Google Backs CO2 Battery Tech to Power Its 24/7 Clean Energy Vision

Google has taken a significant step toward powering its operations with round-the-clock clean energy by making its first-ever investment in long-duration energy storage. The tech giant has backed Energy Dome, an innovative Italian startup behind a new kind of energy storage system known as the CO2 Battery. While the exact size of the investment hasn’t been revealed, the move signals Google’s commitment to sourcing electricity from carbon-free sources every hour of every day.

So, how does this technology work? When renewable energy like solar or wind is plentiful, the system uses it to compress carbon dioxide into a liquid. This process also generates heat. Later, when clean energy is less available and demand rises, the liquid CO2 is released and turned back into gas. This gas spins a turbine, producing electricity that can be fed back into the grid.

Unlike traditional lithium-ion batteries, which typically offer only a few hours of discharge, Energy Dome’s system can provide electricity for much longer — anywhere from eight to 24 hours. That makes it a potential game-changer for managing the ebb and flow of renewable power.

The company recently launched its first large-scale project, a 20-megawatt plant in Sardinia. While this marks its commercial debut, the technology has already been quietly delivering power on a smaller scale for over three years.

Now, with Google's support, Energy Dome is scaling up fast. It has signed deals to develop similar commercial-scale projects not just in Italy but also in the United States and India. Partners on these builds include prominent names like Engie, Alliant Energy, and NTPC.

In a statement, Google emphasised that energy storage is crucial for achieving its ambitious goal of using carbon-free electricity in every location it operates by 2030. Back in 2022, it had reached 64 per cent. However, with the rapid growth of its data centres, many of which are required to power artificial intelligence tools and services, the company’s energy needs are increasing rapidly.

Google’s director of energy for the EMEA region, Maud Texier, said: “We are committed to powering our operations with clean energy, and Energy Dome’s technologically proven and scalable long-duration energy storage solution can help us unlock rapid progress.

“But this isn’t just about Google. By helping to scale this first-of-a-kind LDES technology, we hope to help communities everywhere gain greater access to reliable, affordable electricity and support grid resilience as we integrate more renewable energy sources.”