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A new solar project combines lithium-ion and zinc batteries to extend renewable power beyond daylight hours.
A new solar-and-storage project in West Virginia will combine 86 megawatts of solar power with 380 megawatt-hours of battery storage, giving Google’s data centers access to electricity that can be dispatched beyond daylight hours.
MN8 Energy, Eos Energy Enterprises and Google are collaborating on the project at the Mammoth Solar site in Kanawha County. The system will pair conventional lithium-ion batteries with a 10 MW/100 MWh zinc-based long-duration battery from Eos.
The solar plant is expected to begin commercial operation in 2028. The lithium-ion storage is scheduled to follow in 2029, while the longer-duration zinc battery is expected in 2030.
The project is designed to turn intermittent solar generation into a more dependable power source. Instead of relying on solar output only when the sun is shining, the batteries can store electricity and release it later when demand rises.
The Eos system is particularly important because it can store electricity for 10 hours, compared with shorter-duration storage typically used to shift solar power over fewer hours. Its zinc-based chemistry is intended for long-duration applications and uses aqueous zinc technology rather than the lithium-ion chemistry used in the project’s shorter-duration batteries.
The combination allows the three technologies to operate as one dispatchable resource. Solar supplies the electricity, lithium-ion batteries can respond over shorter periods, and the zinc system extends stored power further into the day.
“Because Google was willing to pair next-generation storage with utility-scale solar, we could engineer proven and emerging technologies into one dispatchable resource – and deliver clean, around-the-clock power where the grid needs it most.”
The project is also significant for Eos because it marks Google’s first deployment of the company’s American-made Z3 technology. It is also the first project under the previously announced supply agreement between MN8 and Eos.
The project will be built on a reclaimed coal mine, giving the development an additional role in a region with a long history of fossil-fuel production.
MN8 estimates that the project could represent up to $350 million in capital investment. Construction is expected to create about 200 jobs, while the project could generate roughly $4 million in property tax revenue for the county and local schools during its first 20 years of operation.
The electricity will feed into the PJM grid, one of the largest electricity markets in the US. That makes the project relevant beyond Google’s own data center demand, as adding dispatchable clean capacity can help the grid handle growing electricity consumption while more renewable generation comes online.
At the heart of the project is a simple idea: combine different storage technologies rather than expecting one battery type to handle every part of the power cycle.
“At Google, we’re committed to backing solutions that both serve our data center capacity needs and accelerate progress toward cleaner, more affordable energy systems.”
For Eos, the project also provides a commercial test of whether zinc-based long-duration storage can help renewable power serve demand across a much longer portion of the day.
The Mammoth Solar project is therefore not simply another solar installation. It is a demonstration of how solar generation and multiple battery technologies can be combined into a single power resource designed to deliver electricity when it is needed.
With over a decade-long career in journalism, Neetika Walter has worked with The Economic Times, ANI, and Hindustan Times, covering politics, business, technology, and the clean energy sector. Passionate about contemporary culture, books, poetry, and storytelling, she brings depth and insight to her writing. When she isn’t chasing stories, she’s likely lost in a book or enjoying the company of her dogs.
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