Dominion Energy planning 100-hour Form Energy & Eos storage pilot

In a filing with the Virginia State Corporation Commission (SCC), Dominion Energy Virginia has outlined plans for what it describes as a “groundbreaking” battery storage pilot project that could increase the length of time batteries can discharge electricity to the grid to up to 100 hours.

The Darbytown Storage Pilot Project will test two new technologies as potential alternatives to traditional lithium-ion batteries, both of which could offer “strengthened safety features” for battery storage, a Dominion Energy statement said.

The pilot project, which will be located at the existing Darbytown Power Station in Henrico County, will test two alternatives to lithium-ion batteries: iron-air batteries developed by Form Energy and zinc-hybrid batteries developed by Eos Energy Enterprises.

The batteries currently in Dominion Energy's fleet have durations that, on average, are limited to four hours or less, but Form Energy's iron-air technology has the potential to discharge energy for up to 100 hours.

In addition to SCC approval, the project would require development plan approval from Henrico County. If approved, construction would begin by late 2024, and the project would be operational by late 2026.

"We are making the grid increasingly clean in Virginia with historic investments in offshore wind and solar," said Ed Baine, president of Dominion Energy Virginia. "With longer-duration batteries in the mix, this project could be a transformational step forward, helping us safely discharge stored energy when it is needed most by our customers."

Form Energy's co-founder and CEO Mateo Jaramillo said: "We are pleased to partner with Dominion Energy on the innovative Darbytown Storage Pilot Project and look forward to delivering a 100-hour iron-air battery system that will enhance grid reliability and provide Dominion's Virginia customers with access to wind and solar energy when and where it is needed over periods of multiple days."

Joe Mastrangelo, CEO of Eos Energy Enterprises, said: “We are proud to have been selected for this critical project. Dominion understands that meeting our future energy needs requires multiple storage technologies. We're excited to show Dominion how well our zinc-hybrid batteries perform."

Dominion Energy has approximately  seven million customers in 15 states.

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