Partnership marks Form Energy’s first international deployment and a major milestone for the future of Ireland’s electricity system
Form Energy, an American energy storage company, and FuturEnergy Ireland, a leading Irish clean energy developer, have announced an agreement to jointly deploy a 10 MW / 1,000 MWh iron-air battery system in the northwest of Ireland. The project will be used to demonstrate the value of multi-day energy storage in helping Ireland meet its energy targets, while ensuring grid reliability, affordability and security. Anticipated to come online in 2029, this is the first international deployment of Form Energy’s iron-air, multi-day batteries to be announced – and represents a landmark project for the future of Ireland’s electricity system.
The agreement was signed on St. Patrick’s Day – a major public holiday in both Ireland and the United States – at a ceremony held at Form Energy’s headquarters in Somerville, Massachusetts in the Boston area. The event brought together key Irish and U.S. officials – including Helen McEntee, Ireland’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade and Minister of Defence, Massachusetts Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll, Mayor of Somerville Jake Wilson – alongside senior Form Energy and FuturEnergy Ireland leadership and stakeholders from Boston’s wider cleantech ecosystem to celebrate the milestone.
Helen McEntee, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade and Minister for Defence for Ireland, remarked: 'I am delighted to be at this signing ceremony between FuturEnergy Ireland and Form Energy, to mark what is an exciting and important new partnership that will help boost and expand Ireland’s clean energy usage. Ireland and the United States need to be able to work together to take on today’s challenges, meeting the needs of affordable energy with new technologies. Congratulations to Form and FuturEnergy Ireland on this important achievement.'
The Irish government’s 2024 Electricity Storage Policy Framework identified long-duration energy storage as a key tool for building a clean and reliable electricity grid by 2030. This is due to the unique capabilities of long-duration and multi-day energy storage to provide round-the-clock power, while using existing energy generation sources more efficiently, relieving local transmission congestion, and strengthening the country’s energy independence. Form Energy’s technology utilizes earth-abundant materials – iron, water, and air – with the potential to store vast amounts of energy at a much lower cost compared with conventional battery technologies. Analysis from Form Energy indicates that integrating multi-day energy storage into Ireland’s 2030 portfolio could reduce wasteful renewable curtailment and lower energy generation costs by more than 25% annually. Together, Form Energy and FuturEnergy Ireland look forward to using the 100-hour battery system to show how multi-day energy storage can help Ireland meet its energy goals.
Peter Lynch, CEO of FuturEnergy Ireland, commented: 'Form Energy’s battery solution is set to fill a critical gap in Ireland’s power system. Their pioneering 100-hour, iron-air battery technology will provide a first opportunity to deliver large volumes of clean power across multiple days, and in doing so provide a boost to Ireland’s energy goals. The technology is modular, scalable and locationally flexible, enabling it to simultaneously solve local grid congestion and the linked issue of wasted renewable power. We are delighted to be signing this agreement today and look forward to collaborating with Form Energy in the years ahead to demonstrate the full potential of this technology in Ireland’s energy system.'
The battery technology for this project is being developed in Somerville, Massachusetts, at the heart of one of the world’s leading cleantech hubs. In 2024, Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey announced the Mass Leads Act, the State’s landmark investment in clean technology, at Form Energy, and today celebrated this new partnership: 'Massachusetts is proud to be home to companies like Form Energy that are developing next-generation energy storage technologies. These are the kinds of innovations that will help make our energy system more reliable and affordable while creating jobs and economic opportunity here in Massachusetts. This partnership reflects the strength of our innovation economy and the leadership role Massachusetts is playing in building the future of energy.'
Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts Kim Driscoll joined the signing ceremony and remarked: 'Form Energy is a great example of the kind of company we’re proud to have here in Massachusetts. Today’s announcement highlights the strength of our innovation economy and the strong and growing relationship between Massachusetts and Ireland.'
The announcement is the culmination of several years of collaborative work between Form Energy and FuturEnergy Ireland, and reflects the growing momentum of both organizations. Form Energy launched commercial production at its first high-volume manufacturing facility in Weirton, West Virginia and delivered its first pilot system to Great River Energy in Minnesota last year. The company has over 65 GWh of commercial projects under agreement, including two recently announced projects that are among the largest battery energy storage projects by energy capacity in the world: a 30 GWh project with Xcel Energy and Google, and an 8.5 GWh project with the U.S. DOE, the State of Massachusetts, and other New England states. FuturEnergy Ireland is a leading Irish clean energy developer with a portfolio of more than 20 onshore wind projects at various development stages and a growing portfolio of long-duration energy storage projects. Joining forces, the two companies are well positioned to deliver a landmark project by 2029 that demonstrates what next-generation energy storage can achieve globally.
RJ Johnson, Chief Commercial Officer at Form Energy, closed the ceremony and remarked: 'This project with FuturEnergy Ireland marks Form Energy’s first international deployment – and the first, we hope, of many more to come. We couldn’t be more excited to announce it in Ireland – a pioneer in energy innovation in its own right, and a country where multi-day energy storage can be especially impactful as it works to meet ambitious clean energy targets, rising electricity demand from data centers, and the resilience needs of an island grid. Together with FuturEnergy Ireland, we’re excited to show what multi-day energy storage makes possible – for Ireland’s grid, and for electric grids around the world.'
About Form Energy:
Form Energy is an American company driving innovation in energy storage technology and manufacturing. Form Energy’s multi-day energy storage solutions are designed to ensure a clean, secure, and reliable electric grid, even during prolonged periods of stress on the grid. Form Energy’s first commercial product is an iron-air battery system that can cost-effectively store and discharge energy for up to 100 hours. Made from some of the safest, most affordable, and most abundant materials on the planet – low-cost iron, water, and air – Form’s battery system is a sustainable, safe, and scalable answer to the world’s growing need for grid security and resiliency.
About FuturEnergy Ireland:
FuturEnergy Ireland is one of Ireland’s leading clean energy developers, established in 2021 as a joint venture between ESB, the state-owned electric utility, and Coillte, the national forestry company. The company was formed to harness Ireland’s unique natural resources to make a significant contribution towards the country’s commitment to produce 80% of its electricity from clean sources by the end of the decade. FuturEnergy Ireland is targeting the delivery of 1 GW of clean electricity by 2030 through the development of onshore wind projects supported by battery storage — enough to power an estimated 730,000 homes annually. The company has more than 20 active clean energy generation projects across Ireland and a growing portfolio of standalone battery storage projects.
Surce: Form Energy
