Giant ‘Energy Dome’ carbon-dioxide bubble in the US could power 18,000 homes for 10 hours

A completely different method of storing energy using carbon dioxide is the Columbia Energy Storage Project at Energy Dome in Pacific, Wisconsin. The primary goal of the research, which is in collaboration with American energy provider Alliant Energy, is to store energy for up to 24 hours, providing a longer duration than the typical 4-hour limit observed in lithium-ion battery systems.

Supercritical CO2, or compressed and liquified carbon dioxide, is the fundamental component of the system. This closed-loop method collects and stores CO2, which is subsequently expanded through a turbine to produce power. The CO2 is then put back into storage, suggesting that the technology is quite reusable. Better integration of renewables into the power grid is made possible by the breakthrough, ideally over a longer period of time. The innovation tackles the problem of managing energy produced from intermittent sources like solar and wind.

Recognized by Bloomberg NEF’s Pioneers program in 2022 for its low-carbon technology innovation, Energy Dome’s project caught the attention of the U.S. Department of Energy. In July 2024, the Energy Department received a funding of $7 million to support Phase I of the project. Its main focus is on planning and community engagement over the next 16–22 months. This funding is part of a larger cost-sharing program to promote renewable energy growth.

Alliant Energy expects the Columbia Energy Storage Project to help smooth out fluctuations in renewable energy generation, further supporting its efforts to increase renewable energy capacity. The project is considered the first of its kind in the U.S. – which means it’s a pretty big deal, especially for long-term, carbon-based energy storage systems.

Officials hope to bring the site online by 2027

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