China energy storage building 29

How big is China's energy storage capacity?

Overall capacity in the new-type energy storage sector reached 31.39 gigawatts (GW) by the end of 2023, representing a year-on-year increase of more than 260 per cent and almost 10 times the capacity in 2020, China’s National Energy Administration (NEA) said in a press conference on Friday.

How much does energy storage cost in China?

New energy storage also faces high electricity costs, making these storage systems commercially unviable without subsidies. China’s winning bid price for lithium iron phosphate energy storage in 2022 was largely in the range of USD 0.17-0.24 per watt-hour (Wh).

How has China's energy storage sector benefited from new technologies?

China’s energy storage sector nearly quadrupled its capacity from new technologies such as lithium-ion batteries over the past year, after attracting more than 100 billion yuan (US$13.9 billion) in direct investment over the past couple of years.

What is China's energy storage strategy?

Localities have reiterated the central government’s goal of developing an integrated format of “new energy + storage” (such as “solar + storage”), with a required energy storage allocation rate of between 10% and 20%. China has created an energy storage ecosystem with players throughout the supply chain.

Is energy storage a 'new driving force' for China's Economic Development?

Total investment in building energy storage projects has exceeded 100 billion yuan since 2021, making the sector a “new driving force” for China’s economic development, said Bian Guangqi, an NEA official.

Does China have pumped hydro energy storage?

However, pumped hydro energy storage—which relies on storing water behind dams to generate electricity when needed—is not included. In 2022, China’s cumulative installed NTESS capacity exceeded 13.1 GW, with lithium-ion batteries accounting for 94% (equivalent to 28.7% of total global capacity).