Minnesota Project Rewrites the Grid Playbook

Google and Xcel Energy launch the world’s largest iron-air battery project to fuel AI data centers with 100 hours of carbon-free power

11 Mar 2026

A landmark collaboration is reshaping the American power grid. Google and Xcel Energy have finalized an agreement to deploy a massive iron-air battery system at a new data center in Pine Island, Minnesota. Utilizing technology from Form Energy, the 30 GWh installation stands as the largest battery project by capacity ever announced. It represents a shift from experimental tech to a vital commercial pillar for the AI era.

The heart of the deal lies in Form Energy’s unique electrochemical system. These batteries can discharge power continuously for up to 100 hours, bridging the gap when the wind dies down or the sun sets for days at a time. This multi-day duration provides the firm, reliable energy that hyperscale data centers demand. It effectively transforms intermittent renewables into a steady, around-the-clock resource.

Financial innovation is just as critical to this deal as the chemistry. Under a new tariff structure, Google will fund 1,400 MW of wind and 200 MW of solar to pair with the storage. This model allows Xcel to push past its current 70 percent carbon-free mix without hiking rates for residential customers. It is a rare win-win where corporate giants shoulder the infrastructure costs while the public benefits from a cleaner, more resilient grid.

For the industry, the implications are profound. This scale of investment validates iron-air technology and secures the production future of Form Energy’s West Virginia manufacturing plant. As artificial intelligence drives an unprecedented surge in electricity demand, Long-Duration Energy Storage (LDES) is no longer a niche curiosity. It has become a strategic asset, proving that the path to a fully decarbonized future is paved with iron.