Ambrosia Energy has started construction on a massive 10 gigawatt-hour battery factory near Austin, Texas, co-founder and CEO Ben Longmier announced Tuesday at TechCrunch Disrupt in San Francisco. The startup emerged from stealth in June to build solar plus battery power plants for data centers at a cost of US$100 per megawatt hour. The new factory represents a major step toward scaling the company's clean energy infrastructure for data center customers.
Factory Capacity and Timeline
The factory will occupy 150,000 square feet and is expected to reach full production within two to three years. Once fully operational, the facility will allow Ambrosia to build about a 300 megawatt power plant per year at its field sites. Longmier said this production capacity will support faster deployment of clean energy systems for data centers that require continuous, reliable electricity.
First Commercial Project
Ambrosia is also beginning work on its first commercial power plant in West Texas later this year, according to Longmier. The project will pair 300 megawatts of solar panels with 660 megawatt-hours of batteries to deliver 30 megawatts of continuous power, with a goal of 99.3% uptime. Even with overbuilding solar and batteries to ensure continuous uptime, Longmier said the facility can be profitable at US$100 per megawatt hour, making it competitive with natural gas turbines.
Pilot Plant Results
Sections of Ambrosia's first pilot-scale power plant have been operating continuously for more than 100 days, according to Longmier. The pilot is capable of generating 200 kilowatts of electricity 24/7, providing real-world evidence of the company's solar plus battery approach. These results support the startup's confidence as it moves from small-scale testing to larger commercial deployments.
Simplifying Components
To hit its cost targets, Ambrosia has focused on simplifying components including solar mounts and battery packs. By reducing part counts and manufacturing many components in a factory, the startup has lowered costs compared with buying from outside suppliers. Longmier said this approach has been essential to achieving the company's target price of US$100 per megawatt hour.
In-House Battery Packs
The company buys existing battery cells but makes its own packs in-house, which Longmier said have the fewest parts by a factor of about 100 compared with any competitor. This simplification has allowed Ambrosia to reach about 1.3 times the cost of the bare cell, compared with about 5 to 7 times for most stationary storage systems. The resulting cost advantage strengthens the company's ability to compete with natural gas generation.
Founder Background and Competitive Position
Longmier and co-founder Sara Spangelo previously founded the satellite constellation startup Swarm, which they sold to SpaceX. Their experience in rapid hardware development has shaped Ambrosia's approach to building energy infrastructure for data centers. The company believes its solar plus battery systems can compete directly with natural gas turbines that many hyperscalers are planning to use.
The start of construction on the Texas battery factory and the upcoming West Texas power plant mark significant milestones for Ambrosia Energy. By integrating manufacturing and simplifying system design, the company aims to provide cost-effective, continuous clean power for the growing data center market. With pilot operations already running and a clear production roadmap, Ambrosia is positioning itself as a competitive alternative to fossil fuel generation.
Source: TechCrunch