Why is energy storage important in China?

Experts said developing energy storage is an important step in China's transition from fossil fuels to a renewable energy mix, while mitigating the impact of new energy's randomness, volatility, intermittence on the grid and managing power supply and demand.

Where does China's storage capacity come from?

The majority of China’s storage capacity comes from large-scale storage projects, such as hydropower with reservoirs on the Yangtze River and gigawatt-level battery energy storage systems in Inner Mongolia. Arial view of the Three Gorges Dam in Hubei province, China. Credit: Sipa US / Alamy Stock Photo

How big is China's energy storage capacity?

The cumulative installed capacity of new energy storage in China is expected to exceed 100 gigawatts (GW) by 2025, according to the Energy Storage Industry Research White Paper 2025 released by the Institute of Engineering Thermophysics on 10 April. The capacity is likely to surpass 200GW by 2030, more than double the 2024 level of 73.76GW.

How does China promote battery storage?

To promote battery storage, China has implemented a number of policies, most notably the gradual rollout since 2017 of the “mandatory allocation of energy storage” policy (强制配储政策), which is also known as the “ new energy plus storage ” model (新能源+储能).

What is China doing with new energy storage?

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.

Will energy storage support solar and wind plants in China?

At least 10 regions in China have ordered renewable power developers to install energy storage as supporting facilities of the solar and wind plants.