Google partnered with an Italian-based carbon dioxide battery storage firm to advance its goal of Carbon-Free Energy by 2030.
Google has partnered with Italian energy storage company Energy Dome in a move to support its global shift towards carbon-free operations. The deal marks Google’s first commercial agreement for long-duration energy storage and includes a strategic investment in the Milan-based firm.
The partnership reflects Google’s growing interest in next-generation energy solutions as it works towards a target of operating entirely on carbon-free energy by 2030. Energy Dome’s technology aligns with that ambition by offering reliable, long-duration storage essential for stabilising renewable-heavy grids.
Energy Dome’s core innovation lies in its carbon dioxide-based battery system. The technology stores energy by compressing and liquefying CO2 during periods of excess power generation. When energy demand rises, the system expands the CO2 to drive a turbine and regenerate electricity. Unlike lithium-ion batteries, this method avoids the use of critical minerals such as lithium and copper, which are becoming increasingly scarce and geopolitically sensitive.
Google’s strategy to achieve all day carbon‑free energy covers every hour of power consumption, particularly in its data centres. It aims to match each hour’s electricity demand with carbon‑free sources, on the same regional grid. The CO2 battery investment supports this by providing long‑duration storage that can bridge gaps in supply.
The partnership includes plans to build CO2 Battery projects across strategic regions, including Europe, the US, and Asia-Pacific. Though exact investment figures were not disclosed, Google’s funding will support Energy Dome’s commercial rollout. Projects are already underway in the US with Alliant Energy, in Italy with Engie, and in India with NTPC.
Energy Dome, founded in Milan, has already launched its first commercial-scale facility in Sardinia. The site, expected to be fully operational by the end of 2024, features a 20-megawatt system capable of powering up to 15,000 homes in a 24-hour cycle. The company’s funding base includes strategic players like Oman’s sovereign wealth fund and Dutch storage firm Vopak.
