Data center developer Crusoe is bolstering its energy storage capabilities through significant battery acquisitions from Form Energy and Redwood Materials. Crusoe disclosed plans to procure 12 gigawatt-hours of Form Energy’s 100-hour batteries, a substantial move for both companies. Form Energy, having recently secured a major deal with Google, will commence supplying Crusoe with batteries starting in 2027. This purchase, though smaller in scale compared to Form’s previous agreements, is expected to generate significant revenue for the battery manufacturer as it prepares for a $500 million funding round.
Form Energy’s iron-air batteries operate on a unique principle where oxygen reacting with iron inside the battery generates electricity through an oxidation process. To recharge, the batteries undergo a reverse reaction where electricity removes rust from the iron, releasing oxygen. The company’s strategic expansion, including enhancing its West Virginia factory, reflects its readiness to fulfill anticipated large-scale contracts.
Additionally, Crusoe revealed an expanded collaboration with Redwood Materials, a battery recycling and reuse firm founded by former Tesla CTO J.B. Straubel. Following the successful deployment of a significant battery system on a microgrid, Redwood is set to provide Crusoe with an additional 8 megawatts of power utilizing repurposed EV batteries, further enhancing the data center’s energy sustainability.
Source: TechCrunch