VRFB Mega-Projects Reshape China's LDES Landscape
The year 2026 marks a pivotal era for long-duration energy storage (LDES) in China, with vanadium redox flow batteries (VRFB) reaching large-scale commercialization. Driven by the 15th Five-Year Plan target of 300 GW of new energy storage by 2030, VRFB technology is dominating the sector, accounting for an impressive 96.4% of new LDES installations in 2025.
Gigawatt-Scale Deployments in Yunnan
Yunnan province has emerged as a hotspot for VRFB development, landing 11 projects at the 100-megawatt scale. A standout example is the Yongren County 300 MW / 1200 MWh VRFB power station, jointly developed by Polyflow Energy and Jinjiang Energy Group. Launched in early 2025, this project will become the world's largest VRFB facility upon completion. Furthermore, Polyflow Energy recently secured a bid for the China Southern Power Grid's 95 MW / 380 MWh VRFB project in Lijiang, solidifying its position in the core supply chain.
Cost Reductions and Innovative Financing
The commercial viability of VRFB is being bolstered by significant cost reductions. System bidding prices have fallen below 2 RMB/Wh and are projected to dip to 1.7-1.9 RMB/Wh in 2026, while system energy efficiency reaches 75%-80%.
To further accelerate adoption, the electrolyte leasing model is gaining traction. This innovative approach can reduce initial project investments by 40%-50%. Provinces like Henan and Sichuan have introduced supporting policies to facilitate this model. Meanwhile, the Three Gorges Group's million-kilowatt solar and VRFB integrated project in Xinjiang has officially entered commercial operation.
The integration of flow batteries into smart computing center power distribution scenarios is also underway, with China's first iron-chromium flow battery off-grid computing-power synergy demonstration project officially operational in Lankao, Henan.
These milestones highlight China's aggressive push to establish a robust, independent LDES ecosystem.
This article was assisted by AI analysis. Please refer to the original source for official information.