On January 5, 2024, Puget Sound Energy (PSE) and energy storage developer Form Energy announced that they had signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to look into deploying a pilot multiday energy storage system to help PSE meet state requirements for clean energy and customer expectations for reliable service.[1] The partnership will allow both companies to collaborate on the development of a 10 MW, 100-hour iron-air battery pilot within the utility’s service area. The companies will evaluate the potential benefits of Form Energy's technology, as well as determine an initial project configuration that could be deployed by the end of 2026.

Washington’s Clean Energy Transformation Act requires electric utilities to be coal free by 2025, carbon neutral by 2030, and 100% served by renewable and non-emitting resources by 2045. Utilities in the state must replace dispatchable fossil fuel generation while meeting the growing demand for electricity from electric vehicles and other end uses. Therefore, energy storage is emerging as a key solution. Multi-day energy storage can provide power over several days compared to most commercially available batteries that supply only about four hours of backup power. Energy storage systems are crucial for PSE, offsetting the need for the utility to build additional generation resources that are used only at times of high demand.

[1] https://www.pse.com/en/press-release/details/Puget-Sound-Energy-partners-with-Form-Energy-to-evaluate-multi-day-energy-storage-solutions