Google secures 1.9GW clean power deal with 100-hour battery for Minnesota data centre
What's the deal? Google will build its first Minnesota data centre in Pine Island, backed by a 1.9GW clean energy package that includes wind, solar, and a 300MW, 100-hour battery from Form Energy. The project is being developed with utility Xcel EnergyDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → and energy company AESDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, and is designed to power Google’s expanding cloud and AI infrastructure.
The 100-hour system — one of the largest long-duration batteries announced to date — can discharge electricity for roughly four days, far longer than standard lithium-ion batteries. Google said the package is structured to support new generation and storage capacity tied directly to the data centre.
Why now? Data centre electricity demand is surging as AI workloads grow. Companies like Google are under pressure to secure reliable, carbon-free power around the clock, not just match annual consumption with renewable credits.
Traditional wind and solar projects cannot guarantee supply during multi-day lulls. Long-duration storage is emerging as a way to smooth those gaps and help hyperscalers meet their 24/7 clean energy targets.
Minnesota has also become an attractive location due to grid access, land availability, and supportive utility partnerships.
What could go wrong? Form Energy’s iron-air battery technology is still relatively new at commercial scale. While promising, large deployments carry execution and cost risks.
The deal reportedly uses a special tariff structure that allows Google to shoulder higher costs to avoid burdening other ratepayers. That model could face regulatory scrutiny if expenses rise or performance falls short.
Large infrastructure projects also face permitting, supply chain, and construction delays — especially when deploying novel technologies.
The signal: Corporate energy buying is evolving. Big tech is moving beyond simple power purchase agreements toward complex, grid-integrated deals that combine renewables, storage, and utility innovation.
The scale — 1.9GW — reflects how hyperscalers now rival small nations in electricity demand. Their capital and long-term commitments are helping accelerate new battery technologies that utilities alone might not fund.
For startups like Form Energy, anchor customers such as Google provide validation and bankability. For utilities, partnerships with hyperscalers are becoming a new growth engine.
Sources:
Google
Xcel Energy
TechCrunch
CNBC
Reuters
Canary Media
PV Magazine
J.V.
