Energy Dome and Engie Introduce Groundbreaking CO2 Battery Technology
Italian Company Energy Dome Signs Breakthrough Agreement with Engie for CO2 Battery Energy Storage System. Italian energy storage specialist Energy Dome SpA has signed a groundbreaking offtake agreement with French energy provider Engie SA. The deal involves the first fully operational energy storage installation using the innovative CO2 Battery technology, currently being completed in Ottana, Sardinia. This 20 MW, 200 MWh facility is set to be commissioned in the first quarter of 2025.
Innovative Energy Storage Technology
Energy Dome’s CO2 Battery system represents a breakthrough in energy storage technology by utilizing carbon dioxide as the storage medium. This solution enables long-term storage of renewable energy, which is essential for the energy transition. Under the agreement, Energy Dome will own and operate the facility, while Engie will optimize and distribute the stored energy on the Italian energy market.
Further details about the technology can be found in our article titled, “Energy Storage Using CO2 – Italy.”
EU Support and Global Significance of the Project
The CO2 Battery project in Ottana has received support from the EU-Catalyst partnership, which includes Breakthrough Energy Catalyst, the European Commission, and the European Investment Bank. The backing for this innovative system, capable of 10-hour energy storage, was announced during the COP28 conference in Dubai last December.
Mario Fernandez, head of the Catalyst program at Breakthrough Energy, highlighted the project’s significance:
“Scaling innovative projects requires not only breakthrough technologies but also new business and market approaches. The partnership with Engie exemplifies replicable commercial innovation and confirms that the CO2 Battery in Ottana is not just a demonstration project but a real installation poised to catalyze global adoption of this technology.”
Energy Dome Poised for Global Expansion
The agreement with Engie marks the first implementation of Energy Dome’s “Energy Storage as a Service” model. Coupled with a recent equipment supply contract for Alliant Energy in the United States, this deal demonstrates the company’s readiness for commercialization and global deployment of its CO2 Battery technology.
Growing Energy Storage Infrastructure in Italy
The advancement of energy storage technology aligns with the broader context of rapid growth in this sector across Italy. According to the Italian power grid operator Terna, 1.74 GW of new energy storage systems were installed in the country from January to the end of October 2024. By the end of October, there were approximately 707,000 installations, translating to a total capacity of 11,783 MWh and a nominal power of 5,186 MW.
Notably, 864 MW of this capacity came from large-scale industrial storage systems, while 616 MW were high and very high voltage facilities. These figures underscore Italy’s emergence as a leader in energy storage infrastructure development in Europe, supporting the transition to a sustainable and decarbonized energy economy.
Source: pv-magazine.com