Energy Dome, SRP, and Google Advance Long-Duration Energy Storage in Arizona with New CO2 Battery Project
Energy Dome, a company specializing in innovative long-duration energy storage solutions, has entered into an agreement with Salt River Project (SRP), one of the largest public power utilities serving the Phoenix metropolitan region, to deploy a 19-megawatt (MW), 10-hour carbon dioxide (CO2)-based battery system in Arizona. The project represents a significant step toward strengthening grid reliability, supporting growing electricity demand, and advancing the adoption of next-generation energy storage technologies in the United States.
The planned facility will be located at SRP’s Coronado Generating Station (CGS) in St. Johns, Arizona. Under the terms of a 20-year tolling agreement, Energy Dome will own and operate the storage system while SRP will manage and dispatch the electricity produced by the facility. Once operational, the project is expected to provide substantial energy storage capacity that can help balance supply and demand across the regional grid.
The initiative also forms part of a broader collaboration involving Google and SRP aimed at accelerating the deployment of long-duration energy storage (LDES) technologies beyond traditional lithium-ion batteries. Through this partnership, the organizations seek to improve grid resilience, maintain affordability for customers, and support sustainability goals while addressing the growing energy requirements of the region.
The new storage facility will be capable of storing enough electricity to power approximately 4,275 homes for up to 10 hours. This level of energy storage can play a critical role during periods of high demand, renewable generation fluctuations, or unexpected grid disruptions. The project was selected through SRP’s 2024 Request for Proposals process focused on evaluating promising long-duration energy storage pilot technologies. Google will contribute financial support through a cost-sharing arrangement with SRP, helping to advance the deployment of the innovative storage solution.
Arizona has become one of the fastest-growing energy markets in the United States. Population growth, business expansion, and the rapid development of data centers and artificial intelligence infrastructure are contributing to increasing electricity demand across the state. Utilities are therefore seeking reliable and scalable solutions that can complement renewable energy generation and provide dependable power when needed.
According to Claudio Spadacini, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Energy Dome, the project demonstrates the potential of advanced energy storage technologies to support the evolving energy landscape. He emphasized that rising electricity consumption, driven in part by the growth of AI-related infrastructure, is creating a need for flexible and dispatchable energy resources capable of strengthening energy security and grid reliability.
Spadacini noted that Energy Dome’s CO2 Battery technology can be deployed relatively quickly and can leverage domestic manufacturing capabilities, supporting broader efforts to strengthen U.S. energy independence. He added that the project aligns with the company’s commitment to helping utilities access affordable and reliable energy while contributing to economic development and job creation through expanded domestic supply chains.
At the heart of the project is Energy Dome’s proprietary CO2 Battery technology, which utilizes a thermomechanical process to store and release energy. Unlike conventional battery systems that rely on lithium-ion chemistry, the CO2 Battery stores energy by compressing carbon dioxide using electricity from the grid when excess power is available.
The compressed CO2 is then stored under controlled conditions until electricity is needed. When demand increases, the stored CO2 is expanded through a turbine, generating electricity that can be delivered back to the grid. This process enables the system to provide long-duration energy storage while utilizing readily available materials and avoiding some of the supply chain challenges associated with conventional battery technologies.
The technology is designed to deliver large amounts of stored energy over extended periods, making it particularly valuable for supporting renewable energy integration. As solar and wind resources continue to expand, long-duration storage solutions are becoming increasingly important for ensuring power remains available even when renewable generation declines.
The Arizona project has also encouraged Energy Dome to accelerate investments in U.S.-based supply chain development. By expanding domestic manufacturing and operational capabilities, the company aims to support future energy storage deployments while contributing to local economic growth and workforce development.
For SRP, the project provides an opportunity to evaluate an emerging energy storage technology under real-world operating conditions. The utility continues to explore multiple approaches to energy storage as it works to meet growing customer demand while maintaining affordability and reliability.
Chico Hunter, SRP’s Manager of Innovation and Development, explained that the utility is actively assessing new storage technologies that can diversify its battery portfolio. He noted that the Energy Dome project will provide valuable insights into how the company’s CO2 Battery performs in Arizona’s unique climate and operating environment.
The utility has ambitious plans to expand its generating resources significantly over the coming decade. SRP is working toward at least doubling the number of generation resources connected to its power system by 2035 in response to rapid growth throughout the Phoenix metropolitan area. Energy storage is expected to play a central role in supporting that expansion by enabling more efficient management of electricity supply and demand.
Google’s participation further highlights the growing involvement of major technology companies in energy infrastructure development. As data centers and AI operations require increasing amounts of electricity, technology firms are investing in innovative solutions that can help ensure reliable and sustainable power availability.
Lucia Tian, Director of Advanced Energy Technologies at Google, said the company remains committed to supporting next-generation energy technologies that strengthen grid resilience and introduce additional capacity to power systems. She described the Arizona project as an important milestone in Google’s ongoing collaboration with SRP and a continuation of the company’s long-term partnership with Energy Dome.
According to Tian, the initiative will help deliver dependable, cost-effective, and sustainable energy resources that benefit Arizona electricity customers while contributing to broader clean energy objectives.
Beyond its immediate operational benefits, the project serves as a demonstration of how utilities, technology companies, and energy innovators can collaborate to address emerging energy challenges. Long-duration energy storage is increasingly viewed as a critical component of future electricity systems, particularly as renewable energy adoption accelerates and demand continues to rise.
The project is expected to enter commercial operation in 2029. Once online, Energy Dome will provide valuable performance data that can help inform future deployments of long-duration energy storage technologies across the United States and beyond.
To support this effort, SRP and Energy Dome will collaborate with the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), an independent nonprofit organization focused on energy research and development. EPRI will monitor and analyze the project’s performance, helping stakeholders better understand the operational characteristics, reliability, and economic value of CO2-based energy storage systems.
As utilities seek innovative solutions to meet future energy needs, the Arizona project stands as a significant example of how advanced storage technologies can enhance grid reliability, support renewable energy integration, and create a more resilient energy future. Through the combined efforts of Energy Dome, SRP, Google, and EPRI, the initiative has the potential to demonstrate a scalable model for long-duration energy storage deployment in rapidly growing energy markets.
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