The Role of Long-Duration Energy Storage in Deep Decarbonization: Policy Considerations

The briefing highlights the gap between current energy storage capacities, which provide only hours of power, and the days or weeks of storage needed for deep decarbonization in the US. It identifies hydrogen and modified compressed air or pumped hydro as potential long-duration solutions to manage weather-related and seasonal renewable energy fluctuations. The author urges policymakers to drive innovation and update procurement models to ensure grid reliability in a decarbonized future.

• Deep decarbonization in the United States will necessitate energy storage capable of lasting days or weeks to manage seasonal renewable energy availability and multiday weather events, whereas current technologies primarily offer only hours of capacity.
• While compressed air and pumped hydro storage could potentially be extended to last for days through operational and design changes, less mature technologies such as low-carbon hydrogen are needed for longer-term seasonal storage.
• To overcome barriers to long-duration storage adoption, policymakers should utilize research and development, demonstration projects, regional studies, and new financing and procurement models to drive cost reductions and innovation.

APA

World Resources Institute (n.d.). The Role of Long-Duration Energy Storage in Deep Decarbonization: Policy Considerations. https://www.wri.org/research/role-long-duration-energy-storage-deep-decarbonization-policy-considerations

Chicago

World Resources Institute. The Role of Long-Duration Energy Storage in Deep Decarbonization: Policy Considerations. n.d. https://www.wri.org/research/role-long-duration-energy-storage-deep-decarbonization-policy-considerations.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=World Resources Institute |title=The Role of Long-Duration Energy Storage in Deep Decarbonization: Policy Considerations |url=https://www.wri.org/research/role-long-duration-energy-storage-deep-decarbonization-policy-considerations |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{worldresourcesinstitutendrole, author = {{World Resources Institute}}, title = {{The Role of Long-Duration Energy Storage in Deep Decarbonization: Policy Considerations}}, institution = {World Resources Institute}, url = {https://www.wri.org/research/role-long-duration-energy-storage-deep-decarbonization-policy-considerations}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }