Form Energy, a startup from Massachusetts, has developed an iron-air battery for long duration energy storage, surpassing Tesla's Megapack 3 in terms of duration. The company secured a 300-megawatt, 100-hour energy storage deal with Xcel Energy and Google, aiming to provide cost-effective, safe, and reliable energy storage solutions for a grid saturated with wind and solar power. Xcel Energy is moving forward with plans to deploy a Form iron-air battery in its energy plan for a new Google data center in Minnesota, pending approval from the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission. The technology involves iron pellets that rust when exposed to air, releasing energy, and can be recharged by applying electricity, with Form Energy receiving funding to establish a factory in West Virginia for mass production of their iron-air batteries.
Tag: Minnesota
-
Google to deploy world’s largest iron-air battery for US data center
Google has partnered with Xcel Energy to implement a 300 MW/30 GWh iron-air battery system in Minnesota, alongside 1.6 GW of new wind and solar energy. Developed by Form Energy, this project aims to offer long-duration energy storage to stabilize intermittent renewables. The iron-air batteries have the capability to store renewables-generated electricity for up to 100 hours, making them a viable alternative to traditional power plants. This initiative is a key component of Google's commitment to decarbonization and meeting the energy needs of the AI era.
-
Massive Solar Plus Storage Facility To Replace Coal And Gas, Too
The article discusses the transition from coal power plants to cleaner energy solutions at the Sherco Energy Hub in Minnesota, where Xcel Energy is replacing coal with renewable energy sources. Xcel plans to retire all remaining coal power plants in the region and focus on leveraging renewable energy assets, including a large solar array and significant battery energy storage system. The company intends to offset costs for battery and solar projects, with construction on the battery storage projects starting in 2026. Xcel sees energy storage as a critical part of Minnesota's energy future, allowing for a diversified energy mix that excludes coal. Additionally, Xcel has incorporated solar grazing at the Sherco Energy Hub, with nearly 2,000 sheep helping to maintain the PV array and provide environmental benefits.
-
Solar microgrid brings energy security to White Earth Nation
The White Earth Nation's Pine Point community in Minnesota is advancing a community-owned resilience project with a 500-kilowatt solar array and battery storage to provide energy security and emergency backup power. Despite facing obstacles, including frozen federal grant programs, the project received funding from the U.S. Department of Energy's ES4SE Program and the Minnesota Solar for Schools program. Led by climate justice developer 10Power, the project aims to provide clean, reliable power while also incorporating an Ojibwe-language educational program and job fair. The Pine Point Resilience Hub is expected to come online in early 2026, serving as a model for community-owned energy in northern Minnesota and connecting energy technology with cultural identity and language revitalization.
https://generation180.org/blog/solar-microgrid-brings-energy-security-to-white-earth-nation/