The Multi-Day Storage Gap

Why lithium-ion can't solve 24/7 carbon-free energy for AI infrastructure

Lithium-Ion (Tesla Megapack)
CO2 Battery (Energy Dome)
Iron-Air (Form Energy)
Pumped Hydro
Lithium-IonTesla Megapack 3
8h
CO2 BatteryEnergy Dome
10h+
Iron-AirForm Energy
100h
Pumped HydroTraditional
Days–Weeks

⚠ The 8–100 Hour Gap

Wind and solar droughts can last 3–7 days. Lithium-ion maxes out at 8 hours. This gap is where iron-air and CO2 batteries compete — and where 24/7 carbon-free energy either works or doesn't.

Iron-Air Cost

<1/10×
vs lithium-ion per kWh

CO2 Battery Savings

30%
cheaper than lithium-ion

Google Minnesota

30 GWh
world's largest iron-air deployment

Li-Ion Efficiency

85–95%
round-trip (but 8h max)