Record-Breaking Compressed Air Energy Storage

China continues to lead the global deployment of large-scale physical energy storage. The Huaneng Jintan 2×350 MW salt cavern compressed air energy storage project, recognized as the world's largest of its kind, recently completed the full startup of its two main units. This milestone comprehensively verified the operational stability of the equipment. Similarly, the Hubei Yingcheng 300 MW compressed air energy storage station, the world's first of its kind, achieved a new record for single-cycle power generation during the summer peak demand, discharging 1.605 million kWh in a single cycle.

Innovations in Underground Storage

Underground storage infrastructure is also seeing technological breakthroughs. The Jiuquan 300 MW-class compressed air energy storage project in Gansu province successfully completed the first phase of gas injection into its underground No. 4 storage cavern. The pressure reached 12.63 MPa, setting a new world record for the highest pressure in an artificial cavern storage facility with the largest cross-section and highest volume for compressed air energy storage.

Advancements in CO2 Storage Systems

Beyond compressed air, China is making significant strides in carbon dioxide-based storage. The Xinjiang Huadian Mulei 100 MW CO2 energy storage project successfully completed the first turbine roll-out. The entire equipment operated smoothly, with all parameters of the energy storage and release systems functioning normally. This success lays a solid foundation for the subsequent generator grid connection and commercial operation, showcasing the viability of CO2 as a high-efficiency working fluid for long-duration storage.

Implications for the Grid

These technological milestones demonstrate China's rapid scaling of non-lithium LDES technologies. By diversifying the storage mix with advanced physical storage solutions, the grid can achieve the deep flexibility required to integrate massive amounts of wind and solar power while maintaining strict reliability standards.

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