California-based startup Voya Energy secured $35 million in financing in August 2026. The company develops generators that produce electricity through a chemical reaction involving prepared scrap aluminum, air, and water, avoiding combustion. These systems are intended to replace diesel backup equipment in data centers, where noise and exhaust emissions present regulatory challenges.
The technology requires a continuous supply of aluminum and the removal of aluminum hydroxide as a byproduct. For a hypothetical 100 MW data center operating continuously, the system would consume approximately 520 metric tons of metal daily and generate about 1,500 metric tons of aluminum hydroxide. This equates to an annual requirement of 190,000 tons of metal and 550,000 tons of byproduct removal.
Voya Energy has set a target price for delivered electricity at below $0.30 per kWh. The company also aims for a metal fuel cost of $0.50 per pound. At a 57% conversion efficiency, the cost of aluminum alone accounts for approximately $0.24 per kWh, excluding expenses related to fuel preparation, transportation, capital equipment, and residue management.
The company plans to sell the byproduct aluminum hydroxide, while metal regeneration remains a long-term possibility. A 2026 lifecycle assessment for aluminum-air storage pathways suggests a round-trip efficiency of 29–35% when regeneration is involved. The economic viability of these generators depends on the logistics of material supply and the management of reaction residues.
