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China Energy Storage Alliance 11/8/26 China Energy Storage Alliance 11/8/26

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.

Wendy 11/30/25 Wendy 11/30/25

73 Billion Yuan Investment! 4.8 GWh of Energy Storage! SPIC Launches 19.44 GW “Desert-Gobi-Wasteland” Mega Project

Source: CCTV News

On November 27, according to the State Power Investment Corporation (SPIC), construction has officially begun in Xining, Qinghai Province on China's largest power supply project with the highest share of new energy - the Qinghai Hainan Clean Energy Delivery Base Project, part of the national “Desert-Gobi-Wasteland” mega base initiative.

“Desert-Gobi-Wasteland” refers to vast desert and semi-arid regions, which are rich in wind and solar resources. The project in Qinghai's Hainan Prefecture represents a total investment of nearly 73 billion yuan, with a planned installed capacity of 19.44 GW. New energy accounts for 86.4% of the total, including 9.6 GW of solar PV, 6 GW of wind power, 2.64 GW of supporting coal-fired power, and 1.2 GW/4-hour of electrochemical energy storage (4.8 GWh). The project will transmit electricity directly to Guangdong via a ±800 kV ultra-high-voltage DC transmission line with a capacity of 8 GW.

Once completed, the project will generate an average of 36,000 GWh of electricity annually, equivalent to saving about 10 million tons of standard coal and reducing carbon emissions by roughly 23.5 million tons. It will deliver 36,000 GWh of power annually to the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, playing a major strategic role in optimizing China's energy mix and supporting high-quality development in the eastern region.

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