In recent years, Jiangsu Province has accelerated its development of energy storage, aiming to build a strong manufacturing base and promote a new industrialization process, with a focus on the “1650” industrial system. As a crucial sector within this system, the energy storage industry is making significant strides.
On March 20, the CESC2025 Third International Energy Storage Conference and Smart Energy Storage Technology and Application Exhibition kicked off in Nanjing. This event, co-organized by the Jiangsu Provincial Energy Storage Industry Association, the National Federation of Industry and Commerce New Energy Chamber, and the Electric Power Planning and Design Institute, serves as a vital platform for the global energy storage sector and plays a leading role in advancing China’s energy storage industry.
The conference features eight parallel sessions focusing on cutting-edge technologies, with nearly a hundred academicians and experts sharing groundbreaking research findings. The aim is to discuss the latest advancements and future trends in energy storage technology, ultimately promoting a green transformation and sustainable development in the global energy industry.
Jiangsu’s New Energy Storage Industry Gains Competitive Edge
According to Li Feng, Deputy Director of the Jiangsu Provincial Department of Industry and Information Technology, the new energy storage industry in Jiangsu is progressing rapidly and has established a competitive advantage. He noted that by 2024, the province’s new energy storage industry chain is expected to generate sales exceeding 200 billion yuan, with lithium battery production accounting for about one-third of the national total.
The industrial clustering effect in Jiangsu is evident, with cities like Wuxi, Changzhou, Suzhou, Suqian, and Nantong collectively contributing to over 80% of the province’s sales. Notably, Wuxi High-tech Zone, Changzhou Liyang, Changzhou Jintan, and Suzhou Industrial Park have emerged as key hubs for energy storage battery production.
Jiangsu’s industrial chain is largely complete, covering upstream components such as energy storage batteries and materials, battery management systems, energy storage inverters, and energy management systems. It also includes mid-stream system integration and installation, as well as downstream energy storage applications. Li Feng highlighted Jiangsu’s leading position in lithium battery technology, with ongoing advancements in battery development.
Recent innovations include the development of ultra-low temperature power batteries capable of functioning at -100 degrees Celsius, overcoming the low-temperature limitations of lithium batteries, and addressing challenges in high-capacity sodium-ion battery technology and processes. Remarkably, this product boasts complete proprietary intellectual property rights in key areas such as core material systems, system integration, and safety precautions. It has successfully demonstrated the world’s first megawatt-level aqueous oil-machine flow battery.
Li Feng emphasized that the province’s industrial and information technology system will continue to focus on the “1650” industrial system, implementing high-quality development action plans for the new energy industry cluster, and systematically enhancing the industrial chain’s strength, complementing, and extending it. This will involve advancing critical technology breakthroughs, expanding quality industry entities, and promoting the intelligent and green transformation of the industry.
Efforts will focus on key areas such as electrochemical liquid energy storage systems, supercapacitors, sodium-ion batteries for energy storage, and flow batteries, encouraging energy storage companies to increase investment in technological innovation and collaborate on addressing significant technical challenges.
Energy Storage as a Core Driver of Energy Transition
Tong Chunping, a second-level inspector at the Jiangsu Development and Reform Commission, noted that new energy storage is a critical component in constructing a new power system and a vital support for achieving carbon neutrality goals while facilitating energy transition. This sector also represents a strategic emerging industry for Jiangsu’s industrial upgrade, technological innovation, and economic development.
In recent years, Jiangsu has actively promoted research and application in energy storage technology, accelerating the development of the energy storage industry. By 2024, the province plans to operationalize 48 new grid-side energy storage projects with a total capacity of 5.28 million kilowatts, bringing the cumulative operational capacity of new energy storage projects to 6.65 million kilowatts, positioning Jiangsu as the leader in grid-side energy storage in the country.
In 2024, China is expected to see continued optimization of its foreign trade product export structure, with a significant increase in the export of mechanical and electrical products and high-tech items. Notably, the country has made remarkable achievements in energy storage product exports, with a shipment volume of 170 GWh, reflecting a year-on-year growth of 146%, and an overseas shipment share of 27% (46 GWh). This underscores the strong competitiveness of Chinese energy storage products in the global market and indicates that China has become a significant player in the global energy storage market.
Ma Jianchun, President of the China World Trade Organization Research Association, believes that international collaboration is key to overcoming technological bottlenecks. He advocates for enterprises and research institutions worldwide to deepen joint research and development, advancing energy storage technology towards greater efficiency, safety, and accessibility. Ongoing exploration of the integration of energy storage with green finance and low-carbon trade will provide practical solutions for global energy transition and open new pathways for green economic growth.
Qu Feng, General Manager of China Gezhouba Group Power Co., Ltd., pointed out that the current round of technological revolution and industrial transformation is accelerating, with new energy, new energy storage, and hydrogen energy emerging as core drivers of the global energy transition. As a key technology in constructing a new energy system, energy storage is shifting from pilot demonstrations to large-scale commercialization, showcasing robust growth.
As an important subsidiary of China Energy Engineering Group, Gezhouba Power Company prioritizes its core power business and considers new energy its primary development focus, with new energy accounting for over 70% of its business. The company has made significant breakthroughs in fields such as flywheel energy storage and electrochemical energy storage while signing multiple new energy storage projects, including flywheel energy storage in Yicheng, Shanxi, and photovoltaic energy storage in Iraq. These projects exemplify Gezhouba Power Company’s advanced capabilities in energy storage technology planning and construction.
Qu Feng announced that the “Energy Storage No. 1” project, the world’s first 300-megawatt compressed air energy storage demonstration project, developed by China Energy Engineering Group, has successfully connected to the grid for full capacity operation in Yingcheng, Hubei. This project has set three world records in terms of single-unit power, energy storage capacity, and conversion efficiency, showcasing cutting-edge technologies and solutions in the energy storage field.
