U.S. to Discuss Battery Policy at 2025 OCP APAC Conference
At the 2025 OCP APAC Summit, Americase, a leading provider of energy storage solutions, will discuss the regulatory challenges and alternatives to lithium-ion batteries in next-generation data centers. The panel discussion, titled "Understanding Global Regulations for ORV3-ready Data Centers with Batteries", is scheduled for August 5, 2025, from 2:00 PM to 2:40 PM CST at TaiNEX2 - 701 H.
Lithium-ion batteries are classified as Class 9 dangerous goods, bringing significant challenges related to logistics, installation, fire risk, and regulatory compliance. This classification imposes complex regulatory requirements, higher compliance costs, complicated logistics, increased insurance, and handling difficulties for data centers, especially hyperscale and edge facilities.
In contrast, manganese-zinc (Mn-Zn) batteries are not regulated as dangerous goods under major international frameworks such as UN, IATA, and IMO IMDG codes. This exemption offers a simpler and safer alternative for energy storage in next-generation data centers.
Americase's presentation will emphasize that adopting Mn-Zn battery technology can reduce operational risks, improve safety, simplify deployment at scale, and lower logistical and financial burdens. This non-hazardous battery chemistry also integrates well with ORV3-ready infrastructure, aligning with data center industry trends toward smarter, safer, and more sustainable infrastructure solutions.
The panel discussion will provide a comprehensive comparative analysis of lithium-ion batteries versus emerging chemistries, with a specific focus on manganese-zinc (Mn-Zn) cells. The discussion will cover hazmat classification implications of lithium-ion battery use, regulatory requirements from global agencies and the cost of compliance, logistics simplification with Mn-Zn batteries, operational and financial benefits of adopting non-hazardous battery chemistries, and integration advantages for ORV3-ready infrastructure.
Americase encourages data center engineers, compliance professionals, energy strategy leaders, and infrastructure managers to attend the panel discussion. The company's commitment to guiding the industry towards smarter, safer, and more sustainable infrastructure solutions is evident in their focus on Mn-Zn batteries as a viable alternative for next-generation data centers.
[1] Source: Batteries News [2] Source: Energy Storage News [4] Source: Journal of Power Sources
Robby Kinsala, President & CEO of Americase, has expressed a commitment to this goal. He considers batteries a strategic variable in data centers and believes that the right battery technology and compliance strategy can help data centers reduce operational risk, improve safety, and simplify deployment at scale.
Additional technical context outside Americase’s summit indicates that Mn-Zn and related aqueous zinc-based chemistries provide operational advantages including safer, non-toxic, aqueous electrolytes with potential for high energy density and efficiency suitable for stationary energy storage applications. Other developments in zinc-ion batteries show promise as cost-effective, sustainable, and safer alternatives to lithium-ion for large-scale energy storage, addressing supply chain and environmental concerns.
Attendees of the panel discussion will also include James Emerson (Lead Consultant, Critical Risk Solution) and Sebastian Belanger (CEO, ZELOS). Chris Egloff, VP of Strategic Business Opportunities at Americase, will participate in the panel discussion.
The panel discussion is a timely and impactful session, as per Americase's encouragement. It promises to provide valuable insights into the future of energy storage in data centers, with a focus on safer, more sustainable, and cost-effective solutions.
Technology plays a crucial role in the discussion, as Americase will present data-and-cloud computing solutions that incorporate Mn-Zn battery technology, aiming to reduce operational risks, simplify deployment at scale, and lower logistical and financial burdens in data centers. The panel discussion also involves comparing lithium-ion batteries with emerging chemistries, emphasizing the benefits of Mn-Zn batteries, which are not classified as dangerous goods under major international frameworks, offering a simpler and safer energy storage solution in next-generation data centers.
