Form Energy secures landmark Google-backed battery deal
Long-duration energy storage pioneer Form Energy has reportedly landed a deal worth around $1 billion with Google, positioning its 100‑hour iron‑air battery technology at the center of one of the world’s largest grid‑scale storage deployments to date.
The agreement, first reported by industry sources, would see Form Energy supply its multi‑day storage systems to help power Google data centers and clean energy projects, addressing a critical challenge in the transition to a fully decarbonized grid: how to keep electricity flowing reliably when wind and solar output fall for days at a time.
How Form Energy’s 100‑hour battery works
Form Energy is developing iron‑air batteries that store electricity for up to 100 hours, far beyond the 2–4 hour range typical of today’s lithium‑ion systems. The technology relies on abundant iron and a reversible process of rusting and de‑rusting to store and release energy, potentially delivering long‑duration storage at a fraction of current costs.
By targeting multi‑day resilience, the company aims to complement renewable energy resources and reduce dependence on fossil fuel peaker plants. Analysts say such long‑duration energy storage could be pivotal for achieving deep grid decarbonization while maintaining reliability.
Why this deal matters for big tech and the grid
Google has committed to operating on 24/7 carbon‑free energy, a goal that requires more than conventional battery storage. Partnering with Form Energy offers a pathway to smooth out multi‑day weather variability and align data‑center demand with clean power supply.
If fully realized at the reported scale, energy experts suggest this could be among the largest single deployments of long‑duration storage globally, signaling that big tech is prepared to underwrite emerging grid technologies. The deal may also validate iron‑air chemistry as a serious contender in a crowded field of next‑generation storage solutions, from flow batteries to compressed air.
For Form Energy, the agreement is a major commercial milestone that could accelerate manufacturing expansion and drive down costs, while giving Google a differentiated tool to hit its climate and reliability targets.