ZincFive named to TIME green tech list for third year
ZincFive has been named to TIME's America's Top GreenTech Companies 2026 list for the third consecutive year, ranking 142.
The Oregon-based battery maker was one of only two companies headquartered in the state to make the list. TIME and Statista assessed more than 3,500 companies, using environmental impact, financial strength and innovation as the main criteria.
ZincFive makes nickel-zinc batteries for immediate power applications, particularly in data centres and other settings that require backup power. It positions its chemistry as an alternative to lead-acid and lithium-ion batteries, which remain widely used in uninterruptible power systems and related equipment.
The ranking comes as battery suppliers compete to capitalise on rising electricity demand from digital infrastructure. Data centre operators face pressure to secure reliable backup power while reducing environmental impacts and addressing safety concerns linked to battery storage.
Ranking criteria
Under the list's methodology, TIME and Statista used company reports, media monitoring and other public sources. Statista also worked with data partners The Upright Project and LexisNexis Intellectual Property Solutions.
The list places ZincFive among a broader group of US companies developing lower-emission technologies and energy-related products. For the company, the repeat appearance provides another external marker as it works to raise its profile in a competitive battery market.
Nickel-zinc chemistry has long occupied a smaller niche than lithium-ion, which dominates much of the global battery industry, and lead-acid, which remains common in backup power systems because of its cost and established supply chains. ZincFive has sought to differentiate its products by focusing on immediate power applications, where short bursts of high power and operational safety are central requirements.
The company has also expanded its product line. In November, it announced BC 2 AI, an AI-optimised battery system for dual-mode operation. The product is designed to manage sharp transient loads from GPU clusters while continuing to provide outage protection in a compact cabinet format.
That reflects a wider shift in the sector as artificial intelligence workloads reshape data centre power needs. GPU-heavy installations can create sudden spikes in demand, prompting operators and equipment suppliers to reconsider how backup systems are designed and deployed.
Battery focus
ZincFive's patented nickel-zinc electrochemistry is intended for immediate power use and is designed to combine high power density with what it describes as inherent safety and sustainability. Its batteries are intended to avoid some of the environmental and safety trade-offs associated with conventional chemistries.
Competition in this segment is increasing as operators weigh performance, cost, floor space and regulatory considerations. Suppliers of lithium-ion, lead-acid and alternative battery chemistries are all trying to capture demand from data centres, industrial facilities and other critical power environments.
ZincFive is privately held and based in Tualatin, Oregon. It has built an international patent portfolio around its nickel-zinc technology and has received a series of industry awards in recent years, including recognition from the Edison Awards, CleanTech Breakthrough and the Power Technology Excellence Awards.
Commenting on the latest ranking, Tod Higinbotham, chief executive officer of ZincFive, said, "Earning a place on TIME's America's Top GreenTech Companies list for the third consecutive year reflects the growing role of nickel-zinc technology in delivering safe, sustainable power. At ZincFive, we believe in the power of good chemistry. That belief drives us to build solutions that combine performance, safety and sustainability for the world's most demanding power environments."