The U.S. Department of Energy is affirming its commitment to renewable energy with a substantial grant awarded to Maine. Particularly, Form Energy is at the forefront of this advance, as they undertake the creation of the world’s largest iron-air battery storage facility—a marker of both innovation and the shift towards sustainable energy solutions.
The U.S. Department of Energy’s recent allocation of a $147 million grant to the state of Maine signifies a strategic renovation in the region’s energy landscape. This funding is earmarked for constructing an unprecedented “iron-air” battery storage system in Lincoln, augmenting the region’s capacity to store and dispense renewable energy over multiple days. This endeavor, located at the historical Lincoln Mill site, is not just a first for New England but a global front-runner amidst long-duration energy storage projects.
Maine’s political delegates, including Sen. Susan Collins (R), Sen. Angus King (I), and Rep. Chellie Pingree (D), have collectively supported the award, acknowledging its substantial influence on regional and state-wide energy objectives and infrastructure. This groundbreaking initiative is part of a more extensive investment, the “Power Up New England project,” dedicated to fortifying the regional electric grid and expediting the deployment of clean energy across New England.
Form Energy, the Massachusetts-based innovator in energy solutions, plans to develop an 85-megawatt storage facility harnessing iron-air technology, enabling continuous energy discharge for over four days. This nascent technology, not yet prevalent in commercial spheres, offers a more cost-effective solution compared to the widely-used lithium-based batteries for grid-scale storage needs.
The funds will also enhance transmission systems, accommodating higher renewable power loads, including those from existing onshore wind turbines. As per a press release by Governor Janet Mills (D), Maine aims to install 400 megawatts of energy storage by 2030. The investment also promises rejuvenation for the former mill town of Lincoln, offering employment and innovative revitalization prospects for its residents.
Beyond the significant step in energy innovation, such enhancements to the power grid bolster resiliency, particularly critical given the increasing incidence of extreme weather events.
