Latest News
World’s Largest Liquid Air Energy Storage Project Connects to Grid in China
A 60 MW liquid air energy storage (LAES) demonstration project developed by China Green Development Investment Group connected to the grid and began generating electricity in Golmud, Qinghai Province, on October 30, 2026.
Described as the world’s largest LAES project, the installation marks a milestone in scaling up the technology and developing a domestic supply chain for long-duration energy storage in China.
The project is part of the National Energy Administration’s new energy storage pilot demonstration program and has been designated a first-of-its-kind major technical equipment project in the energy sector.
World’s Largest Liquid Air Energy Storage Project Connects to Grid in China
Cryogenic Storage Using Air
The system uses a cryogenic liquefaction process operating at approximately −194°C, with air serving as the working medium. Energy is stored by liquefying air and holding it in insulated tanks at atmospheric pressure, then recovered through a power generation process.
Unlike storage technologies that require specific geological formations, LAES offers flexibility in site selection. Its potential for large-scale deployment, long storage durations and long equipment lifetimes makes it a promising option for integrating variable renewable generation.
The Golmud project is designed to store electricity during off-peak periods and deliver it during peak demand, helping address fluctuations in wind and solar output and improve local renewable energy utilization.
Domestic Equipment and Integrated Controls
According to the project announcement, the installation incorporates independently developed intellectual property and uses entirely domestically manufactured equipment. Its power rating and energy storage capacity are reported to be the largest in the global LAES sector.
Development involved collaboration across the supply chain to deliver key equipment, including large centrifugal compressors and liquid expanders. An air purification system removes moisture, carbon dioxide and other impurities to support reliable operation of the cryogenic process.
The plant also integrates compressor and expander controls, process controls, safety instrumentation and gas detection systems. These systems coordinate the compression, liquefaction, storage and power generation stages, while managing interactions between cooling, heating, electricity and air flows.
Advancing Long-Duration Energy Storage
Grid connection represents an important step in moving LAES from smaller demonstration systems toward utility-scale deployment.
The project is expected to provide practical experience for future installations, support the development of China’s long-duration energy storage supply chain, and help integrate higher shares of renewable electricity into the power system.
Source: Project information published by the Golmud Municipal Government.
China’s Highest-Power Single Flywheel Enters Operation at Huaneng’s Lanzhou Plant
A flywheel energy storage project featuring what is reported to be China’s highest-power individual flywheel entered grid-connected operation at Huaneng’s Lanzhou thermal power plant on November 6, 2026. The project uses a dual-flywheel configuration to improve the generating unit’s frequency regulation performance and support grid stability in northwestern China.
The system combines a 5 MW high-power flywheel with a 0.5 MW inertia flywheel. The two units provide complementary, tiered responses: the larger flywheel addresses significant grid frequency deviations, while the smaller unit manages routine, lower-amplitude fluctuations.
According to the report, the thermal generating unit equipped with the dual-flywheel system can respond to grid frequency regulation requests in less than 100 milliseconds, with regulation accuracy exceeding 99.5%.
A 5 MW Flywheel for Fast Frequency Regulation
The flywheel energy storage project at Huaneng’s Lanzhou thermal power plant. Photo: China Huaneng.
The 5 MW flywheel is reported to have the highest power rating of any individual flywheel currently operating in China. Its reported specifications include a power ramp rate of 5 MW per second, an energy storage capacity of 1,250 kWh, charge-discharge efficiency above 85%, and a cycle life of up to 10 million cycles.
Flywheel energy storage stores electricity as rotational kinetic energy in a high-speed rotor. During charging, electricity accelerates the rotor; during discharge, the stored kinetic energy is converted back into electricity. Rapid charging and discharging make the technology suitable for applications requiring fast, frequent power adjustments.
Supporting Grid Stability in Northwestern China
The project was led by Huaneng’s Gansu subsidiary, with technology research and development undertaken by Xi’an Thermal Power Research Institute.
The installation is expected to strengthen the plant’s frequency regulation response and improve the regional grid’s ability to withstand disturbances, supporting the safe and stable operation of the power system in northwestern China.
Source: Science and Technology Daily, November 6, 2026. Adapted from the original Chinese report.
Photo credit: China Huaneng.
Energy Storage Leaders Converge in Xiamen: Executives from Ten Industry Giants Share Insights at the 2025 China Energy Storage CEO Summit
Source: CNESA
On December 4, 2025, the “2025 China Energy Storage CEO Summit & the 10th International Energy Storage Innovation Competition - Preliminary Round,” hosted by the China Energy Storage Alliance (CNESA) and co-hosted by Xiamen University, Kehua Digital Energy, and Cornex New Energy, was successfully held in Xiamen.
The summit brought together top leaders from the most influential companies in the energy storage sector - Kehua Data, Envision Energy, Cornex New Energy, Shuangdeng Group, XYZ Storage, Trina Storage, HyperStrong, Potisegde, and Phoenix Contact. Chairmen, presidents, and key executives gathered to explore breakthroughs in energy storage technology, global strategies, and the construction of a robust industrial ecosystem. Their insights not only represent the direction of their companies but also reflect the core trajectory and future momentum of China's energy storage industry.
Chen Chenghui
Chairman, Kehua Data
“Charting the course forward means not only seizing opportunities but anchoring growth in technological innovation and safeguarding it through coordinated standards. Going fast alone is not enough - only through openness, cooperation, and ecosystem-wide collaboration can we enhance the quality and sustainability of global energy transition.”
Tian Qingjun
Senior Vice President, Envision; President, Envision Energy
“Chinese energy storage enterprises are born global. Going overseas has shifted from being an option to a matter of survival. In the face of inevitable globalization and its risks, the industry must evolve from simply going out to truly integrating in. Deep local operations and international talent development are key to long-term presence. At the same time, companies should foster competitive collaboration across the value chain, avoid vicious price wars, and win global respect through long-term value and quality.”
Huang Feng
President, Cornex New Energy
“We respect technology, respect safety, and respect quality - technology is the key to improve performance and cost challenges, and quality is the foundation of market confidence. In a race defined by both speed and endurance, only continuous innovation and customer alignment can lead to shared value.”
Cui Jian
President, Kehua Digital Energy
“Grid-forming technology has become a fundamental necessity for energy storage. In the future, PCS will no longer distinguish between ‘grid-following’ and ‘grid-forming’; the technologies will converge. Through deep technical refinement and intelligent upgrades, we will support the stable operation of new power systems and enable diverse value creation.”
Yang Rui
Chairman, Shuangdeng Group
“Energy storage companies must be ‘born global’ and capable of ‘deep globalization’. In certain high-certainty tracks such as AIDC, the real challenge lies in whether an organization can truly capture and sustain explosive market opportunities. By prioritizing talent and building a ‘carrier-class architecture’, we aim to lead with products and efficiency, establishing a resilient moat for long-term survival in fast-paced cycles.”
Lian Zhanwei
Chairman, XYZ Storage
“Safety is the lifeline of the energy storage industry. Innovative technologies such as immersion liquid cooling represent proactive breakthroughs for high-safety application scenarios. We look forward to working with the industry to advance energy storage toward higher safety, efficiency, and reliability.”
Yang Bao
President, Trina Storage
“Global experience in solar has paved the way for storage going overseas. With global networks and localized teams, we are accelerating the deep integration of solar and storage, enabling technology and markets to evolve together, and delivering value across regions and cultures in the global energy transition.”
Yang Guang
Chief Technology Officer, HyperStrong
“Strong partnerships and complementary strengths are vital to ensuring stable industrial delivery. Facing diverse global application scenarios, we are advancing platform-based products and AI-driven strategies to deeply integrate ‘Energy Storage + X’ and provide customized solutions for different markets.”
Richard Wan
Vice President of Technology, Potisegde
“Full-stack independent development is the foundation of quality, and global-localized delivery is the guarantee of stability. We adopt EV-grade standards for energy storage and build a closed-loop technology chain with intelligent manufacturing, reinforcing safety and efficiency amid intensifying competition.”
Zhu Wei
Senior Vice President, Phoenix Contact China
“Rooted in China, serving the world. We combine a century of electrical engineering experience with local R&D and manufacturing, providing secure and efficient system-level support for complex, multi-scenario energy storage applications through advanced connectivity and industrial automation technologies.”
As a key prelude to the 14th Energy Storage International Conference and Expo (ESIE 2026), the 2025 China Energy Storage CEO Summit served not only as a platform for high-level intellectual exchange but also as a catalyst for deeper industry collaboration. Leading companies including Kehua Digital Energy, Envision Energy, Cornex New Energy, Shuangdeng Group, XYZ Storage, Trina Storage, HyperStrong, Potisegde, and Phoenix Contact have confirmed participation in ESIE 2026 and will showcase their latest technologies and solutions at this global energy storage event.
We sincerely invite industry colleagues to join us next year as we work together to advance the energy storage industry toward higher quality and greater sustainability.
CENSA Upcoming Events:
Apr. 1-3, 2026 | The 14th Energy Storage International Conference & Expo
Register Now to attend, free before Dec 31, 2025.
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