China’s World’s Largest Grid-Connected Compressed Air Energy Storage Plant
China Unveils ‘World’s Largest’ Compressed Air Energy Storage Plant
A groundbreaking 300MW/1,500MWh compressed air energy storage (CAES) facility has commenced operations in China’s Hubei province. Dubbed the Hubei Yingchang project, the 5-hour duration plant leverages abandoned salt mines in Yingcheng and represents a total investment of $270 million.
Completed in just two years, the project sets a new global benchmark as the largest grid-connected CAES system of its scale, according to the state-owned engineering firm China Energy Engineering Corporation. It outpaced conventional pumped hydro storage construction timelines by 3-4 times.
The CAES technology works by compressing air into an underground reservoir and releasing it through a turbine generator to produce electricity. Hubei Yingchang boasts a 64% round-trip efficiency, potentially reaching 70% on par with flow batteries.
Its primary role is peak shaving for the regional grid and enabling higher renewable energy penetration. Annually, it’s designed to charge 498GWh and discharge 319GWh.
The project was developed jointly by China Energy Construction Digital Group and State Grid’s Hubei subsidiary. It aims to support nearby Xiaogan City’s plans for increased energy use while advancing decarbonization efforts.
