Google and Xcel Partner on 2 GW Clean Energy for Minnesota Data Center

Google has partnered with Xcel Energy to power a new data center in Pine Island, Minnesota, through an agreement that adds nearly 2 gigawatts of clean energy to the regional grid, including a groundbreaking 100-hour iron-air battery system. The facility, marking Google's first in the state and located on a 480-acre site about 70 miles southeast of Minneapolis, will support core services such as Search, Maps, YouTube, and Workspace, amid surging demand from artificial intelligence and cloud computing.

Under the electric service agreement, Xcel Energy will supply electricity to the data center while integrating 1,400 megawatts of wind power, 200 megawatts of solar capacity, and 300 megawatts of long-duration energy storage. The storage component, developed by startup Form Energy, features a 30-gigawatt-hour iron-air battery designed to discharge continuously for approximately 100 hours, making it the largest such project announced globally by energy capacity. This system aims to stabilize power supply by storing excess renewable energy and releasing it during peak demand or periods of low generation, such as nighttime or calm weather.

The iron-air technology operates through a...