Google’s new 1.9GW clean energy deal includes massive 100-hour battery

Google is partnering with Xcel Energy to power its first Minnesota data center in Pine Island with a massive 1.9 gigawatt clean energy deal, comprising 1.4 GW of wind and 200 MW of solar power. A key feature of this project is the integration of Form Energy’s iron-air battery, capable of delivering power continuously for 100 hours. At 30 gigawatt-hours, this battery will be the largest in the world and will enable the data center to rely on renewable energy for extended periods, effectively “firming” intermittent wind and solar power by providing energy during nighttime or low-generation intervals. Form Energy’s iron-air battery technology differs significantly from conventional lithium-ion batteries. It stores energy through a reversible rusting process involving iron and oxygen, which, while less efficient (50-70% round-trip efficiency compared to lithium-ion’s 90%+), offers a major cost advantage, with projected storage costs around $20 per kilowatt-hour—at least three times