Flow Aluminum Announces Fran Nicklous as Newest Board Member to Drive Safety and Innovation in Energy Storage

Flow Aluminum, a leading innovator revolutionizing energy storage with its aluminum-CO2 battery technology, is excited to welcome Fran Nicklous to its board of directors. With a strong background in engineering and leadership within Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS), Nicklous brings valuable expertise from his current role as Director of Battery Systems Engineering at Fluence, a global market leader in energy storage products and services, and optimization software for renewables and storage.

Nicklous joins Flow Aluminum as a formal board member with full voting rights at a pivotal time as the energy storage industry looks to advance safe, reliable, and environmentally sustainable solutions. With an extensive engineering background in renewable energy and expertise in developing innovative battery energy storage systems, Nicklous brings valuable insight into the design of safe, more diverse battery technologies. His focus on advancing safety protocols, resource availability, and cost-efficiency will be critical as Flow Aluminum works to meet the growing demands of a rapidly evolving market. 

As a board member, Nicklous will collaborate with the Flow Aluminum team to gain important insights, knowledge, and perspectives to enhance its aluminum-CO2 battery technology from what can be considered one of the start-up’s primary markets. He will provide feedback and guidance for Flow Aluminum's lab testing and development initiatives, advising on technical and strategic approaches to ensure the science is commercialized to achieve maximum impact in the energy storage market.

“We are thrilled to have Fran join our board,” said Tom Chepucavage, CEO of Flow Aluminum. “His technical expertise and dedication to safety will be invaluable as we push the boundaries of energy storage. Fran’s insight will help validate our efforts to develop an energy storage solution that is safe, non-flammable, and made from readily available resources—addressing key industry challenges and advancing sustainable, high-performance solutions in the market.”

In addition to safety, Nicklous is highly interested in exploring materials and scientific advancements that support a more diverse and sustainable battery landscape. His background includes a series of notable leadership roles, from advancing Flunence’s product development standards to developing a vision system that integrated machine learning for predictive maintenance. His contributions to energy storage extend beyond technical innovation to encompass strategic planning and resource allocation, ensuring optimal results in high-growth environments. 

In addition to the expansion of its board, Flow Aluminum recently achieved a major milestone with its aluminum-CO2 battery prototype, moving closer to delivering a safer, more sustainable alternative to lithium-ion batteries. In October, CEO Tom Chepucavage introduced the battery technology to investors in Dubai, highlighting its transformative potential in energy storage. In January 2025, the team will participate in arctic testing in Norway, to validate a cold-weather-capable prototype.

With the added expertise of Nicklous to its board alongside its dedicated leadership and technical team, Flow Aluminum is well-positioned to continue its journey toward delivering a new standard in battery technology that emphasizes safety, sustainability, and a readily available domestic supply chain. 

Flow Aluminum | www.flowaluminum.com