Meta and Google are shifting investments toward long-duration energy storage systems to support their data centers. Unlike standard lithium-ion batteries that typically discharge for four hours, these new technologies aim for continuous discharge periods ranging from 10 to over 100 hours.
In February 2026, Google signed a deal with Form Energy for a 300 MW / 30 GWh iron-air battery system in Minnesota. The project is estimated to cost $1 billion and is designed for 100-hour discharge. Additionally, Google partnered with MN8 Energy for the Mammoth Solar project in West Virginia, which includes 86 MW of solar capacity and 10 MW / 100 MWh of zinc-based storage, with deployment scheduled for 2028–2030.
Google also plans a 23 MW / 200 MWh CO2 battery project in Ireland with Energy Dome for 2028. Meanwhile, Meta reached an agreement with Noon Energy in April 2026 to reserve up to 1 GW / 100 GWh of storage, beginning with a 25 MW / 2.5 GWh pilot project in 2028.
These alternative storage technologies, including iron-air, zinc-based, and CO2 systems, allow for scaling energy capacity more cost-effectively than lithium-ion batteries. While these projects are currently in development, most are expected to become operational by 2028 or later.
