The Long Duration Energy Storage (LDES) Council, in collaboration with EPRI, has released a new study, Cost Benchmarking for Long Duration Energy Storage Solutions, providing clearer visibility into current cost benchmarks for long duration energy storage technologies and how these costs are expected to evolve through 2030. The findings show that LDES technologies are on track for meaningful cost reductions by 2030, driven by technology improvements and increased manufacturing scale.  

Drawing on cost data from real-world deployed LDES projects submitted by LDES Council’s technology developers, and analysed and reviewed by EPRI, this flagship study covers five long duration energy storage technology categories, spanning both power and heat applications.  

Key findings from the study 

• Costs for many long duration energy storage technologies are expected to decline by 2030, reflecting continued technology development and manufacturing scale up. 
  
• Cost estimates are becoming more consistent in several categories, reflecting growing maturity across LDES solutions. 
  
• At longer durations, some long duration energy storage technologies can scale more efficiently than short duration storage, depending on system design and application.  
  
• Transparent cost inputs support better planning, helping utilities, system operators, policymakers and planners model long duration storage across different system needs. 

Why cost assumptions matter for today’s energy systems 

Electric grids around the world are under growing pressure. Rapid expansion of renewable generation, rising electricity demand from electrification and data centres, and increasing exposure to extreme weather are driving the need for energy resources that can deliver head and power reliably over longer periods of time.  

As energy storage systems evolve, the way storage costs are calculated influences how technologies are evaluated in planning and modelling analyses. When long duration energy storage is assessed using assumptions developed for short-duration technologies, its cost characteristics may not be well represented for extended-duration applications. 

This study presents cost ranges for LDES technologies and provides context for how those costs should be interpreted for applications requiring extended discharge durations.  

Supporting real-world LDES system planning and policy decisions 

The study is intended to support utilities, system operators, energy modellers and other relevant stakeholders as they plan future power systems with high shares of renewable energy. By presenting costs on a consistent basis across a wide range of LDES solutions, while preserving commercial confidentiality, the analysis provides practical insights for long-term planning, modelling, and policy design.  

Justin Raade, EPRI Program Manager, Bulk Energy Storage noted: “At EPRI, our mission is to provide independent, science-based insights that help the energy sector make informed decisions. Policy and investment choices depend on how costs are represented, and by aligning cost benchmarks for long duration energy storage assets, we help system planning and policy to be grounded in consistent, actionable data. This study reflects EPRI’s commitment to advancing reliable, affordable, secure, and sustainable energy solutions through rigorous analysis and collaboration.” 

Mahika Sri Krishna, Senior Manager, Research & Analysis at the LDES Council, added: “With a growing range of long duration energy storage technologies now available, planners face real choices that shape system cost and reliability. This study provides cost inputs that can be applied across multiple scenarios to assess which LDES solutions best align with specific system needs and cost considerations. 

Long duration energy storage will be critical infrastructure for building reliable, low-carbon energy systems, and this study helps remove a major barrier to deploying these technologies at the scale required to meet future energy needs.” 

*Further technology-specific cost detail is available for system planning and modelling applications upon request.