Portland-based Skip Technology has secured $5 million in fresh funding to advance its innovative long-duration battery technology toward field testing. The company’s hydrogen bromine-based batteries present a promising alternative to traditional lithium-ion systems, offering extended power storage capabilities with reduced fire risks and domestically-sourced components.
The startup’s technology spans various applications, from powering small mobile operations to supporting major data center facilities. According to Skip Technology’s CEO and co-founder Brennan Gantner, approximately ten shipping container-sized units could provide sufficient power for a large data center installation. This capability has attracted attention from major tech companies like Amazon and Microsoft, who are actively seeking energy storage solutions to maintain clean power supply during periods when renewable sources are unavailable.
Puyallup Tribal Enterprises leads the new investment round, building upon their previous financial commitment to the company. The partnership extends beyond funding, as the tribal organization is constructing a manufacturing facility near Seattle to produce Skip Technology’s batteries.
The company has also formed a strategic alliance with Portland-based Continuous Solutions, which will supply the necessary electronics to convert the batteries’ DC power output into standard AC voltage compatible with conventional electrical systems.
Founded in 2018, Skip Technology currently employs 11 people and is in the process of adding another team member. The company anticipates doubling its workforce by mid-2025. The founding team brings significant expertise, with Gantner and co-founder Ben Brown both holding doctorate degrees in astrophysics from the University of Colorado, where Brown currently serves as an associate professor.
With core engineering work completed, the team is now focusing on performance optimization. The company’s ambitious goals include reaching large-scale production by 2030, with plans to manufacture thousands of high-capacity batteries capable of providing power to entire metropolitan regions.
Despite the climate technology sector’s recent reliance on federal support through Biden administration initiatives, Gantner expressed confidence in the company’s ability to succeed regardless of potential policy changes under President-elect Trump’s anticipated rollback of climate programs. The company’s domestic supply chain strategy also positions it well to weather proposed increases in foreign trade tariffs.
“We actually started this company during the first Trump
administration,” Gantner noted, emphasizing the company’s independence from government assistance. “We have never been economically focused on subsidies or any sort of fiscal help from the government in terms of go-to-market.”
While acknowledging that Biden-era policies helped stimulate market development, Gantner maintains that Trump’s return to office won’t significantly impact their business trajectory. “It is not a catastrophic change. It is not great, but we will be OK,” he stated.
The hydrogen bromine technology developed by Skip Technology offers several advantages over conventional battery systems. Beyond their extended storage capacity and reduced flammability, the batteries rely on readily available domestic materials, reducing supply chain vulnerabilities and aligning with potential future trade policies.
This funding milestone represents a significant step forward for Skip Technology as it works to address the growing demand for reliable, long-duration energy storage solutions in an evolving political and economic landscape.