Google and MN8 Energy Launch $350 Million Solar and Zinc Battery Project on Former West Virginia Coal Mine

On a 500-acre stretch of a reclaimed coal mine in Kanawha County, West Virginia, a $350 million infrastructure project is preparing to test a new method for powering the digital economy. Google, MN8 Energy, and Eos Energy Enterprises have finalized plans for Mammoth Solar, a facility that will pair 86 megawatts of utility-scale solar generation with two distinct tiers of battery storage. The development marks the first commercial-scale deployment of long-duration energy storage in the state and is designed to supply the PJM grid with dispatchable electricity tailored to the continuous load profiles of data centers.[1][3][4]

While the solar array is scheduled to begin commercial operations in 2028, the site will subsequently integrate 70 megawatts, or 280 megawatt-hours, of conventional lithium-ion storage by 2029 to manage evening demand spikes. The critical addition arrives in 2030, when the partners will install a 10-megawatt, 100-megawatt-hour zinc-based battery system manufactured by Pennsylvania-based Eos. Unlike lithium-ion cells, which typically discharge over four hours, the aqueous zinc chemistry is engineered to store and release energy for up to 10 hours, bridging the overnight gap until solar production resumes.[1][3][4]

The combination of short- and long-duration storage is intended to convert intermittent solar generation into a firm, round-the-clock resource. "Because Google was willing to pair next-generation storage with utility-scale solar, we could engineer proven and emerging technologies into one dispatchable resource," said Jon Yoder, president and CEO of MN8 Energy, which will own and operate the facility. Yoder noted that the multi-technology approach moves the grid closer to serving power on a continuous basis, capturing excess daytime generation to deploy precisely when the grid needs it most.[1][3]

The shift toward zinc addresses mounting concerns over the material constraints and fire risks associated with widespread lithium-ion deployments. Campbell Howe, an advanced energy program manager at Google, stated that the company chose to support Eos because its chemistry relies on earth-abundant zinc and bromine, offering a more resilient domestic supply chain. The Eos Z3 systems will be manufactured at the company's facility in Turtle Creek, Pennsylvania, keeping the hardware production within the Appalachian industrial corridor.[1][4]

Beyond its technical architecture, the Mammoth Solar installation represents a direct economic pivot for the region. MN8 estimates the $350 million capital investment will create approximately 200 construction jobs and generate $4 million in property tax revenue for Kanawha County and its local school districts over the first two decades of operation. The project will also yield millions more in subsequent tax revenue during the later years of its 35-year expected lifespan.[3][4]

Google will purchase the energy, capacity, and clean energy attributes from the project under a long-term agreement, directly supporting its corporate mandate to operate on 24/7 carbon-free energy across all its grid territories. Lucia Tian, Google's advanced energy technologies director, emphasized that the collaboration aims to deploy a smart portfolio of round-the-clock technology solutions to help power the company's digital infrastructure while creating meaningful economic benefits for West Virginia.[4]

The phased rollout will allow Google and MN8 to evaluate the real-world round-trip efficiency of the zinc modules before scaling the technology further. Because the zinc batteries represent a smaller 10-megawatt slice of the overall development, the financial risk is contained while the operational data is gathered. If the 10-hour discharge cycle performs as modeled, the Kanawha County site will provide a replicable template for utilities attempting to balance intermittent renewable generation against the relentless power demands of artificial intelligence infrastructure.[1][3]

The project's success could signal a broader shift in how hyperscalers approach their energy procurement. Rather than relying solely on virtual power purchase agreements that offset emissions on paper, direct investments in physical long-duration storage allow tech companies to actively reshape the generation mix on the specific grids where their data centers operate.[4]