MN8's 86 MW Solar-Plus-Lithium and Zinc Storage Projects in the U.S. to Begin Phased Operation from 2028

en.Wedoany.com Reported - MN8 Energy is developing the Mammoth Solar project in Kanawha County, West Virginia, integrating an 86 MW solar facility, 100 MWh of zinc-based long-duration energy storage (LDES) supplied by Eos, and 280 MWh of lithium-ion storage into a single utility-scale hybrid system. The facility's output will be delivered to the PJM grid as dispatchable capacity to serve Google's data center load in the region.

According to the project timeline, the solar portion is expected to achieve commercial operation first in 2028, with the lithium-ion storage and long-duration storage slated to come online in 2029 and 2030, respectively. MN8 has co-located short-duration and long-duration storage at the same solar site to convert intermittent solar output into a single dispatchable power source. This marks the first commercial-scale long-duration energy storage deployment in West Virginia.

The project is Google's first to adopt Eos's U.S.-manufactured Z3 technology and the first to be delivered under the master supply agreement previously announced between MN8 and Eos. The long-duration storage component utilizes Eos's Z3 aqueous zinc battery technology, configured at 10 MW/100 MWh with 10 hours of storage duration, extending the usable hours of solar generation beyond what short-duration storage resources can provide and enabling the overall portfolio to deliver reliable capacity across more hours of the day. The project will also validate how Eos's aqueous zinc chemistry can support the buildout of critical grid infrastructure. Nathan Kroeker, Chief Commercial Officer of Eos, stated that the grid needs more value from every megawatt of new generation, and the collaboration with Google focuses on deploying American-made long-duration storage where it can address real grid reliability challenges; Z3 extends the value of clean generation across more hours, strengthens the overall portfolio, and delivers more reliable capacity when the grid needs it most.

Under the agreement, Google will purchase the project's energy, capacity, and clean energy attributes, furthering the company's commitment to adding new capacity to the grids it operates on. Google stated that this effort is part of its broader push to commercialize long-duration energy storage technologies and bring their potential to more communities across regions. Lucia Tian, Director of Advanced Energy Technologies at Google, stated that Google supports solutions that both meet data center capacity needs and accelerate the development of a cleaner, more affordable electricity system; the collaboration with MN8 and Eos aims to deploy an intelligent, around-the-clock technology portfolio to power digital infrastructure while creating tangible economic benefits for West Virginia.

Jon Yoder, President and Chief Executive Officer of MN8 Energy, stated that this project demonstrates MN8's ability to understand customers' unique energy profiles and build solutions accordingly. Google's willingness to pair next-generation storage with utility-scale solar has enabled MN8 to integrate mature and emerging technologies into a single dispatchable resource, delivering clean, around-the-clock power where the grid needs it most.

The project is sited on a reclaimed coal mine in West Virginia and is expected to bring new economic opportunities to a community with a deep energy heritage. MN8 estimates the project represents a capital investment of up to $350 million, with approximately $4 million in property tax revenue expected for Kanawha County and local schools over the first 20 years of operation, followed by several more million dollars in property taxes over the subsequent 15 to 20 years. The construction phase is expected to create approximately 200 jobs, with additional full-time and part-time positions to be staffed once the project enters its operational phase.