China advances energy storage with CO2 plant and lithium-sodium pilot

Significant advancements in energy storage technologies have been reported in China. China Huadian has successfully connected its first 100 MW/1,000 MWh compressed CO2 energy storage plant to the grid in Xinjiang. This long-duration facility is designed to provide 10 hours of storage and is expected to generate 200 GWh annually to support renewable energy integration.

In Hebei province, a new pilot project in Renqiu is testing a dual-technology approach using both lithium-ion and sodium-ion batteries. The project utilizes Envision Group’s 790Ah large-format cells. This implementation aims to optimize system complexity and reduce costs by minimizing connection points and infrastructure requirements, aligning with new capacity pricing mechanisms that reward long-duration discharge and grid stability.