The revolutionary CO₂ battery technology developed by Energy Dome’s Italian engineers is expanding its applicability, to be used in the first large-scale storage power plant in the US. This innovative storage system promises twice the cost and superior efficiency of lithium-ion batteries, offering a sustainable solution for managing surplus electricity at grid level.
Italian engineers at Energy Dome have reached the large-scale application phase of an innovative technology that promises to redefine energy storage globally. After developing the first CO₂-based battery capable of functioning as a large grid power plant, they recently signed a contract to build the first such large-scale power plant in the United States. Their technology has reached a level of maturity that allows them not only to guarantee high efficiency, but also to offer an energy storage cost that is half that of lithium-ion batteries, commonly used in large storage power plants.
Energy Dome has been in the international spotlight since June 2022, when they first announced their CO₂ battery and plans to build a pilot project in Sardinia, Italy to demonstrate the viability of this innovative solution. At the end of 2023, the company received a substantial investment of €60 million to scale up the battery in Sardinia to a larger scale. In addition, a round of investment has also attracted the backing of Bill Gates, the well-known Microsoft founder, who has for some time turned his attention to promising start-ups in the field of renewable technology and energy. The CO₂ battery proposed by Energy Dome is a closed thermodynamic system based on the unique properties of CO₂ gas. Unlike traditional systems, it uses a fixed amount of carbon dioxide that is not released into the atmosphere, operating in a closed loop. The underlying principle is CO₂’s ability to be compressed to a liquid state at normal atmospheric temperatures, a key feature that contributes to its energy efficiency. This process allows energy to be stored and recovered at low cost and with minimal environmental impact, offering a more sustainable and economical alternative to current lithium-ion based solutions.
The expansion of the Energy Dome project in the US is an important step in the global adoption of this innovative technology, reinforcing its position as a leading solution for renewable energy storage. In the context of the global transition to greener and more sustainable energy sources, the CO₂ battery aligns with sustainability and efficiency goals, offering a promising solution for energy grids facing the challenges of storing energy produced from renewable sources. By launching the first large-scale power plant in the US, Energy Dome demonstrates not only the technological feasibility of the CO₂ battery, but also the ability to revolutionize the energy storage field globally, making a key contribution to achieving climate neutrality goals.