AI Firms Have Adopted Long-Duration Energy Storage

Tech giants are utilizing multi-day battery systems to power data centers and reduce dependence on fossil fuel backup.

Updated on Sept. 21, 2026 in Data Centers

Isometric editorial illustration showing large industrial energy storage tanks placed beside a modern data center, reflecting new grid infrastructure technology. — Technology companies are shifting toward long-duration energy storage systems to power AI data centers, replacing traditional fossil fuel backups to meet emission goals. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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AI data center operators have begun adopting long-duration energy storage technologies to replace traditional diesel and natural gas power backups. This shift aims to help major companies meet carbon emission reduction pledges amid ongoing supply chain bottlenecks for conventional gas turbines.

Why it matters

Long-duration systems provide a solution to the intermittency of renewable energy by holding power for days, unlike standard lithium-ion batteries that last only a few hours. This adoption is critical for data centers that require consistent, large-scale electricity to meet rising AI processing demands while lowering their environmental footprint.

New long-duration storage projects now reach 150 gigawatt-hours, utilizing technologies like iron-air batteries and carbon dioxide systems. These solutions offer durations ranging from 10 hours to over 100 hours of continuous power output.

The players

Alphabet Inc

Alphabet Inc is the parent company of Google and a major developer of artificial intelligence and cloud computing infrastructure.

Meta Platforms Inc

Meta Platforms Inc operates some of the world's largest social media platforms and invests heavily in massive AI-driven data centers.

Energy Dome

Energy Dome is a renewable energy startup that utilizes carbon dioxide to develop long-duration energy storage systems.

Form Energy

Form Energy is a technology company that manufactures iron-air batteries designed for multi-day energy storage.

Noon Energy

Noon Energy is an energy technology firm developing systems that store electricity by splitting carbon dioxide into carbon compounds.

The details

Alphabet Inc's Google is currently working with Energy Dome in Arizona to store power for 10 hours using carbon dioxide batteries. Meanwhile, Meta Platforms Inc and Crusoe are integrating systems from providers like Noon Energy and Form Energy, which leverage oxygen-based reactions to hold and discharge electricity for several days.

Since late 2024, planned long-duration storage installations have increased fivefold.
The tracking of these new long-duration projects began at the start of 2025.
As of two years ago, AI data centers accounted for almost no long-duration storage deployments.

The Tech Race

This move represents a departure from the traditional reliance on lithium-ion batteries that are optimized for short-term bursts rather than multi-day endurance. By integrating these systems, AI firms are positioning themselves to bypass supply chain bottlenecks and replace legacy fossil fuel generators.

For users and developers, this technology ensures that high-demand AI services remain operational with lower carbon output. These advancements may eventually stabilize energy grid pressures caused by the rapid expansion of digital service demands.

The takeaway

The transition to long-duration energy storage signals that the tech industry is prioritizing reliability and sustainability for its most power-hungry facilities. Companies looking to modernize their infrastructure should evaluate the cost-to-duration ratio of these emerging chemical storage technologies.