Battery Week

The US Has a Chance to Rival China in Rush for Longer-Lasting Batteries

A growing long-duration energy storage sector is an opportunity for competitors to challenge Beijing’s grip on clean technology.

An iron-air battery undergoing testing at Form Energy in Berkeley, California.

Photographer: Poppy Lynch/Bloomberg

Accelerating demand for long-lasting energy storage offers a rare opportunity for US and European clean technology companies to compete with China’s globally dominant battery sector.

Installations of long-duration systems — an umbrella term for so-called super-batteries that can store and deliver electricity for many hours or even days — are surging as the world looks to better harness renewable energy. Deployments are forecast to almost quadruple this year after a record 2025, according to BloombergNEF.