Energy Dome to develop 200 MWh carbon battery in the US

Italian LDES company Energy Dome has signed a supply contract to install its CO₂ battery technology at a 20 MW/200 MWh project in Wisconsin.

The Columbia Energy Storage Project under development by US-based utility Alliant Energy will provide enough power for around 18,000 homes in Wisconsin for 10 hours on one charge.

Energy Dome’s system charges by drawing CO₂ from a gasholder dome and storing it under pressure – a process which can be powered by cheap renewable electricity. The pressurized gas will be stored in its liquefied form. The battery discharges by evaporating the liquefied gas and expanding it through a turbine – thus generating electricity – and sending it back into the gasholder.

Alliant had stated, in Sep. 2023, that the Columbia Energy Storage Project will be built south of Portage, in the town of Pacific near the current Columbia Energy Center. At the time, the utility said project construction could begin in 2025 and be completed in 2026.

Commenting on the supply agreement signed with Energy Dome, Alliant Executive Vice President Raja Sundararajan said, “We see this as the first of many CO₂ batteries to be built in partnership between Energy Dome and Alliant to continue delivering reliable and affordable energy in the communities we serve.”

A press release issued by Energy Dome to announce the supply contract with Alliant added the LDES company expects to complete construction of its first CO₂ battery plant, in Sardinia, Italy, by March 2025.

The release added, Energy Dome then plans an identical production line in Wisconsin.