The World’s First 600Ah+ Large Energy Storage Battery Project Successfully Delivers Power

On 8 September, the world's first 400MWh energy storage power station based on 628Ah large energy storage batteries achieved successful one-time power delivery.

Located in Lingxiu County, Shijiazhuang, east of the Taihang Mountains, the 200MW/400MWh stand-alone energy storage station has officially begun operation. This marks the world's first large-scale deployment of a 600Ah+ large energy storage battery in a 100MWh project, signifying that the energy storage industry has entered the era of “2 kWh per battery cell”.

Storage project at Hebei, with EVE 628Ah+ Cell

Large batteries are widely regarded as the key pathway to reducing the levelized cost of storage (LCOS). By increasing single-cell capacity and reducing system integration complexity, these batteries can significantly lower the total lifecycle cost of energy storage systems. In 2024, global energy storage shipments surpassed 300 GWh, marking the final sprint before the industry enters the TWh era. As policy subsidies gradually phase out, market competition now increasingly depends on technological strength and product performance.

EVE Energy has achieved three major technological leaps in the large energy storage battery sector - from concept unveiling to mass production and pioneering engineering applications - driving the industry into a new phase of high-quality development fueled by innovation. In October 2022, the company introduced the LF560K concept large energy storage battery, ushering in the “500Ah+” era. In January 2024, it globally premiered the 628Ah “Mr. Big” large energy storage battery, achieving a single-cell energy capacity exceeding 2 kWh. By September 2025, EVE commissioned the world’s first 400MWh-scale power station using these batteries, transitioning from lab to grid in just 20 months.

The value of large energy storage batteries is backed by solid data. Operational data from the Jingmen demonstration project in Hubei Province showed system energy efficiency consistently above 95.5%, while maintenance components were reduced by 50% and operational costs lowered by 30%. In July 2025, EVE’s 600Ah+ battery became the world’s first to be fully certified under China's new national standards. The following month, the company secured a 154MWh order from China Electrical Equipment Group - the world’s first commercial order for 600Ah+ large energy storage batteries.

Behind this technological leadership lies EVE’s philosophy of “long-termism”. Chairman Liu Jincheng emphasizes, “A battery is a living entity. We approach each one with reverence, ensuring every cell is crafted to perfection.” This reverence for technology is reflected in the company's sustained R&D investment: the company’s sustained R&D commitment is reflected in its team of over 6,000 researchers, cumulative R&D investment exceeding RMB 10 billion since 2020, more than 10,000 patents, and involvement in 25 national-level projects. At its 60GWh super factory in Jingmen, extreme manufacturing principles enable production of 1.5 batteries per second with defect rates controlled at the PPB level, ensuring exceptional consistency and reliability.

With production bases advancing in Malaysia and Hungary, EVE Energy continues to optimize its global capacity layout. The company aims to reach 328GWh production capacity by 2027, supporting the worldwide energy transition. It has established deep partnerships with leading enterprises such as State Grid, China Southern Power Grid, Huaneng, Huawei, and Sungrow, while also making breakthroughs in overseas markets including Australia.

Industry analysis indicates that the first half of 2026 will witness a concentrated release of 500Ah+ batteries. Through its Lingshou project, EVE Energy demonstrates that large batteries are not a future concept but an ongoing reality. The deployment of this world-first 600Ah+ energy storage power station is not only a technological milestone but also an industry signal: the era of large batteries for energy storage has arrived.

HyperStrong’s Revenue Increased by 22.66% YoY in H1 2025, with Net Profit of 316 Million Yuan

On the evening of August 28, HyperStrong released its 2025 semi-annual report.

During the reporting period, the company achieved operating revenue of 4.522 billion yuan, an increase of 22.66% YoY; net profit attributable to owners of the parent company was 316 million yuan, an increase of 12.05% YoY; net profit attributable to owners of the parent company excluding non-recurring gains and losses was 259.6 million yuan, a decrease of 8.38% YoY. The company’s total assets reached 12.059 billion yuan, an increase of 9.91% compared with the beginning of the year; net assets attributable to shareholders of the listed company were 4.082 billion yuan, an increase of 29.95% compared with the beginning of the year.

From the classification of operating revenue, revenue from energy storage systems was 4.512 billion yuan, accounting for the highest proportion.

Actively Exploring Energy Storage Application Scenarios

In the era when the industry is fully shifting toward marketization, the reform of the electricity spot market is accelerating, the mechanisms for energy storage participation in the market are gradually improving, and the economic viability of energy storage power plant assets will be significantly enhanced, achieving a transformation from price-oriented to value-oriented.

Through technological breakthroughs, scenario innovation, and industrial collaboration, HyperStrong promotes the “Energy Storage + X” strategy, constructing a core logic driven by intelligent full lifecycle management, reconstructing the profit model, and continuously exploring application scenarios with commercial value, including independent energy storage power plants, PV-storage integration, generation-grid-load-storage integration, direct connection of green electricity, diesel generator replacement, and PV-storage-charging integration.

Rapidly Expanding the Global Market

In the domestic market, the company continues to maintain deep cooperation with the “Five Big, Six Small” power generation groups (Five Big: CHN Energy, Huaneng Group, SPIC, Huadian Group and China Datang; Six Small: CTG, CGN, CR Power, SDIC Power, CNNC and CECEP), while also focusing on high-quality local energy groups, local government investment platforms, and energy storage projects invested in by social capital, in order to expand incremental business and increase market share.

In the first half of 2025, the company has already participated in multiple grid-side energy storage projects and commercial & industrial energy storage projects in overseas markets, creating several benchmark cases. Among them, the successful commissioning of the Stockholm energy storage project in Sweden and the Waltershausen project in Germany accumulated valuable experience for the company’s expansion in the European market.

At the same time, the company has established long-term and stable cooperation with many internationally renowned enterprises. It has formally reached a strategic cooperation with European large-scale energy storage project developer Repono, and the two parties will jointly promote the implementation of grid-scale energy storage projects with a total scale of 1.4 GWh before 2027, helping to advance Europe’s energy transition; it has also cooperated with Singapore energy infrastructure developer Alpina, planning to provide 5,000 integrated charging-storage units during 2025–2027, developing energy storage applications in Singapore’s and the Asia-Pacific region’s rapidly growing electric vehicle charging market.

Deep Integration of AI and Digital Technology

Relying on the company’s massive data and technological advantages in the energy storage industry, an artificial intelligence big data service platform is being built. From the perspective of the entire industry chain—from energy storage product R&D, testing and verification, and pilot/demo to mass application—it continuously promotes the application of AI, big data, and digital twin technologies in the energy storage field, driving the intelligent and digital empowerment of the full lifecycle of energy storage systems, improving the safe operation and maintenance capabilities of energy storage power plants, and enhancing customer asset value.

Through AI-driven comprehensive calculations, it conducts revenue forecasting and configuration recommendations for each energy storage application scenario; through “AI modeling + data,” it drives customized product design and optimization, providing customized design for each energy storage power plant; through intelligent EMS combined with AI algorithms, it ensures optimal performance throughout the entire lifecycle of energy storage systems, providing predictive maintenance, proactive warnings, expert diagnostics, and AI-agent-assisted decision-making for refined intelligent operation and maintenance; through full-dimensional operation monitoring, it carries out equipment status estimation, high-precision price forecasting, and dynamic trading strategies, realizing intelligent electricity trading; through AI empowerment, it connects the entire industry chain from project planning, design, delivery, and operation & maintenance to operation, achieving efficient integrated management of the full lifecycle of energy storage systems.

Continuously Promoting Cross-boundary Cooperation in the Industry Ecosystem

The company has established strategic cooperative relationships with upstream and downstream enterprises in the industry chain, including Huawei Digital Power, CATL, EVE Energy, Genertec, Shuangdeng Group, Inovance Technology, Huachi Kinetic Energy, and plans to carry out cooperation in multiple key areas such as zero-carbon energy, intelligent manufacturing, resource and scenario integration, project co-construction, and industrial integration.

In addition, the semi-annual report disclosed HyperStrong’s core technologies and R&D progress, specifically including artificial intelligence technology in the field of energy storage applications, battery digital modeling technology, digital intelligent closed-loop verification technology, battery management system technology, energy storage converter technology, thermal management system technology, battery system integration technology, power coordination control system technology, energy management and energy storage power station monitoring system technology, and battery full lifecycle intelligent operation and maintenance system technology.

July | Monthly Project Tracker of New Energy Storage | Newly Commissioned User-Side New Energy Storage Projects +9% Year-on-Year, -41% Month-on-Month, East China Holds Largest Market Share

According to the incomplete statistics of the CNESA DataLink Global Energy Storage Database, in July 2025, the total newly commissioned capacity of domestic new energy storage projects was 3.24GW/8.79GWh, a year-on-year decrease of -35%/-26% and a month-on-month decrease of -28%/-23%. Affected by the “rush installation” of new energy, the newly added capacity of new energy storage continued the downward trend since “May 30.” The newly added capacity in July continued to decline, with a drop about 10 percentage points greater than the same period last year.

Figure 1: January–July 2025 Installed Capacity of Newly Commissioned New Energy Storage Projects in China

Data Source: CNESA DataLink Global Energy Storage Database https://www.esresearch.com.cn/

Since June this year, we have been publishing monthly updates on new energy storage projects by application market, dividing them into power source & grid side and user side. The following is the user-side new energy storage project installation landscape for July.

In July, user-side newly installed capacity was 252.3MW/529.7MWh, a year-on-year change of +9%/-1% and a month-on-month change of -41%/-49%.

User-side new energy storage project installations showed the following characteristics.

1.      C&I Energy Storage Dominated, with Emergency Power Assurance Functions Becoming Prominent

In July, the user-side energy storage market was dominated by C&I applications. Newly installed capacity in C&I scenarios reached 205.4MW/435.7MWh, a year-on-year change of -3%/-11%. Projects owned by high energy-consuming enterprises such as chemical, cement, and metallurgy accounted for 40% of the total, with the emergency power assurance role of user-side energy storage becoming increasingly prominent.

On the technical side, all newly commissioned projects adopted electrochemical energy storage technology, with lithium iron phosphate battery technology accounting for nearly 100% of installed power capacity. In addition, one vanadium redox flow battery C&I energy storage project was completed and put into operation.

Figure 2: Application Distribution of Newly Commissioned User-Side New Energy Storage Projects in July 2025 (MW%)

Data Source: CNESA DataLink Global Energy Storage Database https://www.esresearch.com.cn/

Note: “C&I” includes industry, industrial parks, and commercial buildings; “Others” includes EV charging stations, municipal utilities, and island.

2.      East China User-side Energy Storage Market Active, Sichuan Recorded the Largest Newly Installed Capacity

From the perspective of regional distribution, newly commissioned projects were mainly concentrated in 15 provinces including Sichuan, Jiangsu, Shanxi, Zhejiang, and Hunan. In terms of project numbers, the East China region (Zhejiang, Jiangsu, Shandong, etc.) held the largest market share, with nearly half of the country’s new projects, and Zhejiang accounted for nearly one-fifth of the national total, ranking first nationwide.

In terms of installed capacity, Sichuan recorded the largest increase, accounting for nearly 30% of the national total; Jiangsu followed, ranking first in East China. In July, Sichuan Power Grid Power Trading Center issued the “2025 User-Side New Energy Storage Project-Related Matters,” which clarified that energy storage operation revenue consists of two parts: peak-valley fluctuation revenue and storage discharge compensation fees, providing a clear revenue expectation for investment and operation of user-side storage projects.

Figure 3: Provincial Distribution of Newly Commissioned User-Side New Energy Storage Projects in China, July 2025

Data Source: CNESA DataLink Global Energy Storage Database https://www.esresearch.com.cn/

From the perspective of filed projects, since the second half of the year, overall investment enthusiasm in the user-side storage market has declined. In July, over 750 newly filed user-side storage projects were added nationwide, a year-on-year decrease of 35%, with energy capacity decreasing by 20% year-on-year.

Traditional user-side storage markets in Zhejiang, Guangdong, and Jiangsu showed sluggish growth. These three provinces recorded over 630 newly filed user-side storage projects, accounting for 84% of the national total, and remain the main market for user-side storage. However, both the number of newly filed projects and the energy capacity in these provinces were lower than the same period last year: Zhejiang -25%/-9% year-on-year, Guangdong -29%/-7%, Jiangsu -53%/-25%.

Emerging markets driven by power supply security needs are beginning to surface. Since 2025, Anhui’s user-side storage market has remained active, with the monthly number of newly filed projects consistently higher than the same period last year, and July growth exceeding 180%. In the first half of the year, Sichuan recorded 66 newly filed user-side storage projects, significantly higher than the same period last year. Henan recorded over 570 newly filed projects in the first half, a year-on-year increase of 21%.

Figure 4: Monthly Distribution of Newly Filed Storage Projects in Zhejiang, Guangdong, and Jiangsu (January–July 2025)

Data Source: CNESA DataLink Global Energy Storage Database https://www.esresearch.com.cn/

China Accelerates Green Energy Push With Major Projects, Spotlight on Energy Storage

China’s clean energy drive advanced this month as the State Grid Corporation’s Ningxia–Hunan ultra-high voltage direct current (UHVDC) project officially began transmitting electricity on August 20, according to China Economic Net. The 1,616-kilometer line is the country’s first UHV channel primarily built to carry wind and solar power from bases in desert, Gobi and wasteland to central regions. With an investment of 28.1 billion yuan and new energy accounting for more than 70 percent of its 17.64 million kilowatts of supporting capacity, the project will deliver up to 36 billion kilowatt-hours annually—around one-sixth of Hunan’s demand. Industry analysts say the commissioning reflects China’s broader pivot in energy investment “toward green and new,” with a wave of renewable, grid, and storage projects accelerating nationwide.

Government data show that in the first half of the year, investment in key energy projects exceeded 1.5 trillion yuan, rising 21.6 percent year-on-year. Spending on wind, solar, and offshore renewables surged across multiple provinces, while funds also flowed into smart grids, hydrogen, and energy storage. The National Energy Administration reported that investment in new energy storage and integrated generation-grid-load-storage systems grew by more than 30 percent, while charging and swapping infrastructure climbed nearly 70 percent. Hydrogen energy projects likewise doubled, with several large-scale green hydrogen facilities in Jilin Province advancing quickly. Experts stress that these technologies are critical to balancing intermittency challenges and ensuring renewable output can be absorbed reliably by the grid.

Looking ahead, analysts expect the second half of the year to maintain this strong pace, with grid modernization and energy storage projects becoming increasingly central to the country’s clean energy transition. While ultra-high voltage transmission enables large-scale renewable integration, energy storage and hydrogen remain essential to stabilize supply and unlock the full potential of China’s expanding green power base.

Lithuania Expands Energy Storage Plans to 1.7 GW/4 GWh

Image: Energy Cells

Lithuania is moving forward with one of the largest energy storage expansions in Europe, announcing plans to install 1.7 GW of capacity equal to 4 GWh of storage. The Ministry of Energy confirmed the decision after receiving strong demand in its recent procurement process. According to the ministry, the scale of the projects will play a critical role in strengthening the flexibility and reliability of the national grid while supporting the broader integration of renewable energy. Acting Energy Minister Žygimantas Vaičiūnas described the program as a “significant step” toward a more secure and modern power system, highlighting investor interest as a signal of strong private-sector commitment. The announcement marks a sharp increase from the government’s original target of 800 MWh.

The procurement call, first issued in February, generated more than 50 project applications worth about €197 million, nearly twice the amount initially budgeted. In July, the Ministry raised available funding by €37.33 million, on top of the original €102 million allocation. While the total pipeline now exceeds €840 million in value, state subsidies will average just under 15% of investments, covering up to 30% of eligible costs with a maximum of €150,000 per MWh. The supported projects will range from 30 MWh to 300 MWh and are intended to provide balancing services directly to Lithuania’s transmission network. Legal entities, excluding financial and credit institutions, are eligible for the subsidies.

The Ministry emphasized that this expansion represents a major step up from Lithuania’s earlier grid-scale storage project in 2020, a 200 MWh facility operated by Energy Cells. Officials also confirmed that a new round of procurement will be announced soon, signaling that the country’s energy storage build-out is only just beginning.

HiTHIUM to Supply 4GWh Long-Duration Energy Storage for Saudi Arabia’s Grid Stability Push

HiTHIUM has secured a landmark contract from the Saudi Electricity Company (SEC) to provide large-scale battery energy storage systems in northern Saudi Arabia, according to the company’s announcement on August 27. The project, valued at 4 gigawatt-hours of storage capacity, will be deployed across Tabuk and Hail provinces in partnership with Alfanar Projects. At its core, the installation will use HiTHIUM’s ∞Cell 1175Ah technology within 6.25 megawatt-hour containerized units—designed for long-duration performance. The initiative stands among the largest battery deployments in the Middle East and is expected to advance Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 goals by bolstering grid stability and supporting renewable integration. With growing energy demand and a push to reduce fossil fuel reliance, the deal positions HiTHIUM as a central technology provider in the kingdom’s energy transition.

Image: HiTHIUM

The storage systems, known as the ∞Power 6.25MWh Desert Eagle series, were specifically engineered to withstand Saudi Arabia’s harsh desert conditions. HiTHIUM noted the equipment includes multi-layer insulation capable of lowering internal temperatures by up to 10°C, ensuring reliable operation between -30°C and 60°C. Additional features include sealed enclosures to resist sandstorms, automated dust alerts to reduce maintenance, and components rated for more than 40,000 hours of continuous operation. These systems are designed to provide a range of critical grid services, from frequency regulation and voltage support to black-start capabilities and load shifting. HiTHIUM will oversee design, supply, and long-term service, while Alfanar leads construction efforts.

Commissioning of the projects is scheduled for 2026. If delivered as planned, the deployments will represent a new benchmark for large-scale energy storage in the region, highlighting both Saudi Arabia’s renewable ambitions and HiTHIUM’s strategy to scale its storage technology in extreme environments.

Bulgaria Opens Consultation on New 1.9 GWh Energy Storage Subsidy

Renalfa IPP's 25 MW/55 MWh battery energy storage system in the city of Razlog, in southwestern Bulgaria. | Image: Renalfa

Bulgaria’s Ministry of Energy has launched a public consultation on a new subsidy program designed to expand the country’s renewable energy storage capacity by 1.9 GWh. According to the ministry’s announcement, the initiative—called RESTORE 2—follows the strong uptake of the first RESTORE tender, which closed in April. That earlier round awarded funding to 82 projects representing nearly 9.7 GWh of usable capacity, more than tripling the original 3 GWh target. Supported by the EU’s Recovery and Resilience Plan, the program is part of Bulgaria’s broader strategy to scale renewable integration while ensuring sufficient storage infrastructure. Consultation documents are available for comment until September 15, with applications expected to open on September 18.

The draft guidelines specify that projects must deliver at least 10 MW of nominal AC power with a minimum of two hours of usable storage capacity. Funding will cover up to 50% of eligible costs, capped at BGN 156,466 (around $86,000) per MWh. A single applicant may request support for no more than 317 MWh, equal to one-sixth of the total quota. Financial requirements include a 3% participation guarantee and minimum own capital of BGN 6 million for 20–50 MWh facilities or BGN 10 million for projects above that size. Approved applicants must also provide a 10% performance guarantee upon signing their grant agreement.

To qualify, projects must represent “new usable energy storage capacity,” meaning construction cannot have started before June 25, 2024, and facilities must not be commissioned by then. Applicants are required to present a valid grid connection agreement, building permit, signed supply contract, and secured financing. According to the draft rules, all supported projects must be completed and commissioned by July 31, 2026.

National Energy Administration: China’s New Energy Storage Scale Now Ranks First in the World; Smart Microgrids, Virtual Power Plants, and Vehicle-to-Grid Pilot Programs Accelerating

By: State Council Information Office

On the morning of August 26, 2025 (Tuesday) at 10:00, the State Council Information Office held a press conference in the “High-quality Completion of the 14th Five-Year Plan” series. Wang Hongzhi, member of the Party Leadership Group of the National Development and Reform Commission and Head of the National Energy Administration, Wan Jinsong, Deputy Head of the National Energy Administration, Du Zhongming, Director General of the Department of Electric Power of the National Energy Administration, and Li Chuangjun, Director General of the Department of New Energy and Renewable Energy Sources of the National Energy Administration, introduced the achievements of high-quality energy development during the 14th Five-Year Plan period and answered questions from reporters.

Image: State Council Information Office

Wang Hongzhi, member of the Party Leadership Group of the National Development and Reform Commission and Head of the National Energy Administration, mentioned that the “14th Five-Year Plan” has witnessed greater breakthroughs in energy science and technology innovation. Technologies and equipment such as new energy are leading globally, with new energy patents accounting for more than 40% of the world’s total, photovoltaic conversion efficiency and offshore wind power unit capacity continuously refreshing world records. In just a few short years, China’s scale of new energy storage has ranked first in the world.

New models and new business forms are developing vigorously, with smart microgrids, virtual power plants and others entering the fast lane of development. Pilot programs for scaled application of vehicle-to-grid interaction are accelerating, the energy industry is speeding up integration with industries such as manufacturing and transportation, new fields and new tracks are continuously emerging, and they have become an important source of the development of new quality productive forces.

Li Chuangjun, Director General of the Department of New Energy and Renewable Energy Sources of the National Energy Administration, mentioned that since the “14th Five-Year Plan”, China’s electricity market transaction volume has increased from 10.7 trillion kilowatt-hours during the “13th Five-Year Plan” to 23.8 trillion kilowatt-hours, more than doubling. On the user side, all industrial and commercial users have entered the market, independent energy storage and other new entities, new models, and new business forms are developing vigorously, and a market pattern with orderly participation of multiple entities has basically taken shape.

Wan Jinsong, Deputy Head of the National Energy Administration, mentioned that investment in new energy business forms is also continuing to improve. In 2024, investment completed in key projects such as new energy storage, charging and swapping infrastructure, hydrogen energy, and generation-grid-load-storage integration reached nearly 200 billion yuan, gradually becoming a new growth point for energy investment.

During the “14th Five-Year Plan” period, we have made overall plans for the development of emerging industries such as new energy storage and hydrogen energy, promoting the continuous optimization of the industrial innovation ecosystem and development environment. As of the first half of this year, China’s installed capacity of new energy storage is about 95 million kilowatts, nearly 30 times growth in five years, equivalent to equipping the new power system with a “giant power bank.” In 2024, China’s hydrogen energy production and consumption scale exceeded 36 million tons, ranking first in the world, of which renewable energy hydrogen production capacity accounted for more than half of the global total.

Cracking the Bottleneck of Energy Storage: How to Quantify Multi-Scenario Revenue and Carbon Accounting?

The first International Symposium on Value, Benefits, and Carbon Emission Assessment of Large-Scale Energy Storage, a National Key R&D Program Strategic Scientific and Technological Innovation Cooperation Project, was held in Beijing on April 11, 2025. Experts from industry, academia, and research institutes engaged in in-depth discussions on core pain points of the energy storage industry, technical pathways, carbon footprint management, and international cooperation.

Yu Zhenhua, Executive Vice Chairman of the China Energy Storage Alliance, pointed out at the symposium that the energy storage industry currently faces three core challenges: difficulty in cost assessment (diverse technical routes make cost evolution paths unclear), difficulty in comprehensive value assessment (multi-scenario revenue is hard to quantify), and difficulty in international mutual recognition of carbon emission standards (significant differences between domestic and foreign accounting systems). These issues have resulted in numerous obstacles for energy storage in supporting the realization of carbon peaking and carbon neutrality. The symposium revolved around these three challenges, and experts delved into the bottlenecks and pain points, presenting valuable insights. CNESA has compiled the experts’ key perspectives to share.

1. Global Perspective: The Demand and Positioning of Energy Storage in the Carbon Peaking and Carbon Neutrality Pathway

Global

Feng Jinlei, Policy Officer of the International Renewable Energy Agency, proposed that according to IRENA’s 1.5℃ temperature control scenario, the world needs to deploy 4000 GW of energy storage before 2050, of which long-duration energy storage accounts for more than 40%, with energy storage directly contributing 15% of carbon reduction.

Europe

Patrick Clerens, Secretary General of the European Association for Storage of Energy, emphasized that the EU is addressing consumption bottlenecks through market design and grid upgrades (500 billion euros of investment before 2030). This will reduce 310 TWh of renewable energy curtailment annually (worth 23 billion euros) and promote the integration of heat storage with industrial decarbonization. He also noted that the low-carbon advantage of China’s lithium battery industry chain can achieve value output through standard mutual recognition.

Regarding long-duration energy storage technology in supporting Europe’s net-zero target, Dr. Karin Arnold from the Wuppertal Institute for Climate, Environment and Energy pointed out that hydrogen shows potential in industrial heating and long-duration energy storage, but current costs are significantly driven by electrolyzer utilization (<3000 hours/year) and electricity prices. Under Germany’s 2045 carbon neutrality target, hydrogen-power coupling systems will need to undertake 15%-20% of peak shaving tasks, with green hydrogen costs expected to fall from 5 euros/kg in 2030 to 2 euros/kg in 2050. He emphasized that cross-regional hydrogen supply chain construction must simultaneously resolve storage and transport losses as well as infrastructure investment issues.

China

Ma Yuan from Tsinghua University stressed the urgency of China’s energy system transformation—with only 30 years from carbon peaking to carbon neutrality, much shorter than in Europe and the US. By building an optimized energy system model covering the entire industrial chain, by 2060, the share of fossil energy in China’s primary energy structure will drop to 13%, while renewable energy will account for 87% (solar 31%, wind 29%); total power generation capacity will reach 3.2 times the 2021 level, with wind and solar exceeding 80% of installed capacity. As a key regulatory tool, energy storage must be included in carbon peaking and carbon neutrality pathway models to enhance system robustness, particularly in raising end-use electrification rates and promoting renewable energy integration.

Regarding energy storage configuration and peak shaving in the new power system, Qin Xiaohui, Chief Engineer of Power-Carbon Coordination at China Electric Power Research Institute, analyzed that as the proportion of renewable energy increases, the role of energy storage in peak shaving will extend from “intra-day balancing” to “cross-cycle regulation.” For example, in a 2030 grid planning study of a major region, configuring 16 million kW/6-hour storage reduced curtailment rates by 3 percentage points and enabled over 40 billion kWh of additional renewable energy consumption. He emphasized that technology selection for energy storage must match application scenarios: large-capacity, long-duration storage can be configured at grid hub nodes to undertake energy transfer tasks while ensuring grid security constraints, whereas distributed storage focuses on power and energy self-balancing at the microgrid level.

2. How to Build an Energy Storage Carbon Emission Assessment System and Carbon Footprint Management System?

With the entry into force of the EU Battery Regulation (EU) 2023/1542, the EU has entered a stricter and more comprehensive era of lifecycle management for batteries, exerting profound and mandatory influence on Chinese companies exporting products containing batteries to the EU.

Qiu Lin, Chief Scientist of Zero Carbon Products at Envision Digital, noted in relation to the EU Battery Regulation that carbon footprint accounting for energy storage products must cover the full lifecycle “from mine to grave.” He suggested that companies can reduce emissions at the production end through zero-carbon industrial parks and use international standardization platforms to promote data mutual recognition.

On advancing carbon footprint accounting, certification, and mutual recognition, Zhao Lihua, Technical Director of the China Electronics Standardization Institute, introduced that China has established the first lithium battery carbon footprint background database, covering 95% of materials across the full industrial chain including cathodes, anodes, and electrolytes. The number of data entries increased from 210 in version 1.0 to 830 in version 2.0, with 90% derived from processes since 2020. The database adopts a “material flow-energy flow-emission flow” integrated modeling approach, enabling dynamic updates of power factors, thereby providing a scientific foundation for carbon footprint accounting, certification, and international mutual recognition. In the future, the database will be piloted in leading enterprises and its standard alignment with the EU and BRICS countries will be strengthened.

On international cooperation, Ionna Trofimova Elliott, CEO of the POLICY CLUB, pointed out that although the EU Battery Regulation sets carbon tariff thresholds, supply chain localization and technological cooperation must be balanced. The co-development of open carbon emission assessment methodologies for batteries and new energy storage technologies provides an opportunity for China-EU technical collaboration.

3. Under New Market Conditions, How to Measure the Comprehensive Value of Energy Storage (Including Green Value)?

On explicit revenue, Lai Xiaowen, CTO of Beijing Tsintergy, analyzed that as renewable energy storage policies phase out, energy storage revenues will shift toward market-driven mechanisms. In provinces with relatively mature market mechanisms, frequency regulation ancillary services (about 50–80%) and spot arbitrage (about 20–30%) are the main sources of revenue. However, provincial differences in market development are large, and independent energy storage revenue models face transitional adjustments, making it difficult to rely on a single trading product to achieve investment goals. Taking Guangdong as an example, with a spot price difference of only 0.1 yuan/kWh, energy storage must adopt a “multi-purpose” strategy (allocating part of capacity to frequency regulation and part to spot arbitrage) to balance revenue and lifecycle degradation. He suggested that in the future, capacity compensation or bidding mechanisms should be established to reflect the capacity value of energy storage, referencing thermal power standards.

On assessing the green value of energy storage for the entire power system, Qin Xiaohui, Deputy Chief Engineer of the China Electric Power Research Institute, analyzed that carbon reduction assessment of energy storage must establish a “baseline comparison” mechanism, distinguishing between bundled scenarios with renewable energy and independent grid-connected scenarios. Qiu Lin, Chief Scientist of Zero Carbon Products at Envision Digital, proposed that for solar-storage bundled projects, carbon reduction benefits can be quantified through green power tracing, while independent energy storage requires dispatch simulation models to evaluate renewable integration contributions. Edmond Etchri Sassouvi, adviser to the Executive Committee at Macau Power, shared the Macau case: by integrating green power from China Southern Power Grid and piloting second-life battery storage, the tourism city is advancing toward its 2050 carbon neutrality target, highlighting the role of regional grid interconnection in supporting low-carbon transition.

Yang Su from the State Grid Energy Research Institute proposed that China’s carbon market construction brings new opportunities for energy storage. The national carbon emissions trading market has already included the steel, cement, and electrolytic aluminum industries, with carbon prices expected to rise. Energy storage can actively participate in the selection of methodologies for voluntary greenhouse gas emission reduction projects and gain profit from the carbon market in the future. The full market entry of renewable energy will drive “wind-solar-storage” coordinated trading and give rise to new business models such as shared energy storage.

4. Conclusion: Building a Globally Coordinated Energy Storage Ecosystem of “Technology-Standards-Market”

The symposium reached a consensus: the value release of energy storage must be rooted in technological innovation, bridged by standard mutual recognition, and driven by market mechanisms. In the next three years, the National Key R&D Program “Strategic Scientific and Technological Innovation Cooperation” special project “Technical Cooperation Research on Value, Benefits, and Carbon Emission Assessment of Large-Scale Energy Storage” (2024YFE0209100) will focus on joint model and methodology research, co-development of international standards, and creation of cooperation and exchange platforms, promoting the transformation of energy storage from a “cost center” to a “value hub,” and providing China’s solution for global energy decarbonization.

US Poised for Record Year in Battery and Solar Energy Capacity

Image: EIA

The United States is on track to set a new record for electricity generation capacity in 2025, driven primarily by solar and battery energy storage, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). A total of 64 gigawatts (GW) of new capacity is anticipated this year, with 33.3 GW coming from solar and 18.3 GW from battery storage. If realized, this would mark the strongest year yet for energy storage installations in the country. Batteries already made up 5.9 GW—about 26%—of new additions in the first half of 2025, with nearly half of those installations concentrated in Arizona and California. Texas is also expected to play a central role, potentially adding 7 GW of battery projects later this year.

Solar deployment is accelerating in the second half of 2025, with 21 GW expected to come online compared to 12 GW in the first half. Texas leads this expansion, already contributing 27% of new solar capacity this year and planning nearly 10 GW more before December. The EIA emphasized that this surge reflects both seasonal patterns in construction and tightened deadlines tied to federal clean energy tax credits. By contrast, wind projects are expected to add 7.8 GW this year, while natural gas lags with 4.7 GW. Retirements in fossil fuel plants are also underway, though some closures have been delayed or cancelled, including major coal, oil, and gas units in Maryland and Texas.

Overall, 2025 marks a turning point for U.S. energy development. Unlike the last record year in 2002, which was dominated by natural gas, this year’s milestone is set to be led by renewable energy and storage, signaling a significant shift in the nation’s power mix.

Sungrow Initiates Hong Kong Stock Listing! 2025H1 Energy Storage Revenue Reached RMB 17.803 Billion, Up 127.78% Year-on-Year, with a Gross Margin of 39.92%

On the evening of August 25, Sungrow released its 2025 semi-annual report. In the first half of the year, the company achieved operating revenue of RMB 43.533 billion, a year-on-year increase of 40.34%. Net profit attributable to the parent company was RMB 7.735 billion, up 55.97% year-on-year, and net profit excluding non-recurring items was RMB 7.495 billion, up 53.52% year-on-year.

On the same day, Sungrow announced plans to issue H-shares and list on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, aiming to deepen its global strategic deployment, build diversified financing channels, and further enhance the company’s core competitiveness.

Energy Storage Revenue RMB 17.803 Billion, Up 127.78% Year-on-Year, with a Gross Margin of 39.92%

By industry:
Photovoltaic industry revenue was RMB 22.513 billion, accounting for 51.72%, up 4.84% year-on-year;
Energy storage industry revenue was RMB 17.803 billion, accounting for 40.89%, up 127.78% year-on-year;
Other business revenue was RMB 3.217 billion, accounting for 7.39%, up 85.96% year-on-year.

By product:
Photovoltaic inverters and other power electronic conversion equipment revenue was RMB 15.327 billion, up 17.06% year-on-year, with a gross margin of 35.74%, down 1.88% year-on-year;
Energy storage systems revenue was RMB 17.803 billion, up 127.78% year-on-year, with a gross margin of 39.92%, down 0.16% year-on-year;
New energy investment and development revenue was RMB 8.398 billion, down 6.22% year-on-year;
Photovoltaic power plant generation revenue was RMB 761 million, up 59.44% year-on-year.
Revenue from energy storage system products exceeded photovoltaic inverters.

By region:
Domestic revenue was RMB 18.155 billion, up 3.48% year-on-year, accounting for 41.70%;
Overseas revenue was RMB 25.379 billion, up 88.32% year-on-year, accounting for 58.30%.

Initiating Hong Kong Stock Listing
On the same day, Sungrow announced plans to issue H-shares and apply for listing on the main board of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, in order to deepen its global strategic layout, enhance its international brand image, build diversified financing channels, and further strengthen core competitiveness.

R&D Personnel Account for About 40% of the Total, R&D Investment Up 37% Year-on-Year
The financial report shows that in the first half of 2025, the company continued to increase R&D investment to RMB 2.037 billion, a year-on-year increase of 37%, with R&D personnel accounting for about 40% of the total. By the end of the reporting period, the company had filed a total of 10,541 patent applications, including 5,690 invention patents, 4,142 utility model patents, and 709 design patents.

Latest Release of PowerTitan 3.0 Energy Storage System Platform
During the reporting period, the company launched the PowerTitan 3.0 AC smart energy storage platform, introducing three models: Flex version 10 ft 3.45MWh, Class version 20 ft 6.9MWh, and Plus version 30 ft 12.5MWh. These adopt 684Ah stacked cells, silicon carbide PCS, and are equipped with the PowerBidder power trading decision-support software and the PowerDoctor intelligent power plant operation and maintenance platform. Continuing the advantages of the AC storage architecture, the Plus version achieves an energy density exceeding 500kWh/㎡, currently the highest in the world.

PowerTitan 2.0 Widely Applied Globally,
PowerStack 835CS Opens the Era of Customized C&I Energy Storage
During the reporting period, the company’s pioneering “AC-DC integrated” 10MWh full liquid-cooled energy storage system PowerTitan 2.0 was widely applied worldwide, supporting stable operations at projects such as the Taizhou Hailing independent energy storage plant, Kunshan Longteng Special Steel user-side energy storage plant, Chery’s first energy storage station in the automotive industry in Wuhu, Shandong Taiyang grid-side energy storage plant, and Uzbekistan’s largest energy storage station in Central Asia. The company also launched the PowerStack 835CS liquid-cooled energy storage system for 10/20kV industrial scenarios, which has been applied in bulk in high-energy-consuming factories and parks such as steel, metallurgy, automotive, and chemical industries, fully initiating the era of customized C&I energy storage.

Grid-Forming Technology Stably Applied in Power Plants Worldwide
With the high penetration of wind, solar, and other renewable energy worldwide, traditional grid-following schemes are insufficient to support stable grid operation. During the reporting period, the company further upgraded its stem-cell grid technology, pioneering the “battery-converter-station” three-level collaborative architecture, and released the “Stem-Cell Grid-Forming Technology 2.0 White Paper.” From the perspective of solar-storage system applications, supported by a GW-level full-link electrical, thermal, and acoustic simulation platform, and all-scenario grid-forming algorithms, the solution meets diverse needs under different grid conditions, environments, and application scales, maximizing power plant benefits, adapting to grid conditions, and providing customized grid-forming solutions to safeguard grid safety and stability.

The company’s grid-forming technology has helped the UK grid rapidly recover frequency, preventing large-scale blackout, and has been stably applied in numerous projects such as the Weizhou Island isolated energy storage plant in Guangxi, the world’s largest wind-solar-ES-hydrogen multi-energy complementary project NEOM in Saudi Arabia, the solar-storage project in Caipeng, Naidong, Xizang Autonomous Region, and the world’s largest grid-forming off-grid storage project, the 60MW/120MWh project in Ali Prefecture, Xizang Autonomous Region. During the reporting period, the company successively supported the grid connection of more than ten grid-forming storage plants in Xizang and provided system solutions for China Southern Power Grid’s first grid-forming storage project—the Wenshan plant in Yunnan.

To fill the industry gap, during the reporting period the company released the industry’s first battery cell management white paper, “BM²T Battery Management Technology White Paper,” which deeply integrates AI and IoT technologies, breaking data silos and adapting to the development of grid-forming technology.

C&I Energy Storage Product Iteration Accelerates
In response to the complex and variable industrial and commercial storage market, the company further accelerated the iteration speed of new product development. During the reporting period, it launched the latest PowerStack 255CS system with power of 125kW and upgraded capacity to 257kWh, supporting 2/4h configurations, with a tested all-weather average efficiency of ≥88%, delivering RMB 40,000 additional annual revenue per 1MWh for power plants. In the industrial and commercial sector, it launched customized grid-forming technology for the first time, supporting MW-level park black-start capability, resilient to outages and load fluctuations. Equipped with an AI intelligent decision-making system, it can predict electricity prices and loads in real time and automatically settle for optimal returns.

Currently, the company’s energy storage systems are widely applied in mature power markets across Europe, the Americas, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific, continuously strengthening deep integration of wind, solar, and storage. None of the storage projects it participated in have experienced a single safety incident. The company has accumulated extensive application experience in fields including frequency regulation and peak shaving, renewable energy integration support, microgrids, C&I and residential energy storage.

The World’s First Super-Stage Zero-Carbon Building Put into Operation in Qingdao

Source: Dazhong Daily

On August 24, the world’s first “super-stage zero-carbon building”—the TELD Headquarter Project—was officially put into use in Qingdao. The building, through multiple innovative technologies, has achieved 100% replacement with green electricity.

The so-called “super-stage” means that the building not only relies on photovoltaic power generation but also integrates various green electricity applications such as cascade utilization of energy storage batteries and discharging of new energy vehicles, thereby building a highly integrated and efficiently coordinated clean energy supply system.

The project started construction in May 2023 and was fully completed in March 2025. It covers an area of 14.33 mu (2.35 acres), with a building area of about 43,000 square meters, and a total height of 117 meters. It integrates multiple independently developed innovative achievements of TGOOD Group, with the integration of the “charging network, microgrid, and storage network” as its core, combined with a virtual power plant and an ultra-fast intelligent parking system, becoming a pioneering demonstration project that integrates green energy self-sufficiency, low-carbon operation, and efficient space utilization.

This building has a height of 117 meters and an average daily electricity consumption of about 6,000 kWh. Its east, west, and south facades adopt building-integrated photovoltaic glass curtain walls, which are like putting a “power-generating coat” on the building. The direct current generated by these curtain walls can be directly used inside the building, avoiding the energy loss in the AC-DC conversion process.

What is even more innovative is the “hidden energy” at the bottom of the building—14 sets of cascade-utilized automotive power battery packs. These batteries complete one charge-discharge cycle daily, not only absorbing the surplus photovoltaic power but also, during off-peak grid periods, storing unused clean electricity at low prices, which is then utilized during peak demand or rainy weather, significantly enhancing the grid’s regulation capability.

The building realizes an average daily green energy storage of 1,500 kWh through cadmium telluride photovoltaic glass curtain walls, providing about 25% green power replacement; meanwhile, relying on the park’s intelligent three-dimensional garage, the system can select 300 electric vehicles daily for discharging, contributing more than 3,000 kWh of green electricity and achieving 50% green power replacement. Through the collaborative operation of “photovoltaics + energy storage + EV charging and discharging,” the project successfully builds a park-level virtual power plant, with multiple functions such as resource aggregation, dispatch response, and auxiliary trading, greatly improving energy utilization efficiency and system flexibility.

The entire building is equipped with nearly 30,000 micro-sensors, creating a perception network covering the entire building, and achieves intelligent operation management of equipment through a digital IoT platform, replacing traditional manual operation and maintenance, with a comprehensive energy-saving rate of 40%. Employees can use seamless interactions—such as automatic elevator use via facial recognition and automatic shutoff of lights and air conditioning when leaving the office—to significantly improve office efficiency and refined energy usage.

The project also introduces an AI-assisted fast three-dimensional parking system, featuring five main characteristics: “good, fast, safe, economical, and intelligent.” It is compatible with multiple vehicle types, enhancing the parking experience; equipped with four-level fire protection and visual monitoring systems to ensure the safety of new energy vehicles; greatly saving underground space as well as construction and operation costs; and achieving seamless charging and system interconnection through “Yuntong” (Cloud Eye) AI technology, promoting the digital upgrade of static transportation.

Yu Dexiang, Chairman of Teld New Energy Co., Ltd., stated that this super-stage zero-carbon building can not only absorb a large amount of green electricity each year, reducing nearly 2,500 tons of carbon emissions, but also, through highly digitalized operation, reduce investment costs by 20%-30%, improve operational efficiency by 30%, and save about 30% of comprehensive energy consumption costs, demonstrating the broad prospects of the deep integration of “new energy + digital technology.” '

(Zhang Xiaofan )

EVE Energy Reports 28.71GWh BESS Shipments and RMB 10.298 Billion Revenue in 2025 H1, Up 32.47% Year-on-Year

On the evening of August 21, EVE Energy released its 2025 semi-annual report. In the first half of the year, the company achieved operating revenue of approximately 28.2 billion RMB, a year-on-year increase of 30.06%; net profit attributable to shareholders of the listed company was 1.605 billion RMB, a year-on-year decrease of 24.9%; net profit attributable to shareholders of the listed company excluding non-recurring items was 1.157 billion RMB, a year-on-year decrease of 22.82%.

By main business:

l  Power battery revenue was 12.748 billion RMB, a year-on-year increase of 41.75%, with a gross margin of 17.60%, and gross margin increased by 6.92% year-on-year;

l  Energy storage battery revenue was 10.298 billion RMB, a year-on-year increase of 32.47%, with a gross margin of 12.03%, and gross margin decreased by 2.32% year-on-year;

In terms of shipment volume, during the reporting period, power battery shipments reached 21.48GWh, a year-on-year increase of 58.58%; energy storage battery shipments reached 28.71GWh, a year-on-year increase of 37.02%.

By region:

l  Domestic revenue was 21.2 billion RMB, a year-on-year increase of 30.73%, with a gross margin of 15.88%, and gross margin increased by 1.64% year-on-year;

l  Overseas revenue was 6.969 billion RMB, a year-on-year increase of 28.05%, with a gross margin of 21.71%, and gross margin decreased by 0.02% year-on-year;

Strong installation demand both domestically and overseas drove rapid growth in energy storage battery shipments. Against the backdrop of the global transition to a low-carbon economy, policies and incentive measures such as China’s “Dual Carbon” strategy and the EU’s “Green Deal” have promoted the deployment of energy storage systems in multiple fields, expanded the market, and consolidated the dominant position of lithium-ion batteries in the energy storage industry.

In the first half of 2025, global energy storage demand grew rapidly, and the market showed a dual driving pattern of “quality improvement in core markets and volume release in emerging regions.”

In China, according to CNESA data, from January to June, newly installed capacity of new energy storage reached 42.61GWh, a year-on-year increase of 27.5%, mainly driven by the full entry of new energy into the market and the May 31 grid-connection node. As China, the world’s largest energy storage market, enters a new stage of value creation, companies with high-quality production capacity and products will have greater competitiveness and occupy a larger market share.

In addition, overseas market demand remained strong, showing a diversified growth pattern. The U.S. energy storage market demand remained strong, with total installed energy storage capacity for the year expected to reach 49GWh. The European market promoted energy storage development through subsidies, further increasing overall energy storage demand. Large-capacity tender projects in emerging markets such as Asia and the Middle East continued to be launched, driving explosive demand growth in the energy storage industry.

The company adheres to creating benefits and value for customers, reaching strategic cooperation with leading energy enterprises at home and abroad, accelerating the implementation of innovative technologies and global market expansion. Against the background of technological innovation and power market reform, the energy storage industry will shift from “scale expansion” to “value creation.” With the application of 500Ah+ ultra-large cells, the integration level of a new generation of 6MWh+ energy storage systems will be significantly improved. Combined with intelligent power trading decisions, greater economic value will be created for energy storage, and high-quality, safe energy storage products will capture more market share. The company empowers innovation, taking the lead in mass production of 600Ah+ cells, and drives energy storage value enhancement through full-scenario solutions.

Energy Storage Power Station Asset Economics Significantly Improved! HyperStrong Takes the Lead in Deploying “Energy Storage + Finance”

By: HyperStrong

On August 20, Beijing HyperStrong Technology Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as “HyperStrong”) officially signed a cooperation agreement with China CITIC Bank Corporation Limited Beijing Branch (hereinafter referred to as “CITIC Bank”) and CITIC Financial Leasing Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as “CITIC Leasing”). In the future, the three parties will carry out comprehensive cooperation in the field of “Energy Storage + Finance.”

Zhang Jianhui, Founder, Chairman, and Chief Executive Officer of HyperStrong, He Jinsong, Member of the Party Committee, Vice President of CITIC Bank and Secretary of the Party Committee and President of Beijing Branch, Li Gang, Secretary of the Party Committee and Chairman of CITIC Leasing, and other leaders jointly attended the signing ceremony and witnessed the launch of this important cooperation. Gao Shuqing, Board Secretary and Chief Financial Officer of HyperStrong, Jing Long, Member of the Party Committee and Vice President of CITIC Bank Beijing Branch, and Li Ying, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of CITIC Leasing, signed the cooperation agreement on behalf of the three parties.

Against the backdrop of the in-depth advancement of China’s “dual carbon” goals and the implementation of Document No. 136, the energy storage industry is shifting from policy-driven to market-oriented. With the reduction of energy storage power station construction costs, coupled with the opening of the electricity spot market and the improvement of supporting policies, the asset economics of energy storage power stations have been significantly enhanced, creating new opportunities for deep participation of financial capital.

In this cooperation, the three parties will rely on their respective resource endowments to deepen cooperation in areas such as integrated financial services, financial leasing business, operating leasing business, and financing credit. They will explore the value synergy between green finance and the energy storage industry, jointly creating a new benchmark for the integration of industry and finance.

At the signing ceremony, Zhang Jianhui, Founder, Chairman, and Chief Executive Officer of HyperStrong, stated that HyperStrong will join hands with CITIC Bank and CITIC Leasing to leverage their respective advantages in the industrial side, technical side, financial innovation tools, financing leasing, and capital raising, jointly building a financing model of “Energy Storage Assets + Professional Operation + Integrated Financial Solutions,” and exploring new paths for financial innovation in the energy storage industry.

Australia Launches $500 Million Battery Breakthrough Initiative

The programme will remain open until the AU$500 million allocation is fully committed or until the government determines a closure date. Image: ARENA.

Australia has formally launched its AU$500 million Battery Breakthrough Initiative (BBI), a cornerstone policy designed to strengthen the country’s role in the global battery industry. According to the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA), which is administering the programme alongside the Department of Industry, Science and Resources, the BBI will provide grants and production incentives to domestic businesses to close critical gaps in local manufacturing capacity. First announced in the May 2024 Federal Budget and shaped by industry consultation, the initiative forms part of the Albanese government’s AU$22.7 billion “Future Made in Australia” agenda, which aims to reindustrialise the economy with a focus on clean technologies including batteries, solar PV, hydrogen, and electric vehicles. Federal industry minister Tim Ayers said during the launch that batteries are central to the clean energy transition and that Australia’s combination of raw materials, research expertise, and industrial base positions it to benefit from surging global demand.

The programme targets three priority segments of the battery supply chain: advanced materials processing, battery cell production, and battery pack assembly. For materials, funding will support projects using Australia’s rich reserves of lithium, nickel, cobalt, and graphite. For cell production, the initiative is designed to help transform Australia from a supplier of raw components into a producer of finished cells. Finally, support for pack assembly is expected to serve both domestic storage needs and export markets. ARENA will distribute funds through mechanisms such as capital grants for infrastructure, production incentives for operations, and streamlined approvals for projects seeking AU$50 million or less, enabling faster progress for mid-sized ventures.

To qualify, projects must meet a Technology Readiness Level of six or higher, ensuring only commercially viable technologies are considered. The programme will remain open until all funding is allocated or the government sets a closure date.

Breaking Through into the Post-Mandatory Energy Storage Era! The 10th Western China Energy Storage Forum Successfully Held in Inner Mongolia

After the cancellation of mandatory energy storage requirements under “Document No. 136,” how will new energy and energy storage achieve coordinated development? How will the value of energy storage be reconstructed? At the 10th Western China Energy Storage Forum, over 500 representatives from government, grid companies, research institutes, and industry chain enterprises engaged in in-depth discussions on these questions.

On August 19–20, 2025, the 10th Western China Energy Storage Forum was successfully held in Hohhot, Inner Mongolia. The forum was hosted by the China Energy Research Society, China Energy Storage Alliance (CNESA), New Energy Storage Innovation Consortium of Central SOEs, Inner Mongolia Energy Storage Promotion Association, and Hohhot Industrial Innovation Research Institute, and co-hosted by CRRC Zhuzhou Institute, HyperStrong, and Kehua Digital Energy Tech Co., Ltd. The theme of the forum was “Market-Driven, Ecology-Enabled: Energy Storage Driving the Construction of a Green Energy System in Western China.” The opening ceremony and main forum were chaired by Xia Qing, Deputy Director of the Energy Storage Committee of the China Energy Research Society and Professor at Tsinghua University.

Xia Qing, Deputy Director of the Energy Storage Committee of the China Energy Research Society, Professor at Tsinghua University

Industry Leaders Gathered from Government, Industry, Academia, and Research

Shi Yubo, Chairman of the China Energy Research Society (online); Xu Ziming, Director of the Energy Efficiency and Energy Storage Division, Energy Conservation and Technological

Equipment Department, National Energy Administration; Ouyang Minggao, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Professor at Tsinghua University; Haisheng Chen, Director of the Institute of Engineering Thermophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chairman of the Energy Storage Committee of the China Energy Research Society, and Chairman of the China Energy Storage Alliance; Wang Lixin, Deputy General Manager of Inner Mongolia Electric Power (Group) Co., Ltd.; Liu Guogang, Chairman and Party Secretary of China Southern Power Grid Energy Storage Co., Ltd.; Cai Changqing, Chairman of Inner Mongolia Beichen Think Tank Research Center; Cao Bin, Chairman of Inner Mongolia Daqingshan Laboratory Co., Ltd.; and Zheng Lina, Chairman of the Inner Mongolia Energy Storage Promotion Association.

Also, experts from the Energy Storage Committee of the China Energy Research Society: Zheng Yaodong, Honorary Director of the Major Energy Storage and New Energy Research Team of China Southern Power Grid; Pei Zheyi, Former Deputy Chief Engineer of the State Grid Dispatching and Control Center; Lai Xiaokang, Senior Expert at China Electric Power Research Institute; and Yue Jianhua, Former Deputy Chief Engineer of Inner Mongolia Electric Power (Group) and State Council Special Allowance Expert.

Meanwhile, Alliance Vice Chairmen: Yu Zhenhua, Executive Vice Chairman of China Energy Storage Alliance; Cui Jian, President of Kehua Digital Energy Tech Co., Ltd.; Liu Mingyi, Head of the Energy Storage Division at Huaneng Clean Energy Research Institute; and Wang Xiaoli, General Manager of Rongke Power, were present in support.

Authoritative Voices: Rigid Demand and Policy Directions for New Energy Storage

Shi Yubo, Chairman of the China Energy Research Society

Shi Yubo, Chairman of the China Energy Research Society, pointed out in his speech that the western region is a national energy strategic base. With more than 80% of wind and solar resources and vast land, it provides unique scenarios for the large-scale application of new energy storage. Currently, western energy storage policies are being intensively introduced, but development still faces challenges such as an imperfect power market mechanism, technological bottlenecks, and an underdeveloped standards system. To promote high-quality development, it is necessary to strengthen the dual drive of policy and market, accelerate the construction of spot markets, and expand ancillary service categories; emphasize both technological breakthroughs and scenario innovation, promoting demonstration applications in desert bases and zero-carbon parks; while at the same time building solid safety standards and risk prevention systems, and strengthening the intelligent operation and maintenance capacity of energy storage power stations. Energy storage is a key support for the energy revolution. It is necessary to pool the strength of industry, academia, research, and application, to provide a western model for the new energy system and contribute China’s solution.

Xu Ziming, Director of the Energy Efficiency and Energy Storage Division, Energy Conservation and Technological Equipment Department, National Energy Administration

Xu Ziming, Director of the Energy Efficiency and Energy Storage Division, Energy Conservation and Technological Equipment Department, National Energy Administration, pointed out in his speech that since the “14th Five-Year Plan,” new energy storage in China has experienced rapid development. Looking toward the “15th Five-Year Plan,” three key tasks will be emphasized: strengthening top-level design, preparing the “15th Five-Year Plan” implementation scheme for new energy storage, and promoting diverse applications in large-scale renewable energy bases, grid-replacement storage, zero-carbon parks, and green power direct connections; improving market mechanisms for new energy storage participation, accelerating comprehensive participation of energy storage in various market transactions, fully leveraging its multiple functions, and raising utilization levels; and promoting high-quality development of new energy storage, shifting from “competing on price” to “competing on value.” The construction of a new-type power system has rigid demand for new energy storage. Industry peers must strengthen confidence in development and strive to achieve the “three orientations.” Facing the frontiers of science and technology, actively carry out technological innovation in new energy storage; facing system requirements, guide industry development based on new-type power system construction needs; facing market mechanisms, proactively adapt to the development of new energy storage in the power market environment.

Technical Foresight: Academician Outlines Diversified Energy Storage Technology Roadmap

Ouyang Minggao, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Professor at Tsinghua University

Ouyang Minggao, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Professor at Tsinghua University, pointed out in his report that with the rapid rise of the share of renewable energy generation, the power system faces severe challenges, urgently requiring energy storage technologies to address the shortage of flexible resources. He proposed three major directions: Battery Energy Storage System (BESS): Lithium-ion batteries remain mainstream, and breakthroughs in safety are needed under the trend of large capacity and long lifespan. Smart batteries (chip + AI monitoring) and solid-state batteries can achieve breakthroughs, with the goal of reducing the cost of stored electricity to 0.1 RMB/Wh; V2G Energy Storage: The rapid growth of electric vehicles will drive the upgrade of charging modes, developing from disorderly charging to vehicle-to-grid interaction. Electric vehicles can participate in grid peak shaving when parked, realizing “valley charging and peak discharging”; Green Hydrogen Energy Storage: Wind and solar-based hydrogen production enables long-duration storage, with integrated heat recovery raising overall energy efficiency to 80%. Academician Ouyang emphasized that energy storage technology requires cross-disciplinary innovation integrating chemical engineering, electrical engineering, and thermal engineering, to promote multi-energy coupling of renewable energy systems and build a zero-carbon energy system ecosystem.

Power Grid Enterprises: From Large-Scale Construction to Efficient Operation

Wang Lixin, Deputy General Manager of Inner Mongolia Electric Power Group

Wang Lixin, Deputy General Manager of Inner Mongolia Electric Power Group, pointed out in his report “Practical Breakthroughs and Future Prospects of Energy Storage Development in Inner Mongolia” that Inner Mongolia was the first in the country to introduce a ten-year long-term compensation mechanism, pioneering independent energy storage capacity compensation, providing an important guarantee for stable project revenue. In 2024, the power group took the lead in launching the construction of 600 MW of new energy storage in the autonomous region. In 2025, the group continues to advance energy storage construction, starting a new batch of projects to enhance system regulation capacity. Looking forward to the “15th Five-Year Plan,” the group will actively participate in diversified energy storage projects, continue to play the role of the Inner Mongolia Power Industry Innovation Alliance, and remain the main force in energy storage construction, fulfilling its political, social, and economic responsibilities as a state-owned enterprise.

Zheng Yaodong, Honorary Director of the Major Energy Storage and Renewable Energy Research Team, China Southern Power Grid

Zheng Yaodong, Honorary Director of the Major Energy Storage and Renewable Energy Research Team of China Southern Power Grid, emphasized in his report “Innovation Practices in New Energy Storage Technology of China Southern Power Grid” that among the seven grid-side energy storage power stations in operation for more than one year, except for the Baoqing Station used for research purposes, the operating levels of other stations were generally leading, with the highest actual annual operating hours exceeding 3,150 hours. Zheng Yaodong pointed out that operating performance directly affects economic benefits. China Southern Power Grid, upholding its responsibility as a central SOE, attaches great importance to plant operation and value mining. He also called on the industry to focus on revitalizing idle or underperforming plants. New energy storage must identify real demand and value positioning through market competition, and only by adhering to direct profitability can it truly achieve sustainable development.

Authoritative Release: Comprehensive Data and Development Trends of the New Energy Storage Industry

Haisheng Chen, Chairman of the China Energy Storage Alliance

Haisheng Chen, Chairman of the China Energy Storage Alliance, delivered the report “Current Status and Trends of New Energy Storage Industry Development and Release of CNESA DataLink H1 2025 Energy Storage Data.” As of the first half of 2025, China’s cumulative installed capacity of new energy storage reached 101.3 GW, surpassing 100 GW for the first time, which is 32 times that of the end of the “13th Five-Year Plan.” In the first half of 2025, newly commissioned new energy storage reached 23.03 GW/56.12 GWh, with both power and energy scales up 68% year-on-year. Looking forward to the “15th Five-Year Plan,” energy storage will participate more deeply in the power market and upgrade to high-quality development. By 2030, cumulative installed capacity is expected to reach 236.1–291.2 GW. (For report details, see: CNESA Major Release on the 10th Western China Energy Storage Forum)

During the 10th Western China Energy Storage Forum, the first domestic monograph in the field of compressed air energy storage technology, Theories and Applications of Compressed Air Energy Storage, was also released. Published by Science Press and funded by the National Science and Technology Publishing Fund, this book embodies the collective wisdom and twenty years of research achievements of the compressed air energy storage team led by Professor Haisheng Chen.

Enterprise Strategy: Leading Companies Insight into Market Opportunities and Transformation Paths

Wen Yuliang, Deputy General Manager and Chief Engineer, Integrated Energy Division, CRRC Zhuzhou Institute

Wen Yuliang, Deputy General Manager and Chief Engineer of the Integrated Energy Division of CRRC Zhuzhou Institute, pointed out in his report “Energy Storage Value Innovation Driving Energy Transition and Sustainable Development” that value innovation in energy storage mainly focuses on deeply exploring application scenarios and breaking through technological pain points. With technological progress, energy storage applications are no longer limited to the power system but are widely integrated into data centers, metallurgy, mining, off-grid hydrogen production, and many other industries, showing a trend of diversified integration. At the technical level, safety remains the fundamental prerequisite for all innovation. On this basis, efforts should focus on enhancing the economy of energy storage by improving system efficiency and extending system life. Meanwhile, grid-forming energy storage, as a frontier direction of technological innovation, is expected to further penetrate the global energy storage market within the next five years. Finally, he emphasized that intelligent operation and maintenance and battery recycling technologies are key to achieving full life-cycle management of energy storage projects and promoting sustainable industry development.

Si Zheng, Vice President of HyperStrong

Si Zheng, Vice President of HyperStrong, pointed out in her report “New Scenarios, New Opportunities: A New Cycle of High-Quality Development for the Energy Storage Industry” that with the cancellation of mandatory energy storage requirements under “Document No. 136,” the energy storage market will embrace two long-term opportunities: first, as new energy fully enters the market, energy storage, as a regulatory resource, can effectively smooth out grid fluctuations, driving a new round of market demand growth; second, with feed-in tariffs becoming market-driven, renewable energy generation companies will focus more on project operation and management. Energy storage, by enhancing the flexibility and stability of the power system, can help renewable energy projects generate greater returns in the power market and increase the certainty of revenues. In response to policy changes, HyperStrong is also undergoing a strategic transformation, shifting from “R&D + manufacturing” to “R&D + manufacturing + services,” opening up the full chain and developing full scenarios, and providing integrated energy services covering investment, development, construction, operation, and maintenance.

Practical Discussions in Sub-Forums: Seeking Realistic Paths for Market Mechanisms and Business Models

While the opening ceremony and main forum set a high-level tone, the concurrent series of sub-forums and closed-door meetings pushed the atmosphere toward more practical and precise exchanges, comprehensively focusing on key issues of industrialization and marketization of energy storage.

Sub-forums focused on common core topics of the industry: “New Energy Storage and the Power Market” directly addressed difficulties in mechanism building, exploring practices of energy storage market participation and revenue analysis; “Energy Storage Value Innovation and Solutions” focused on advanced energy storage technologies and solutions, exploring value innovation; “Exploration of Western Energy Storage Characteristic Markets” and “Generation-Grid-Load-Storage and Large Desert Base Construction” were closely aligned with western resource endowments, providing solutions for large base project development and intelligent operation.

Special seminars precisely targeted frontier application scenarios: “Zero-Carbon Park Development and Practice” explored green power supply, carbon accounting, and park-level storage dispatch models, responding to rigid demands of industrial low-carbon transition; “New Energy Storage Innovative Technologies and Applications” focused on technological iteration and product reliability, promoting joint efforts of industry, academia, and research; “Data Center Development and Practice” addressed the challenge of green energy use in digital infrastructure, exploring integrated design and operation paths of “energy storage + computing power.”

At the same time, a hydrogen energy sub-forum was held, discussing hydrogen energy applications in power, transportation, and industry; while a closed-door seminar on the economic operation of energy storage projects in Inner Mongolia focused on typical scenarios in the region, analyzing economic feasibility and commercialization paths.

After ten years of deep cultivation, the “Western China Energy Storage Forum” has grown into an important platform promoting coordinated development of new energy and energy storage in western China. This forum precisely analyzed the core challenges in market mechanisms, technical safety, and business models, and through in-depth dialogue among government, industry, academia, research, and application, successfully built consensus on development. These outcomes will strongly promote new energy storage to advance from “policy dependence” to a new stage of “value-driven” high-quality development, contributing solid western strength to China’s construction of a new energy system and realization of the “dual carbon” goals.

China’s First 300,000 m³ Large-Scale Gas Storage Construction Achieves Important Progress!

By | cnenergynews.cn

Recently, it was learned that the excavation of the underground gas storage cavern at the 300MW advanced compressed air energy storage national demonstration power station being built by China National Energy (Beijing) Technology Co., Ltd. in Xinyang, Henan, has been successfully completed by 50%. This marks an important phased progress in the construction of China’s first 300,000 m³ large-scale gas storage.

When it comes to a 300,000 m³ underground gas storage cavern, people may have no concept. But if converted, it is equivalent to the volume of 130 Olympic-standard swimming pools filled with water, and you, like me, will be astonished.

So why build an underground gas storage cavern of such scale, and what does it mean for compressed air energy storage?

It is no exaggeration to say that the underground gas storage cavern plays the role of core infrastructure in compressed air energy storage systems. It determines the amount of gas stored, system efficiency, as well as important factors such as safety and stability. Therefore, it is also one of the key technologies for developing long-duration, large-scale compressed air energy storage, and has long been a focus of the industry.

Xinyang Underground Gas Storage Cavern, 300,000 m³ “Hidden Potential Inside”

The Henan Xinyang 300MW advanced compressed air energy storage national demonstration power station is a national new energy storage pilot demonstration project, and was successfully included in the fourth batch of “First (Set) of Major Technical Equipment in the Energy Field” by the National Energy Administration. Once completed, it is expected to generate 420 million kWh annually, effectively improving the efficiency, economics, and reliability of the local power system. In the field of compressed air energy storage, it has technological pioneering significance and major demonstration value.

The head of the Xinyang project department revealed to reporters, “The underground gas storage cavern of this power station adopts unique designs such as the ‘high-efficiency self-draining system’ and the ‘breakthrough ultra-large tunnel diameter’.”

High-Efficiency Self-Draining System Shows Remarkable Effect

He further explained: “Accumulated water caused by geological conditions in underground gas storage caverns has long been one of the key technical challenges troubling the safety and construction efficiency of compressed air energy storage underground gas storage caverns. This time, the high-efficiency self-draining system, innovatively designed by technical personnel, through rational design of the longitudinal slope of the gas storage cavern and lowering the internal water level, fundamentally solved this technical problem, significantly improved the long-term safety and operational stability of the system, and provided a brand-new solution for the construction of drainage systems in gas storage caverns under complex geological conditions.”

Cost Reduction and Efficiency Improvement, China’s First 15-Meter Ultra-Large Tunnel Diameter Design

Another highlight of the Xinyang project is the domestic breakthrough of adopting a 15-meter ultra-large tunnel diameter design for the first time. This innovative design increased the effective volume of the gas storage cavern to 300,000 cubic meters, expanding the scale by 300% compared with the previous largest design. While ensuring structural stability, it provided sufficient space support for a 300MW large-scale gas storage system, greatly improving unit cavern storage density and engineering economy. With a 50% increase in tunnel diameter, simple calculations show that this alone reduced costs by 200 million RMB, truly achieving the synergy of safety, efficiency, and economy.

Pioneering Horizontal Excavation Perfectly Solves Geological Problems

So what is the difference between horizontal-entry underground gas storage caverns in compressed air energy storage systems and traditional methods, and what are the advantages?

Traditional vertical-entry or inclined-shaft-entry construction has a long construction cycle and high costs, while horizontal-entry construction has relatively lower risks, lower costs compared with vertical shafts, and more convenient transportation during construction.

The technical team, for the first time in the field of compressed air, adopted horizontal-entry technology, which can extend along the strike of rock formations or stable strata, flexibly avoiding faults, and effectively solving adverse geological problems such as water-inrush zones. Compared with vertical shafts, it can more accurately select rock masses with good integrity and high compressive strength as the main cavern body, reducing construction risks caused by deep geological variations (such as soft rock interlayers, high water pressure zones). It also has obvious advantages in terms of environmental impact and economy.

Pingjiang Underground Gas Storage Cavern, the Starting Point of Underground Gas Storage Innovation

The ingenious design of the underground gas storage cavern at the Henan Xinyang 300MW advanced compressed air energy storage national demonstration power station is just a small reflection of China National Energy Technology’s in-depth cultivation of compressed air energy storage technology and engineering applications in recent years.

If we trace back this path of innovative exploration, every project shines like a pearl, strung together into a brilliant chain of underground gas storage caverns for compressed air energy storage by China National Energy Technology, China, and even the world. And to look back at the beginning, we must return to 2018…

In 2018, the founding year of China National Energy Technology, its incubator—the Institute of Engineering Thermophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences—participated in the experimental work of the shallow-buried underground gas storage experimental cavern for compressed air energy storage in Pingjiang, Hunan, together with Central-South Design Institute of Power Construction. This was also the first domestic hard-rock shallow-buried gas storage experimental cavern for compressed air energy storage.

It broke through the limitations of traditional salt-cavern gas storage and provided important technical support for the engineering practice of shallow-buried gas storage caverns in compressed air energy storage, which was also the starting point of China’s underground gas storage cavern development for compressed air energy storage.

Unceasing Exploration, Zhangjiabei International First 100MW Project Achieves New Breakthrough

Soon after the Pingjiang project, starting from 2018, China National Energy Technology and the Institute of Engineering Thermophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, launched relevant research topics and project construction for the Zhangjiakou, Hebei, International first 100MW advanced compressed air energy storage national demonstration power station. Among them, the underground gas storage cavern construction was the world’s first underground artificial cavern for a 100MW-level compressed air energy storage system, and also the world’s first 100,000 m³ underground gas storage cavern.

The Zhangjiabei project is a milestone for the world’s new-type compressed air energy storage entering the 100MW-level engineering stage. It greatly advanced the industrialization and engineering application of new compressed air energy storage, adding another powerful tool for long-duration, large-scale energy storage. The power station construction received support from major projects such as the National Renewable Energy Demonstration Zone of the National Development and Reform Commission, and was included in the First (Set) of Major Technical Equipment in the National Energy Field and typical cases of green and low-carbon technology in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, with extraordinary significance.

Multiple Technical Measures to Solve Complex Geological Problems of Weak Interlayers

By adopting underground artificial caverns, the siting of compressed air energy storage becomes more flexible and can better coordinate with wind and solar power bases. However, China’s vast territory and complex geological conditions also bring various challenges to underground gas storage cavern excavation.

The basalt at the Zhangjiabei project site contains complex geology with weak interlayers, including fractured zones and densely jointed zones, which posed great challenges to construction safety and gas storage cavern stability. Technical personnel creatively adopted systematic anchor-shotcrete support, advanced anchor rods, and other measures to solve the rock mass issues, while also using advanced geological prediction and concrete replacement technologies to improve excavation safety and the stability of surrounding rock under long-term high-pressure air cycling loads. These efforts provided valuable first-hand data for constructing underground gas storage caverns for compressed air energy storage under complex geological conditions.

Unique Sealing Layer Technology Ensures Safe and Efficient Operation

For the first time at the Zhangjiabei project gas storage cavern, China National Energy Technology adopted high-strength steel, effectively solving the problems of safe and stable operation and sealing of the cavern under high air pressure during operation. At the same time, it addressed the external water pressure caused by higher water heads during operation and maintenance periods, strongly ensuring the safe and efficient operation of the underground gas storage cavern under complex geological conditions.

Tailored Drainage Technology Solutions

Just as the weather cannot be accurately predicted, geological conditions are also difficult to fully understand through preliminary surveys. In solving geological seepage and leakage problems, technical personnel, through practice, designed and summarized a professional anti-seepage and drainage solution. This scheme follows the principle of “block first, then drain; combining blocking and draining,” addressing the impact of groundwater on construction safety.

Breaking Through Soft Rock Limitations, Consolidating the Demonstration Role of the Zhongning Underground Gas Storage Cavern

In October 2023, the Datang Zhongning 100MW advanced compressed air energy storage national demonstration power station began construction. It is a project supported by the special fund of the National Development and Reform Commission and has demonstration and leading roles in scientific research innovation, equipment manufacturing, and engineering construction. Once completed, it is expected to generate 120 million kWh annually, providing important support for Ningxia to build a national new energy comprehensive demonstration zone.

Building the First Domestic Fully Artificial Cavern Underground Gas Storage in Soft Rock

Northwest China is the concentration area of the country’s wind and solar energy. The “West-to-East Power Transmission” is a major national energy strategy. Therefore, long-duration large-scale energy storage in the western region has become a focus of industry attention. Overcoming the limitations of soft rock geology in the western region can greatly unleash the potential of new-type compressed air energy storage in long-duration large-scale energy storage, which has great significance for both the industry and national strategic development.

Traditional gas storage cavern construction mostly chooses special geology such as salt rock or hard rock, which severely restricts the siting range of energy storage power stations. Through multiple innovative designs, the Datang Zhongning project overcame this severe limitation on the applicability of compressed air energy storage and built the first fully artificial cavern underground gas storage in soft rock strata in China.

First Domestic Ring-Shaped Gas Storage Cavern Structural Design

In the Zhongning project, technical personnel for the first time innovatively adopted a ring-shaped underground cavern structure. Through a closed-loop design, the surrounding rock stress distribution efficiency was significantly improved, achieving a technical breakthrough of stably constructing large-volume gas storage space in soft rock, greatly improving the utilization rate of underground space. This provided more possibilities for flexible siting of energy storage power stations in regions with soft rock distribution in China.

Unique Entry and Sealing Designs

In the Datang Zhongning project, technical personnel changed the traditional vertical shaft entry method, cleverly combining vertical and inclined shafts, effectively improving construction efficiency, making ventilation and drainage more convenient, while reducing interference in processes such as muck removal and steel lining assembly, thereby improving construction efficiency and results.

In terms of sealing layer design, considering the deformation-prone characteristics of soft rock strata, researchers adopted a composite design: using flexible materials to cope with deformation problems while also using rigid materials to provide stable support, ensuring the safe storage of high-pressure air at a depth of 150 meters, as well as the system’s sealing and safety.

First Multi-Ring Array Design, Yanshan Project Construction Further Upgraded

The Jiangxi Yanshan 300MW advanced compressed air energy storage national demonstration power station is a key national project in new energy storage and the energy field, included in the “New Energy Storage Pilot Demonstration Project List” and the fourth batch of “First (Set) of Major Technical Equipment in the Energy Field.”

From Single-Ring to Multi-Ring, Releasing Infinite Possibilities for Compressed Air Energy Storage

Building upon the “ring array” design of the underground gas storage cavern in the Datang Zhongning project, the Jiangxi Yanshan project achieved new breakthroughs and upgrades, for the first time adopting a “multi-ring array” design.

While ensuring the stability of the gas storage cavern, this design allows multiple gas storage caverns to operate independently, with flexible staged commissioning, calmly coping with various complex geological conditions. At the same time, it improves project construction and operation efficiency, providing sufficient technical support for the application of compressed air energy storage in more complex and diverse geological conditions.

First Application of Digital Twin Technology in Compressed Air Energy Storage Underground Gas Storage Caverns

Driven by the growing demand for “digital-intelligent” management of compressed air energy storage power stations, in 2024, China National Energy Technology took the lead in applying a “large-scale energy storage and monitoring automated management system design” in domestic compressed air energy storage underground gas storage caverns, in order to enhance management refinement and intelligence, and continuously improve the management level of power stations.

Multiple Major Projects Forge Strong Underground Gas Storage Cavern Construction Capability

We can see that from its establishment in 2018, China National Energy Technology has walked alongside the country’s first shallow-buried underground gas storage experimental cavern for compressed air energy storage—the Pingjiang storage cavern.

After continuous optimization through multiple advanced compressed air energy storage power stations, including Zhangjiabei 100MW, Datang Zhongning 100MW, Henan Xinyang 300MW, and Jiangxi Yanshan 300MW, China National Energy Technology has summarized a complete set of solutions for large-scale underground gas storage caverns under different regional and geological conditions. Beyond its outstanding advantages in compressed air energy storage system R&D, core equipment manufacturing, and system integration, it has also mastered the core competitiveness of underground gas storage caverns, laying a solid foundation for continuously growing stronger in the compressed air energy storage industry in the future.

Innovation Never Stops. China National Energy Technology General Manager Ji Lü stated to reporters that compressed air energy storage is a systematic project, and every part requires meticulous polishing and continuous iteration and upgrading. In the future, the company will continue to strengthen research investment in underground gas storage caverns, actively participate in the formulation of national and industry standards, and provide valuable technical and engineering services for compressed air energy storage and other related fields.

CNESA Major Release on the 10th Western China Energy Storage Forum

On August 19, 2025, the 10th Western China Energy Storage Forum grandly opened in Hohhot, Inner Mongolia. This forum was hosted by the China Energy Research Society, China Energy Storage Alliance, New Energy Storage Innovation Consortium of Centra SOEs, Inner Mongolia Energy Storage Promotion Association, and Hohhot Industrial Innovation Research Institute, and co-hosted by CRRC Zhuzhou Institute, HyperStrong, and Kehua Digital Energy Tech Co., Ltd. Haisheng Chen, Chairman of China Energy Storage Alliance and Director of the Institute of Engineering Thermophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, delivered a keynote report entitled "Current Status and Trends of New Energy Storage Industry Development," and released data on the energy storage industry for the first half of 2025.

Haisheng Chen, Chairman of China Energy Storage Alliance and Director of the Institute of Engineering Thermophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences

1. Scale of New Energy Storage Projects

Cumulative Power Storage Installed Capacity Reaches 164.3GW, Share of Pumped Storage Falls Below 40% for the First Time
According to incomplete statistics from the CNESA DataLink Global Energy Storage Database, as of the end of June 2025, China's cumulative installed capacity of power storage reached 164.3GW, a year-on-year increase of 59%. This year marks the final year of the "14th Five-Year Plan." Compared with the end of the "13th Five-Year Plan," significant changes have occurred in the structure of storage technology routes. The share of pumped storage has fallen below 40% for the first time, while new energy storage represented by lithium-ion batteries has achieved leapfrog growth. In addition, single-technology routes are accelerating toward diversification.

Figure 1: Distribution of Cumulative Installed Capacity of Power Storage in China (Unit: GW%)

Cumulative Installed Capacity of New Energy Storage Surpasses 100GW for the First Time
As of the first half of 2025, China’s cumulative installed capacity of new energy storage reached 101.3GW, a year-on-year increase of 110%, surpassing 100GW for the first time. The cumulative installed capacity is 32 times that at the end of the "13th Five-Year Plan."

Figure 2: Cumulative Installed Capacity of New Energy Storage in China (Unit: GW)

New Energy Storage Added 23.03GW/56.12GWh
In the first half of 2025, newly commissioned new energy storage projects reached 23.03GW/56.12GWh, with both power and energy scales increasing 68% year-on-year. Due to policy adjustments, project grid-connection timelines shifted earlier to "5·31." In May, new installations hit a record monthly high of 10.25GW/26.03GWh, a year-on-year increase of 462%/527%.

Figure 3: Comparison of Monthly New Installations of New Energy Storage in China (2023-2025.H1, Unit: MW)

2. Shipment Situation of Chinese Energy Storage Companies in H1 2025
At the same time, Chairman Haisheng Chen also released the shipment data of Chinese energy storage technology providers and energy storage system integrators in the first half of 2025. CATL, CRRC Zhuzhou Institute, and Sungrow ranked at the top. The specific shipment situation is as follows:

2025.H1 Shipment of Energy Storage Batteries in the Global Market by Chinese Technology Providers
According to incomplete statistics from the CNESA DataLink Global Energy Storage Database, in the first half of 2025, shipments of energy storage batteries (excluding base station and data center cells) from Chinese companies to the global market reached 233.6GWh. Based on shipment volumes ≥50GWh, 20GWh≤shipment<50GWh, 10GWh≤shipment<20GWh, and shipment<10GWh, the shortlisted companies are shown in the figure below.

CATL still firmly holds the top position, while second-tier companies are rapidly narrowing the gap.

Figure 4: Shipment Volume of Energy Storage Batteries in the Global Market by Chinese Technology Providers in H1 2025 (Unit: GWh)

Note: (Companies within each range are listed in order of the initials of their short names in Pinyin.)
Statistical scope: Global shipment volume of energy storage cells (excluding base station and data center cells) independently produced by enterprises in H1 2025. Shipment volume is based on cells that have left the factory and been delivered to customers or project sites.

2025.H1 Top 10 Energy Storage System Integrators in the Chinese Domestic Market by Shipment Volume
In the first half of 2025, the Top 10 Chinese companies in terms of energy storage system shipments in the domestic market were, in order: CRRC Zhuzhou Institute, HyperStrong, Envision Energy, Sungrow, SCETL, XYZ Storage, ROBESTEC, XJ Electric, Goldwind, and ZTT.

Figure 5: Top 10 Energy Storage System Integrators in the Chinese Domestic Market by Shipment Volume in H1 2025 (Unit: GWh)

Note: Energy storage system specifically refers to an AC-side system composed of an energy storage battery DC system, converter and boosting system, EMS, and related auxiliary equipment.

2025.H1 Top 10 Energy Storage System Integrators in the Global Market by Shipment Volume
In the first half of 2025, the Top 10 Chinese companies in terms of energy storage system shipments in the global market were, in order: Sungrow, CRRC Zhuzhou Institute, HyperStrong, Envision Energy, SCETL, XYZ Storage, ROBESTEC, Sunwoda Energy, CSI Solar, and Trina Storage.

Figure 6: Top 10 Energy Storage System Integrators in the Global Market by Shipment Volume in H1 2025 (Unit: GWh)

Note: Energy storage system specifically refers to an AC-side system composed of an energy storage battery DC system, converter and boosting system, EMS, and related auxiliary equipment.

3. New Energy Storage Tendering and Bidding Market

Scale of New Energy Storage Tenders and Bids
According to incomplete statistics from the CNESA DataLink Global Energy Storage Database, in the first half of 2025, China’s new energy storage tender and bid market grew significantly, especially the bidding scale of energy storage systems, reaching 86.2GWh, a year-on-year increase of 264%. The main reason was the surge in centralized procurement/framework procurement bidding scale, which increased 618% year-on-year. Several large-scale centralized/framework procurements announced bid results in the first half of this year, accounting for 69% of the total energy storage system bidding market, up 33% from the same period last year.

Figure 7: Distribution of Tender and Bid Scale in H1 2025 (excluding centralized/framework procurements, Unit: GWh)

Centralized/Framework Procurement Bidding Scale of Energy Storage Systems
In terms of centralized/framework procurement of energy storage systems, both tendering scale and bidding scale achieved substantial growth in the first half of 2025 compared with the same period last year. Tendering scale increased by 176% year-on-year, and bidding scale increased by 606%. Among tendering entities, China Energy Engineering Corporation ranked first with a tendering scale of 25GWh, followed by SPIC and China Huadian. Among winning enterprises, HyperStrong, CRRC Zhuzhou Institute, and BYD ranked top three in terms of the number of winning bid sections.

Figure 8: Distribution of Tendering Entities with Over 1GWh in Centralized/Framework Procurement in H1 2025 (Unit: GWh)

Figure 9: Distribution of Enterprises with Four or More Winning Bid Sections in Centralized/Framework Procurement in H1 2025 (Unit: Sections)

Note: Lithium iron phosphate energy storage systems (including grid-forming type), excluding centralized/framework procurements and user-side applications.

4. Market Outlook for New Energy Storage

Looking ahead to the "15th Five-Year Plan," new energy storage will be driven by the market. Combining its green value, it will continuously expand new application scenarios, innovate business models, and promote the industry’s upgrade toward high-quality development.
First, market participation progress will accelerate. The market-oriented development of energy storage has become inevitable. Facing different needs across regional markets in the future, more innovative business models will emerge.
Second, scientific planning and coordination will gradually be achieved. Energy storage will be more closely coupled with the construction of new power systems and achieve diversified applications in zero-carbon parks, green power direct connections, and other fields, expanding new business models.
Third, the construction of capacity mechanisms will accelerate. The role of new energy storage capacity is emerging. Reasonable evaluation of the capacity value and conversion methods of new energy storage, and its coordinated development with pumped storage and thermal power as regulation resources, will be the research focus.
Fourth, the market will drive industrial upgrading. China’s new energy storage business models have already shifted. Energy storage products with high technical performance, strong safety assurance, and reasonable costs will be more competitive in the market and will also promote the industry’s continuous upgrade toward high-quality development.
Looking to the future, CNESA forecasts that by 2030, China’s cumulative installed capacity of new energy storage will reach 236.1GW in a conservative scenario and exceed 291GW in an ideal scenario, with a compound annual growth rate of over 20% in the next five years. With the expansion of new scenarios such as desert-Gobi-wasteland large bases, zero-carbon parks, and virtual power plants, as well as collaborative innovation in materials, structures, and intelligent technologies, new energy storage will play a more central role in ensuring power security and achieving the "dual carbon" goals.

Figure 10: Forecast of Cumulative Installed Capacity of New Energy Storage in China (2025-2030)

Statera Energy Launches UK’s Largest Battery Storage Site at Thurrock

Statera Energy has brought online the country’s largest battery energy storage system, marking a major step in Britain’s clean energy transition. The 300-megawatt Thurrock Storage facility, located just north of the former Tilbury coal station, is now delivering power to the grid, according to the company’s announcement on August 18. The site can supply up to 680,000 homes with instant electricity for two hours, providing 600 megawatt-hours of output within seconds. Positioned close to London, Thurrock Storage is designed to boost the resilience of the national grid by responding rapidly to fluctuating supply and demand, helping secure energy stability at critical times. Statera said the project represents a transformation of the site’s industrial legacy into infrastructure that supports the UK’s low-carbon future.

Image: Statera Energy

The company noted that the battery system is paired with Thurrock Flexible Generation, a 450MW plant that can provide backup during longer dips in renewable output. Together, the projects form part of Statera’s wider growth strategy: the firm currently has more than 2.1GW of UK projects built or under construction and a further 16GW in the pipeline. Statera reported that it has already committed £1 billion in investment, with plans to reach £7 billion by 2030. Beyond its grid role, the new facility is expected to generate local job opportunities, including apprenticeships focused on operations and maintenance. National Grid Electricity Transmission confirmed its role in successfully connecting the site, emphasizing the importance of large-scale storage in balancing renewable generation.

According to Statera, Thurrock Storage’s launch underlines the need for robust battery capacity to ensure that renewable energy is both reliable and flexible. While details on future expansion were not provided, officials pointed to the site’s contribution as a critical milestone in the UK’s transition to a more resilient, sustainable energy system.

Harmony Energy Powers Up France’s Largest Battery Storage Project

Harmony Energy has brought online France’s largest battery energy storage system (BESS), marking a significant step in the country’s energy transition. The 100MW/200MWh Cheviré project, located at the port of Nantes Saint-Nazaire Harbour, is the first large-scale, two-hour duration BESS in France, according to the developer. Built on the site of the former Cheviré fossil fuel power station, which operated between 1954 and 1986, the project replaces a legacy of coal, oil, and gas with a facility designed to stabilise the grid and integrate more renewable power. Using Tesla’s Megapack and Autobidder technologies, the system will provide balancing services to support the shift away from fossil-fuel peaking plants. Harmony also highlighted biodiversity and community benefits, including a fund dedicated to local social and environmental initiatives.

The energisation comes as Harmony broadens its international footprint beyond the UK, where it developed some of Europe’s largest operational BESS projects. The company previously served as investment adviser to the Harmony Energy Income Trust (HEIT), a London-listed fund that held a large UK battery portfolio. With revenues in the UK market under pressure, Harmony has focused on projects across France, Germany, and Poland. Speaking at the Energy Storage Summit in London last year, its chief investment officer described a ready-to-build pipeline in these markets. Meanwhile, HEIT itself underwent a major change in ownership. In July, energy investment firm Foresight Group acquired the trust through its Foresight Energy Infrastructure Partners II fund, taking a 49% stake directly and securing the remaining 51% via its portfolio company Blackmead Infrastructure Limited, according to Solar Power Portal reporting.

The Cheviré project reflects both France’s growing storage ambitions and the broader reshaping of Europe’s battery investment landscape.