Unprecedented Scale for Long-Duration Iron-Air Storage
In early 2026, Google and Xcel Energy announced a landmark agreement to power a new data center in Pine Island, Minnesota. The project features a colossal 300 MW/30 GWh iron-air battery system provided by Form Energy. Recognized as the largest announced battery project globally by GWh capacity, this system can deliver up to 100 hours of continuous discharge, representing a monumental leap in long-duration energy storage deployment for the tech sector.
Form Energy's Commercialization and Manufacturing Milestones
Form Energy, a company strictly focused on multi-day storage solutions, achieved a major milestone by beginning commercial shipments of its 100-hour iron-air batteries in October 2025. To support this massive deployment, the batteries are being manufactured at the Form Factory 1 facility in Weirton, West Virginia, which has an annual production capacity target of 500 MW. Furthermore, Form Energy is currently raising USD 500 million in new funding and has outlined plans to conduct an Initial Public Offering in 2027 to fuel further expansion.
A Comprehensive Clean Energy Ecosystem
The Minnesota data center is supported by a total clean energy portfolio reaching 1.9 GW. This comprehensive ecosystem includes 1,400 MW of wind power, 200 MW of solar capacity, and the massive 300 MW/30 GWh iron-air battery system. Xcel Energy has confirmed that this infrastructure upgrade will not increase electricity rates for ordinary residents, as Google is fully funding the project. The tech giant is paying approximately USD 1 billion for the storage component alone, which equates to a remarkably low cost of roughly USD 33 per kWh.
The project represents the largest announced battery project globally by GWh capacity, with Google paying approximately $1 billion for the storage component, equating to roughly $33 per kWh.
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