Noon Energy tests energy storage system capable of operating for over 100 hours.
The American company Noon Energy has launched a pilot energy storage system capable of supplying electricity for over 100 continuous hours. The company considers this an important step in the development of long-duration energy storage technology.
Demonstration of the storage system
Noon Energy, based in California, announced the completion of tests of its pilot energy storage system. The system achieved over 100 hours of continuous operation, with some tests exceeding 200 hours. The entire system operated stably for thousands of hours.
According to the company, this is the first fully containerized and modular energy storage system of its kind. The system was tested under long-term operational conditions. The project was supported by the California Energy Commission.
How Noon Energy technology works
The core of the solution is a high-temperature reversible fuel cell. The system consists of a power block and two tanks: one is used during charging, and the other during discharging.
During charging, electrical energy is converted into chemical energy. Carbon dioxide is split into carbon and oxygen. During discharging, the process is reversed: carbon combines with oxygen from the air to generate electricity. The energy carriers are only commonly available elements—carbon and oxygen.
Each containerized module delivers approximately 100 kW of power and over 100 hours of continuous operation. Storage time can be extended by adding more tanks, without enlarging the power block.
The system’s power and capacity are independent: capacity depends on tank size, while power is determined by the energy block. This design keeps costs growing slowly as storage duration increases.
Small footprint and low costs
Noon Energy emphasizes the system’s compact size. According to the company, it requires 20 to 200 times less space than flow batteries or pumped-storage plants and is several times more compact than lithium-ion systems.
The company also highlights cost advantages. Increasing capacity only requires adding more tanks with inexpensive energy medium. Noon Energy targets a storage cost of approximately $20 per kilowatt-hour, which is several times lower than current lithium-ion storage systems.
Applications in data centers and industry
Noon Energy sees its solution as a complement to lithium-ion batteries. Lithium batteries handle short spikes in demand well, while Noon Energy’s system is designed to cover multi-day gaps in renewable energy generation.
The company notes the rapid growth of energy demand in data centers, which could consume up to 12% of U.S. electricity by 2028. Combining on-site renewable energy, lithium batteries, and long-duration storage is expected to ensure stable power supply.
“Launching the demonstration system and confirming its durability is a key milestone for us,” emphasizes Chris Graves, co-founder and CEO of Noon Energy. “The technology is ready for the next stage of development.”
The company reported that a larger, commercial-scale system has already been built and is scheduled to be commissioned soon. Noon Energy is also preparing for the next round of financing and the start of mass production.
It is worth noting that last year another U.S. manufacturer proposed iron-air batteries with a 100-hour runtime. Details of that project can be found in our article “Americans bring their first 100-hour batteries to market.”