management team is also composed of experts with years of experiences and strong track-records of success in the graphite anode industry. For further information, please visit the Company’s website at www.sunrisenewenergy.com.

Forward-looking statement

Certain statements in this press release regarding the Company's future expectations, plans and prospects constitute forward-looking statements as defined by Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include statements about plans, goals, objectives, strategies, future events, expected results, assumptions and any other factual statements that have not occurred. Any words that refer to "may", "will", "want", "should", "believe", "expect", "expect", "estimate", "estimate" or similar non-factual words, shall be regarded as forward-looking statements. Due to various factors, the actual results may differ materially from the historical results or the contents expressed in these forward-looking statements. These factors include, but are not limited to, the company's strategic objectives, the company's future plans, market demand and user acceptance of the company's products or services, technological updates, economic trends, the company's reputation and brand, the impact of industry competition, relevant policies and regulations, China's macroeconomic conditions, international market conditions, and other related risks and assumptions. In view of the above and other related reasons, we advise investors not to blindly rely on these forward-looking statements, and we urge investors to visit the SEC’s website to consult the company's relevant documents for other factors that may affect the company's future operating results. The company is under no obligation to make public amendments to changes in these forward-looking statements due to specific events or reasons unless required by law.

For more information, please contact:

The Company: IR Department

Email: IR@sunrisenewenergy.com

Phone: +1 4084890472

FAQ

What does the $252 million EPOW microgrid agreement with ZL Bio cover?

It funds a three-phase microgrid to scale from 3 MW to 50 MW for a 6,000-unit greenhouse. According to the company, the total project CAPEX is approximately $252 million and covers EPC, LFP BESS, Tier-1 solar, EMS/SCADA, and O&M.

How is the E-Power (EPOW) project phased and what are phase costs?

Phase 1 is 3 MW at $15.12M; Phase 2 adds 6 MW to reach 9 MW at $30.24M. According to the company, Phase 3 expands +41 MW to reach 50 MW, bringing cumulative CAPEX to about $252 million.

What technical guarantees does E-Power provide for the Middletown microgrid?

E-Power commits a 99.5% system availability guarantee and bankable solar yield protection. According to the company, the solution includes 20ms islanding, proprietary EMS/SCADA, Tier-1 bifacial solar, and LFP BESS for reliability.

What ongoing services will E-Power provide after construction under the EPOW deal?

E-Power will provide long-term O&M including 24/7 remote monitoring, quarterly inspections, and a high-priority emergency response SLA. According to the company, these services aim to maintain maximum uptime for the facility.