Cerq
Jena Flow Batteries GmbH (Cerq) is a German manufacturer of industrial-scale redox flow battery systems, AEM water electrolyzers, and OEM flow battery components, serving renewable energy operators, utilities, and hydrogen producers across Europe.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2012
- HeadquartersJena, Germany
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Cerq does
Jena Flow Batteries GmbH (operating as Cerq) is a German private limited company founded in 2012 and headquartered in Jena, Germany, that develops industrial-scale, long-duration energy storage systems based on redox flow battery technology. The company's core offering is the Flow-Batterie-Module — flexibly configurable, containerized systems with capacities starting at 1 MWh — designed for integration into renewable energy installations and grid-supporting applications such as peak shaving, frequency regulation, and arbitrage. Jena Flow Batteries maintains a chemistry-agnostic portfolio spanning Iron-Chromium, Vanadium, and organic-based flow battery systems, deliberately avoiding critical metals and using non-flammable electrolytes as key design differentiators.
Beyond containerized systems, the company has expanded into adjacent hardware categories: an AEM (anion exchange membrane) water electrolyzer product line targeting green hydrogen production, and an OEM components business supplying bipolar plates, felts, membranes, and stacks to other flow battery manufacturers. Production at scale is delivered through a partnership with Suqian Time Energy Storage, which provides gigawatt-hour manufacturing capacity. The company is also working toward a strategic partnership with Uniper for long-duration storage in the European utility market, and it maintains active presence at industry events including ees Europe and the International Flow Battery Forum (IFBF). Customer targeting spans photovoltaic and wind park operators, infrastructure service providers, energy utilities, and hydrogen producers — all B2B enterprise segments.
The business model is B2B industrial equipment sales; no pricing is publicly disclosed and no revenue figures are available. The company employs 11-50 people, operates as a privately held GmbH, and shows no disclosed institutional investors, funding rounds, or parent ownership in the available source material. Operating geographies are not enumerated, but the Suqian partnership implies at least indirect exposure to the Chinese market alongside its German and broader European positioning.
Cerq firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Cerq
- Legal name
- Jena Flow Batteries GmbH
- Website
- https://jenabatteries.de
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2012
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Jena Flow Batteries GmbH (Cerq) is a German manufacturer of industrial-scale redox flow battery systems, AEM water electrolyzers, and OEM flow battery components, serving renewable energy operators, utilities, and hydrogen producers across Europe.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Cerq industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Industrial Energy Storage Systems
- NAICS
- Battery Manufacturing (33591), Battery Manufacturing (335910)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Electrochemical LDES (Flow Batteries & Other Long-Duration Batteries) (EUAFADAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Battery Pack Manufacturing & Module Assembly (EUAFABAI), Battery Modules & Packs (Industrial/Commercial pack assembly) (IMAGAHAB)
Keywords
Where Cerq is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Jena
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Markets served
Cerq business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Cerq product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Jena Flow Batteries (Cerq) designs, manufactures, and sells industrial redox flow battery storage systems in containerized modules starting at 1 MWh, leveraging Iron-Chromium, Vanadium, and organic chemistries. The portfolio also includes AEM water electrolyzers for green hydrogen production and OEM components (bipolar plates, felts, membranes, stacks) supplied to other flow battery manufacturers.
Product overview
Jena Flow Batteries offers a unified portfolio of industrial energy storage solutions centered on redox flow battery technology. The core offering consists of Flow-Batterie-Module (containerized systems starting at 1 MWh), complemented by AEM-Wasserelektrolyseur for hydrogen production, and OEM-Komponenten (bipolar plates, felts, membranes, stacks) for manufacturers. The company also develops multiple flow battery chemistries including Iron-Chromium, Vanadium, and organic-based systems. Production is scaled through a partnership with Suqian Time Energy Storage providing gigawatt-hour manufacturing capacity.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Flow-Batterie-Module (Flow Battery Modules) Flexibly configurable, containerized redox flow battery modules with capacities starting at 1 MWh, designed for integration into renewable energy systems and as an entry point into flow battery technology. Suitable for industrial and utility-scale energy storage applications.
- AEM-Wasserelektrolyseur (AEM Water Electrolyzer) Anion exchange membrane (AEM) based water electrolyzers designed to play a key role in efficient green hydrogen production. Offered as part of the company's combined storage and hydrogen platform for industrial customers.
- OEM-Komponenten (OEM Components) High-performance bipolar plates, felts, membranes, and stacks supplied to flow battery manufacturers seeking reliable components to optimize their own systems.
Companies that use Cerq
Customer profileIdeal customer profiles4 records
Cerq technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Cerq partnerships and signals
Strategic signalRecent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Cerq competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- VoltStorage: Munich-based developer of vanadium and iron flow battery systems for industrial and residential customers; a German regional emerging player with overlapping technology stack and European customer base.
- Volterion: German flow battery stack and module developer focused on utility-scale and C&I applications; an emerging European peer working on similar containerized flow battery modules.
- Redflow: Australian zinc-bromide flow battery company targeting commercial and industrial customers; an emerging player with overlapping modular flow battery positioning but differentiated chemistry.
- HDF Energy: French hydrogen and stationary storage company combining Renewstable power plants with battery and hydrogen storage; an emerging player with overlapping 'storage + hydrogen' platform positioning.
Direct peers
- ESS Inc. US-listed iron flow battery company with containerized Energy Warehouse and Energy Center products targeting long-duration storage; highly comparable given JFB's iron-chromium chemistry and modular container format.
- VRB Energy: Vanadium redox flow battery developer with utility-scale deployments in China and internationally; competes head-to-head in the same LDES and renewable-integration segments as JFB.
- Invinity Energy Systems: UK-listed vanadium flow battery manufacturer selling modular flow battery systems for utility-scale and commercial applications; the closest direct competitor to JFB in the European LDES market.
- Enerox (CellCube): Austrian-origin vanadium flow battery vendor (formerly Gildemeister) selling containerized systems for commercial and microgrid applications; competes with JFB across European customer segments.
Broad incumbents
- Lockheed Martin (GridStar Flow): US defense prime that developed and piloted the GridStar Flow redox flow battery system; a broad incumbent in the flow battery space with resources and channel access JFB lacks.
- Sumitomo Electric Industries: Large Japanese industrial conglomerate with one of the longest-running commercial vanadium redox flow battery programs (北海道 Wind Farm installations); a broad incumbent rather than a focused flow battery pure-play.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Cerq social profiles
Digital presenceCerq financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Cerq leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Cerq funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Cerq M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Cerq
What does Cerq do?
Jena Flow Batteries (Cerq) designs, manufactures, and sells industrial redox flow battery storage systems in containerized modules starting at 1 MWh, leveraging Iron-Chromium, Vanadium, and organic chemistries. The portfolio also includes AEM water electrolyzers for green hydrogen production and OEM components (bipolar plates, felts, membranes, stacks) supplied to other flow battery manufacturers.
Is Cerq a public or private company?
Cerq is a private company. It is classified as unknown and is currently operating.
When was Cerq founded?
Cerq was founded in 2012. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Cerq based?
Cerq is headquartered in Jena, Germany, in the Europe region.
Who are Cerq's main competitors?
Emerging players on record are VoltStorage, Volterion, Redflow and HDF Energy. Direct peers are ESS Inc., VRB Energy, Invinity Energy Systems and Enerox (CellCube). Broad incumbents are Lockheed Martin (GridStar Flow) and Sumitomo Electric Industries.
Does Cerq have an API?
No public API is recorded for Cerq.
What industry is Cerq in?
Cerq's product category is Industrial Energy Storage Systems. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EUAFADAA, Electrochemical LDES (Flow Batteries & Other Long-Duration Batteries), with a secondary code of EUAFABAI, Battery Pack Manufacturing & Module Assembly. Its NAICS code is 33591.