China Advances Compressed Air Energy Storage with Major Milestones

China’s compressed air energy storage (CAES) sector is experiencing rapid technological and developmental momentum. A standout achievement is the successful performance testing of the world’s first 10MW-level multi-source heat storage CAES demonstration power plant, developed by the Three Gorges Group. This milestone confirms the facility's comprehensive capability for long-duration, large-capacity energy storage, setting a new benchmark for the technology.

Large-Scale CAES Projects Progress Across China

Alongside technological breakthroughs, massive infrastructure projects are advancing steadily. The PowerChina Feicheng 2x300MW salt cavern CAES project, constructed by China Power Engineering Corporation, is seeing orderly progress in its construction tasks for Unit 1. This project utilizes underground salt caverns to store compressed air, offering a highly efficient and scalable solution for grid-level energy management.

In Hubei Province, the Huanggang 100MW/600MWh novel CAES project has officially completed its regulatory filing. The project features a supporting 80,000-cubic-meter underground gas storage solution, demonstrating the successful integration of geological storage capabilities with power generation infrastructure.

Expanding the CAES Pipeline

Further expanding the region's storage capacity, the Yingcheng 350MW/2100MWh novel CAES project in Xiaogan City, Hubei Province, has also secured its filing. Invested and constructed by Xiaogan Sai'e Energy Storage Technology Co., Ltd., the massive project is scheduled to commence construction in June 2028. With a duration of six hours, it will provide substantial long-duration balancing services to the local grid.

These concurrent developments highlight China's aggressive strategy to diversify its long-duration energy storage portfolio beyond electrochemical batteries. By leveraging unique geological formations for CAES, the country is building a robust foundation for high-proportion renewable energy integration, ensuring grid stability during extended periods of low wind and solar generation.

This article was assisted by AI analysis. Please refer to the original source for official information.