Google has committed approximately $1 billion to secure a large-scale, long-duration battery system from startup Form Energy. The battery will support a new data center in Minnesota that Google recently announced will run on a combination of wind, solar, and advanced energy storage.
At the center of the project is Form Energy’s iron-air battery, designed to provide continuous power for up to 100 hours. The system is engineered to deliver 300 megawatts of electricity over that period, positioning it as one of the most ambitious long-duration energy storage deployments to date.
Unlike conventional lithium-ion batteries, Form Energy’s technology relies on iron and oxygen to store and release electricity. The process works by introducing oxygen into battery cells, which causes iron to rust. This oxidation process releases electrons, generating electrical power. When the battery is recharged, the rust is converted back into iron, allowing the cycle to repeat.
The battery installation will help stabilize electricity generated from 1.4 gigawatts of wind capacity and 200 megawatts of solar power. By storing surplus renewable energy and releasing it during periods of low generation, the system is intended to ensure consistent power supply to the data center while reducing dependence on fossil fuels.
Form Energy has been developing its iron-air technology for several years and established a manufacturing facility in West Virginia to scale production. Despite steady technological progress, the company had not secured a customer of this magnitude prior to its agreement with Google. The deal represents a significant commercial validation of long-duration storage as a viable alternative to traditional grid solutions.
With the Google contract in place, Form Energy CEO Mateo Jaramillo said the company is now raising an additional $500 million in funding to support expansion and manufacturing scale-up. According to PitchBook data, Form Energy has raised $1.4 billion to date. The company is also planning an initial public offering next year, signaling confidence in both market demand and investor appetite for large-scale energy storage solutions.
The investment reflects growing pressure on major technology firms to power data centers with clean, reliable energy, particularly as electricity demand surges due to AI workloads and cloud computing expansion. Long-duration batteries like Form Energy’s could play a critical role in enabling renewable-heavy grids to operate around the clock, addressing one of the key limitations of wind and solar power — variability.
Google’s $1 billion commitment underscores the increasing alignment between Big Tech and next-generation energy infrastructure, as companies seek to secure stable, low-carbon power sources to support expanding digital operations.
