The world's first 300-megawatt compressed air energy storage demonstration project has achieved full capacity grid connection and begun generating power on Thursday in Yingcheng, Hubei province, a milestone for China's energy storage technologies.
The project, "Nengchu-1", has set three world records in terms of single-unit power, energy storage scale and energy conversion efficiency, with total technological self-reliance for key core equipment, said its operator China Energy Engineering Corp (CEEC).
The completion of this project indicates that China's compressed air energy storage technology has entered a new era of commercial operation, leading the world in the sector and offering solutions to address the intermittency and volatility issues associated with clean energy generation, it said.
With an annual capacity to generate 500 million kilowatt-hours of electricity, the project will save more than 150,000 metric tons of standard coal each year, serving as a key pillar for building a new power system.
Compressed air energy storage is an emerging technology that is gaining traction due to its advantages, including short construction periods, high power output, long duration, safety and longevity.
Song Hailiang, chairman of CEEC, said that the project will provide a strong driving force for the construction of a new energy system and modern power grid in China, helping propel the country's energy transition toward a green, low-carbon future.
zhengxin@chinadaily.com.cn
