Georgia Iron-Air Battery Project

Executive Overview

The Georgia Iron-Air Battery Project is a 15 MW / 1,500 MWh long-duration energy storage system under development in Georgia, developed by Form Energy under a definitive agreement with Georgia Power. The system is designed to deliver up to 100 hours of continuous discharge, making it one of the longest-duration grid-scale storage projects deployed in the United States. The project forms part of Georgia Power's Integrated Resource Plan, which was approved by the Georgia Public Service Commission in 2022 and includes multiple battery storage initiatives totalling over 500 MW. Commercial operation is targeted for as early as 2026, subject to regulatory approval.

How It Works & Differentiation

Form Energy's iron-air battery operates through a reversible electrochemical process using iron, water, and air — the battery discharges by oxidising iron pellets and recharges by reversing the reaction using electricity. This chemistry uses iron, one of the most abundant and lowest-cost materials on Earth, enabling a system cost of less than $20 per kWh and below one-tenth the cost of lithium-ion at equivalent duration. Unlike lithium-ion systems, which typically discharge over two to four hours, the iron-air battery is designed for multi-day continuous operation, addressing a fundamentally different grid need: sustained energy delivery through extended low-generation periods rather than short-duration peak shaving. Form Energy uses its proprietary Formware modelling tool to optimise investment and operational decisions on the grid.

Commercialization & Traction

Georgia Power has signed a definitive agreement with Form Energy, providing a committed utility offtaker and a clear commercial pathway for the project. Form Energy is backed by Breakthrough Energy Ventures, the Bill Gates-led investment fund, providing financial credibility during the pre-revenue technology commercialisation phase. Georgia Power's existing 265 MW McGrau Ford lithium-ion facility in Cherokee County and additional approved storage projects demonstrate the utility's established appetite for grid-scale storage, situating the iron-air project within a broader portfolio context. Construction is scheduled to begin in 2025.

Scalability & Strategic Context

This deployment functions as a commercial proof point for iron-air technology at grid scale, with the 15 MW / 1,500 MWh size sufficient to generate meaningful operational data while remaining within a manageable risk envelope for Georgia Power. Form Energy's technology is designed as a front-of-meter system capable of continuous multi-day operation, which positions it as a complement to variable renewable generation rather than a substitute for firm capacity. Success here would validate the cost and performance assumptions underpinning iron-air at scale, with implications for Form Energy's pipeline of subsequent deployments with other utilities across the U.S.