On January 9, 2025, the "Energy Storage No. 1" global first 300-megawatt compressed air energy storage demonstration project, invested and constructed by China Energy Engineering Group Co., Ltd., achieved full-capacity grid connection and began power generation in Yingcheng, Hubei. This milestone event marks China's leadership in compressed air energy storage technology, entering the 300-megawatt level of engineering, and places the country at the forefront of the global new energy storage industry.
Technological Breakthroughs and Innovations of "Energy Storage No. 1"
The "Energy Storage No. 1" project has set three world records: single-unit power, storage capacity, and conversion efficiency. It also achieved 100% domestic production of key core equipment and deep underground space utilization products, filling multiple international gaps. The project has resulted in over 200 patents, proprietary technologies, and standards.
High Power and Large Capacity
The single-unit power of "Energy Storage No. 1" reaches 300 megawatts, with an energy storage capacity of 1,500 megawatt-hours. The underground gas storage cavern is 700,000 cubic meters, equivalent to the volume of 260 standard swimming pools. The single pressurized spherical tank has a volume of 3,500 cubic meters and a diameter of 19 meters, making it the largest in the world.
High Efficiency and Full Green Energy
The project’s conversion efficiency is close to 70%, with no fossil fuels involved in the process, achieving zero carbon emissions. It is expected to generate nearly 500 million kilowatt-hours annually, saving 159,000 tons of standard coal per year and reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 411,000 tons.
Long Duration Energy Storage and Strong Grid Support
"Energy Storage No. 1" stores energy for 8 hours each day and releases energy for 5 hours. With a lifespan of over 30 years, it can effectively address the volatility, intermittency, and randomness of renewable energy generation, playing an important role in ensuring the safe and stable operation of the power grid and the integration of renewable energy.
System Composition and Working Principle of "Energy Storage No. 1"
The compressed air energy storage power station generates electricity using compressed air. It mainly consists of a compression system, heat storage and exchange system, air storage system, expansion system, and power generation system. During off-peak electricity hours, surplus electricity drives compressors to compress air into sealed storage caverns, such as salt caverns or artificial caverns. The heat generated during the compression process is stored in surface thermal storage tanks, using hot water, molten salt, and other media. During peak electricity hours, the high-pressure air stored in the underground cavern is released, and the heat stored in the thermal storage tanks is used. The high-pressure air is then heated, creating a powerful expansion force that drives the air turbine generator set, generating electricity to be fed into the power grid.
Figure: "Energy Storage No. 1" ushers in the 300-megawatt compressed air energy storage era (Image Source: China Science and Technology Network)
Demonstration Significance and Future Outlook of "Energy Storage No. 1"
"Energy Storage No. 1" is not only a large-scale compressed air energy storage system solution jointly created by China Energy Engineering Group and over a hundred domestic industry partners, but it is also the world’s first energy storage solution with a complete independent intellectual property and supply chain system for large-scale, non-combustion compressed air energy storage.
Solving the Volatility Issue of Renewable Energy
"Energy Storage No. 1" effectively addresses the intermittency and volatility of renewable energy generation, providing a key support for the construction of a new power system. Its full-capacity grid-connected power generation offers a "Chinese solution" and "Chinese wisdom" to resolve the global challenge of large-scale renewable energy volatility, intermittency, and randomness.
Promoting Industrial Innovation and Collaborative Development
The successful commissioning of "Energy Storage No. 1" not only showcases China's technological strength in the field of compressed air energy storage but also stimulates the collaborative development of related industries, forming a complete industrial chain. This, in turn, further promotes advancements in energy storage technology and the upgrading of the energy industry.
Broad Future Application Prospects
China has widespread salt cavern resources, with more than 2,000 suitable for storage, currently mainly used for storing natural gas and oil. If these resources are fully utilized, they could support 10 million kilowatts of salt cavern energy storage capacity, equivalent to the electricity load of a large metropolitan city, which will strongly promote the construction of a new power system in China.
The successful grid connection and power generation of "Energy Storage No. 1" not only provides a new pathway for China’s energy transition but also offers valuable insights for global sustainable energy development. With continuous technological innovation and decreasing costs, compressed air energy storage power stations are expected to be more widely applied worldwide, making a significant contribution to achieving carbon peaking and carbon neutrality goals, and building a clean, low-carbon, safe, and efficient energy system.
