Google and Milan-based energy storage company Energy Dome have announced plans to construct a 23MW/200MWh energy storage plant near Rhode, County Offaly, at a former thermal power station site, marking the first commercial project under the companies' strategic partnership to deploy CO2 Battery technology at scale across Europe, North America, and Asia Pacific.

As reported by ESG Today, the project has been awarded a 10-year capacity contract from EirGrid, Ireland's transmission system operator, and is expected to come online in 2028. Energy Dome has also announced plans to develop a second 200MWh unit at the same site, creating a long-duration energy storage hub in the Irish Midlands.

Claudio Spadacini, Founder and CEO of Energy Dome, said: "We are proud to work with Google on a project that strengthens grid resilience and unlocks the path to 24/7 carbon-free energy in Ireland. This project is the first commercial bilateral deployment under the strategic partnership between our companies, which aims to develop CO2 Battery projects across Europe, North America and Asia-Pacific."

Vanessa Hartley, Head of Google Ireland, said: "This milestone is a next step in our long-term partnership with Energy Dome, and will help scale their promising long-duration energy storage technology, charging ahead to an affordable, secure and clean energy future."

Founded in 2019, Energy Dome develops long-duration energy storage systems using thermodynamic processes that store energy by compressing CO2 at ambient temperature, then release it by allowing the CO2 to warm, expand, and drive a turbine to generate electricity. The technology can provide between 8 and 24 hours of dispatchable electricity, offering longer storage duration than conventional lithium-ion systems. Unlike many battery technologies, the CO2 Battery relies on readily available, off-the-shelf components rather than critical minerals.

The facility will absorb excess renewable energy during periods of oversupply and dispatch firm power during periods of system stress, improving grid stability and supporting Google's ambition to run its entire business on carbon-free energy every hour of every day by 2030.

Discover the full details of the Google and Energy Dome CO2 Battery project and its implications for Ireland's clean energy future in the complete report.