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The new partnership between Google and Energy Dome marks the first bilateral commercial implementation of CO₂ battery technology in Ireland. The project aims to strengthen the stability of the power grid, expand the use of renewable sources, and accelerate a solution that could be replicated in Europe, North America, and Asia-Pacific.
Google has taken another step in its strategy to expand access to clean energy by announcing a new electricity storage project based on a technology little known to the general public but considered one of the most promising for the future of power grids. In partnership with the Italian company Energy Dome, the tech giant will build a 23 MW/200 MWh CO₂ battery in County Offaly, Ireland.
The announcement was released by Business Wire, with information from Energy Dome itself, and represents the first bilateral commercial implementation of the strategic partnership established between the two companies in 2025. The goal is to demonstrate that long-duration storage systems can make renewable electricity more reliable, accessible, and available 24 hours a day.
The initiative comes just days after the companies announced another similar project, this time in the state of Arizona, USA, with a capacity of 19 MW/200 MWh, developed in conjunction with the utility Salt River Project (SRP).
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How the CO₂ battery that caught Google’s attention works
Unlike conventional lithium-ion batteries, Energy Dome’s technology uses a completely different principle.
During periods when there is excess electricity generation — mainly from solar and wind power plants — the energy is used to compress carbon dioxide (CO₂), storing it under high pressure in a closed system.
When the power grid needs additional energy, the process is reversed.
The compressed CO₂ is expanded and drives a turbine, which produces electricity and returns it to the grid.
This entire cycle happens without permanently consuming the gas.
The carbon dioxide remains circulating within the system, functioning as a reusable working fluid.
According to Energy Dome, this solution presents an important advantage over other storage technologies: it uses widely available industrial components and reduces dependence on critical minerals, such as lithium, cobalt, and nickel.
This feature can lower costs and facilitate large-scale expansion.
Ireland wants to strengthen the power grid with long-duration storage
The choice of Ireland was not by chance.
The Irish government considers long-duration energy storage one of the pillars to achieve its goal of producing 80% of electricity from renewable sources by 2030.
With the growth of wind and solar generation, there are also increasing moments when there is excess production and others when supply decreases rapidly.
Without efficient storage systems, part of this energy ends up being wasted.
The CO₂ battery will allow absorbing this surplus and releasing it later during peak demand times.
According to Energy Dome, this improves grid balance, reduces congestion, and avoids high investments in building new transmission lines.
The project will be installed in a former peat-fired power plant, located near the town of Rhode, in Offaly county.
The area occupies a strategic position within the Irish power grid, close to the high-voltage lines that supply the metropolitan region of Dublin.
Besides the existing infrastructure, the site is near the Rhode Green Energy Park, where large volumes of solar and wind energy often face limitations due to grid congestion.
By storing this electricity for later use, the new plant can significantly increase the utilization of these renewable sources.
Project also revitalizes former industrial area
The development occurs in partnership with the Irish company Lumcloon Energy, responsible for the local implementation of the project.
In addition to job creation, the initiative will repurpose a former decommissioned industrial area, transforming an old peat power plant into a clean energy storage center.
According to Claudio Spadacini, founder and CEO of Energy Dome, the project represents a milestone for the partnership with Google.
According to the executive, this is the first bilateral commercial implementation of CO₂ battery technology within the joint expansion strategy for Europe, North America, and Asia-Pacific.
The company intends to demonstrate that long-duration storage can strengthen energy security, increase the resilience of power grids, and meet the growing demand for electricity.
Google bets on energy available 24 hours a day
The initiative is part of a broader Google strategy to reduce emissions associated with its data centers and increase the continuous use of clean energy.
According to Vanessa Hartley, director of Google in Ireland, the company seeks to accelerate technologies capable of strengthening the stability of power grids and expanding available storage capacity.
For the company, projects like this represent an important step towards a cleaner, safer, and economically sustainable energy system.
The venture already has a defined site, urban planning approval, connection to the power grid, and a valid capacity contract for 10 years signed with EirGrid, the state operator responsible for energy transmission in Ireland.
The plant is expected to begin operations in 2028.
In addition, Energy Dome is already planning to install a second 200 MWh unit in the same complex, creating one of the largest long-duration energy storage hubs in Ireland.
Growth of artificial intelligence increases pressure on the electric sector
The announcement comes at a time when global electricity consumption is rapidly increasing, driven by the expansion of artificial intelligence.
Data centers focused on AI processing, cloud computing, and digital services require a continuous energy supply.
According to Energy Dome, technologies capable of storing large volumes of electricity for many hours will be essential to ensure the stability of power grids without increasing dependence on fossil fuels.
By using widely available materials and reducing the need for strategic minerals, the CO₂ battery emerges as an alternative that can complement other existing storage forms.
If the projects in Ireland and Arizona confirm the expected performance, the partnership between Google and Energy Dome could accelerate the adoption of this technology in different parts of the world, transforming former limitations of renewable energies into new opportunities for a more resilient electrical system.
