In a pivotal stride towards a more sustainable energy future, Energy Dome, backed by Bill Gates, has secured its first U.S. deal with Alliant Energy for its advanced CO2 battery technology.
This landmark project represents a significant step in renewable energy storage, promising significant advantages over traditional lithium-ion battery systems.
The U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations has awarded Alliant Energy a federal grant of up to $30 million to support the Columbia Energy Storage Project.
Set to be completed by 2026, this project will utilize the innovative CO2 battery to enhance energy possibilities.
Energy Dome’s CO2 battery technology offers versatile, long-duration energy storage by storing excess solar energy during the day and releasing it at night or during peak demand.
Remarkably, it maintains its performance over a 25-year lifespan, unlike lithium-ion batteries, which degrade after a decade.
This unique attribute translates into the CO2 battery’s costs being about half as much as similarly capacitated lithium-ion systems.
The CO2 battery operates through a closed-loop cycle of transforming carbon dioxide from gas to liquid and back.
The process begins with CO2 stored in gaseous form and compressed using electricity from the grid.
The heat generated during this stage is stored in a thermal energy storage system, and the charge cycle is completed by cooling and storing the CO2 in liquid form at room temperature.
When energy is required, the stored liquid CO2 is evaporated back into gas, retrieving the stored heat, and expanded through a turbine to produce electricity.
The system’s impressive storage capacity of approximately 200 MWh can potentially power 18,000 homes for up to 10 hours on a single charge.
Since its inception in February 2020, Energy Dome has rapidly propelled its CO2 battery concept to full testing levels on a multi-megawatt scale.
Designed with scalability and simplicity, the battery employs widely recognized industrial components within its innovative framework.
This approach provides a universally deployable and economical solution, facilitating the global shift to a cleaner energy grid by supporting the storage of large amounts of renewable energy.
As Claudio Spadacini, CEO of Energy Dome, highlighted, the CO2 battery is a viable solution that makes long-duration energy storage both accessible and impactful.
The first installation of this forward-thinking project is planned near the existing Columbia Energy Center in Wisconsin, south of Portage.
Alliant Energy aims to submit its proposals to the Wisconsin Public Service Commission by early 2024, with construction anticipated to commence the following year.
This CO2 battery installation is not just a step forward in sustainable energy storage; it signifies a commitment to a more dependable and cost-effective energy infrastructure for communities nationwide.