PacifiCorp Looks to add 3,073MW of Multi-day Duration Iron-air Battery Storage in 2025 IRP

PacifiCorp

PacifiCorp, a Berkshire Hathaway Energy-owned utility, plans to install 3,073 MW of iron-air battery storage by 2045. This is part of its 2025 Integrated Resource Plan (IRP), submitted to utility commissions across six states. The plan incorporates technology from Form Energy, known for its 100-hour duration iron-air batteries. By 2032, PacifiCorp targets 1,634 MW of 4-hour battery storage and 605 MW of 100-hour iron-air storage. The iron-air capacity will expand to 3,073 MW by 2045, significantly boosting grid flexibility.

• By combining both storage types, PacifiCorp expects a total energy storage capacity of 7,524 MW by 2045. This development aims to support the transition to renewables by storing excess solar and wind energy for long-duration use. Iron-air technology offers an advantage over lithium-ion in terms of duration and cost, making it ideal for meeting demand during prolonged periods of low renewable generation.
• Metal-Air (M-Air) batteries operate using electrochemical reactions between a metal anode (e.g., Li, Zn, Al, Fe, or Na) and an air cathode containing porous carbon and catalysts. Electrolytes can be aqueous or non-aqueous, depending on the chemistry. These batteries are scalable and energy-dense, suitable for stationary grid storage and transportation. Their high energy density in electric vehicles could extend range, while in stationary setups, they help manage renewable intermittency.
• M-Air batteries also provide grid services like voltage and frequency support, crucial for integrating large-scale solar and wind. They smooth out fluctuations and ensure stability, making renewable power more reliable. This is especially important as more intermittent energy sources are added to national grids worldwide.
• Artificial Intelligence (AI) is making modern storage systems smarter. AI enhances system reliability and efficiency through predictive maintenance, weather forecasting, demand prediction, and energy arbitrage. It ensures batteries charge and discharge at optimal times, reduces operational costs, and enables better planning for variable generation. Together with advanced storage technologies like iron-air, AI is critical to future energy systems.