China BESS installations in December surpass US 2025 total

In December 2025, more than 65 GWh of grid scale battery energy stationary storage (BESS) entered operation in China. This exceeded the total installed in the US for the whole of 2025 by more than 15GWh. Considering the US is world’s second largest storage market this underlines the sheer scale of China’s market and dominance in BESS deployment.

Record December installations

December is often the biggest month for new capacity as developers race to meet installation commitments and capex deadlines, with most players operating on calendar-year capital budgets. China’s December figures accounted for ~41% of the country’s total annual installed capacity, up sharply from the ~25% share December had of the 2024 total figure. Additionally, the ~65GWh installed in December represented a ~135% year-on-year increase.

Inner Mongolia accounted for ~65% of the December installations, with Xinjiang the next-largest region, at ~14%. This broadly aligns with installation patterns seen throughout the year.

The year of policy changes

December’s strong finish follows a year of intense price pressure, as continued oversupply and aggressive bidding strategies have prevailed in the China market. This culminated in November when the government moved to curb irrational competition and strengthen market fundamentals.

The year also saw other policy changes, including the banning of mandatory storage pairing, previously a key driver to the China market, and the introduction of renewable-driven electricity pricing.

Benchmark energy storage analyst, Calvin Xu, commented “Targets announced in September by China’s National Energy Administration and the National Development and Reform Commission, aiming to reach 180GW of installed energy storage capacity between 2025 and 2027, further indicate the direction for China’s BESS market in the coming years.”

Unlock granular market visibility with Benchmark’s BESS Service:

This insight draws from Benchmark’s BESS Service, consisting of detailed forecasts to 2050, regional system pricing, capacity growth trends and more.

Bringing clarity to a rapidly accelerating market, this subscription facilitates smarter investment decisions, strategy, and successful commercial outcomes.

To learn more, submit your details below and our team will be in touch: