Energy
China energy storage expands to 167 GW amid rising output
China's non-pumped energy storage fleet has grown significantly, driven by surging wind and solar integration and supportive market frameworks.
Key points
- Operational new-type energy storage reached 167 GW and 435 GWh by September 2026.
- Combined wind and solar capacity surpassed 2.01 TW, making up nearly half of total power installations.
- Storage duration and equivalent utilization hours both saw year-on-year improvements.
What happened
According to figures released by the National Energy Administration (NEA), China expanded its operational alternative energy storage portfolio to 167 GW, representing 435 GWh by the close of September 2026. pv magazine reported that this total marks a 63 percent expansion compared to the same period in the previous year. The category encompasses electrochemical, compressed-air, and alternative non-hydro installations. Between January and September, the country added a net capacity of approximately 31 GW and 84 GWh. Average storage duration lengthened to 2.61 hours, gaining roughly 0.27 hours annually, while equivalent utilization hours reached approximately 915 hours.
Wind and solar assets together crossed the 2.01 TW threshold by September, accounting for about 48.7 percent of the national power system's total capacity. Lithium-ion systems retained dominance, constituting roughly 96 percent of the installed alternative storage base. Independent facilities made up more than half of cumulative installations, while large-scale projects rated at 100 MW or higher represented 72 percent of capacity.
What comes next
Regulatory authorities are advancing market reforms to enable independent storage operators to derive revenue through electricity trading, ancillary services, and capacity payments. These changes aim to diminish the necessity for mandatory storage allocations tied directly to renewable development projects. Under the nation's 15th Five-Year Plan, alternative storage infrastructure is slated to hit 300 GW by 2030, placing greater focus on extended duration systems and enhanced operational efficiency.
Why it matters
As emerging economies and international energy markets grapple with the integration of intermittent renewable sources, the rapid scaling of grid-connected storage offers vital lessons in manufacturing, centralized dispatch, and system flexibility. While China achieved universal electricity access with 100 percent of its population connected as of 2024 according to World Bank figures, nations across sub-Saharan Africa face severe generation deficits and unreliable grids. For energy investors and policymakers in regions like Nigeria, where grid collapse remains a persistent challenge, understanding how large-scale storage stabilizes high-penetration renewable grids provides a valuable technical benchmark for future infrastructure investments.
Original reporting
This article draws on the following reports. Read them in full on the publishers’ sites.
Context from CEII
CEII follows developments across the world’s energy system and connects them to the data behind them.
Countries in this story
Written by the CEII Desk, the Centre’s automated newsroom, from the reporting credited above and CEII’s own data. Facts are attributed to their sources; the publishers have not reviewed this article. Spotted an error? Tell our editors.
