Form Energy Ignites Clean Power Revolution with $405 Million Boost for 100-Hour Iron-Air Battery Breakthrough
Form Energy has secured a massive $405 million in Series F funding to accelerate the development and manufacturing of its groundbreaking 100-hour iron-air battery technology.
This latest funding round brings the company’s total capital raised to over $1.2 billion, making it one of the best-funded startups in the long-duration energy storage sector.
The financing was led by investment giant T. Rowe Price, with new participation from GE Vernova (a General Electric energy spin-off) and continued support from prominent venture capital firms including Breakthrough Energy Ventures and TPG Rise Climate.
The funds will primarily be used to ramp up production at Form Energy’s first high-volume manufacturing facility, Form Factory 1, located in Weirton, West Virginia, which recently completed construction and began trial production.
Form Factory 1 spans 550,000 square feet with plans to expand to over 1 million square feet by 2028, aiming for an annual manufacturing capacity of at least 500 megawatts and employing 750+ workers.
Form Energy’s iron-air batteries represent a radical departure from conventional lithium-ion technology, using abundant and low-cost materials like iron, water, and air to store energy for up to 100 hours—far surpassing lithium batteries’ typical 4-hour duration.
This multi-day storage capability could revolutionize grid reliability by providing clean energy through days without sun or wind, enabling a significant reduction in carbon emissions and accelerating the transition to renewable energy.
The company has already begun commercial deployments, breaking ground on its first battery installation in Cambridge, Minnesota, in partnership with Great River Energy, expected to be operational by 2025.
Additional installations are planned for Minnesota, Colorado, California in 2025, with further projects slated for New York, Georgia, and Virginia in 2026, signaling rapid geographic expansion.
CEO Mateo Jaramillo expressed pride in the team’s progress, emphasizing the company’s readiness to meet growing demand for cleaner, more reliable energy storage solutions.
The iron-air battery’s reliance on iron—a plentiful element—offers a scalable and affordable alternative to lithium, addressing supply chain and cost challenges associated with traditional battery materials.
Form Energy’s innovation is seen as a critical enabler for a carbon-neutral future, providing utilities with the ability to store and dispatch renewable energy across multiple days, smoothing out variability in wind and solar generation.
The company currently employs over 900 people, including 300 at its Weirton factory, with plans to expand the workforce as production scales.
Strategic collaboration with GE Vernova aims to support manufacturing scale-up and commercial deployments, further strengthening Form Energy’s position in the energy storage market.
This milestone funding round underscores investor confidence in Form Energy’s vision to transform the electric grid through long-duration storage technology that could replace fossil fuel peaker plants and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
As the world intensifies efforts to combat climate change, Form Energy’s iron-air batteries stand out as a promising solution to deliver reliable, affordable, and clean power around the clock.
Comments
Post a Comment