Google data centre to use iron-air batteries
Form Energy’s 100-hour iron-air storage has been paired with 1,900 MW of wind and solar in Minnesota.
Image for illustrative purposes / Credit: AnnaKu, Shutterstock.com
USA, Minnesotta, Pine Island: Xcel Energy will install 30 GWh of Form Energy’s iron-air batteries at a new Google data centre in Pine Island, Minnesota. The 300 MW battery energy storage system (BESS) is designed to store power during periods of high generation and low demand, releasing it during peak usage, even over multiple days, enhancing grid stability and reliability.
Form Energy CEO Mateo Jaramillo highlighted that the batteries will be manufactured at Form Factory 1 in Weirton, West Virginia, which is on track to reach 500 MW of production per year by 2028. Form, founded out of MIT labs and led by ex-Tesla executive Jaramillo, develops cost-effective long-duration energy storage (LDES) using abundant materials, making multi-day energy storage feasible for large energy users.
The project, described as the largest battery system by energy capacity globally, will be paired with 1,900 MW of new renewable energy: 1,400 MW of wind and 200 MW of solar, supported through a Clean Energy Accelerator Charge (CEAC). Google will cover infrastructure costs under the Electric Service Agreement, which will be submitted to the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (MPUC) for approval.
In addition, Google has invested in other LDES projects, including partnerships in Arizona with Salt River Project and Italy-based Energy Dome, supporting non-lithium storage solutions. Xcel Energy says the project will boost the local economy, expand clean energy access, and maintain affordable power for existing customers.
The 100-hour system will provide firm, reliable power for Google’s data centre while enabling the wider grid to integrate renewable resources more efficiently, demonstrating the potential of multi-day storage in the AI-driven energy economy.
Source: Energy Storage News
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