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He works on daily research of China's BESS projects, legislation and policy analysis. He also works on the monthly and quarterly reports focusing on China market and the OEMs updates. Now he is assisting on the data centre database. Calvin holds a MSc of e-Business Management at University of Warwick. ","d16a4438-477a-4c07-a6b2-ec1404f2b61f",{"id":551,"alt":547,"name":547,"focus":547,"title":547,"source":547,"filename":552,"copyright":547,"fieldtype":553,"meta_data":554,"is_external_url":50},148104957929130,"https://a.storyblok.com/f/287943243085208/512x512/096bdfc0f7/calvin-xu.png","asset",{},"https://www.linkedin.com/in/zhengxu0416/","author","Analyst - BESS","BESS",[],[],[562,792,1151,1434,1601,1763],{"id":563,"uuid":564,"name":565,"slug":566,"full_slug":567,"content":568},188466349768965,"db816297-be5a-4df5-abc9-4cf304f3e2cd","Chinese OEM energy storage offtakes in H1 2026 quadruple compared to H1 2025","chinese-oem-energy-storage-offtakes-in-h1-2026-quadruple-compared-to-h1-2025","article/chinese-oem-energy-storage-offtakes-in-h1-2026-quadruple-compared-to-h1-2025",{"_uid":569,"date":570,"tags":571,"editor":587,"content":597,"excerpt":769,"featured":51,"reporter":770,"component":774,"seo_title":775,"categories":776,"visibility":783,"data_vis_image":784,"featured_image":786,"seo_description":790,"formattedDate":791},"89b25332-78eb-4e21-ade3-4f818fc147b8","2026-06-17 00:00",[572,575,578,581,584],{"slug":573,"name":574},"sodium-ion-2","Sodium ion",{"slug":576,"name":577},"catl","CATL",{"slug":579,"name":580},"hyperstrong","HyperStrong",{"slug":582,"name":583},"hithium","HiTHIUM",{"slug":585,"name":586},"china","China",[588],{"slug":589,"name":590,"content":591},"benjamin-roche","Benjamin Roche",{"job_title":592,"image":593,"bio":595,"linkedin":596},"Editor – Energy Transition Supply Chains",{"filename":594},"https://a.storyblok.com/f/287943243085208/800x800/66d6674fb8/benjamin-roche.png","Benjamin is Benchmark's Editor for Energy Transition Supply Chains, covering both upstream products like critical minerals and downstream products including energy storage systems and electric vehicles. He has previous experience covering trade flows, tariffs and the effects of geopolitics on supply chains.","https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjaminrochecontent/",{"type":598,"content":599},"doc",[600,642,659,669,681,717,725,733,742,764],{"type":601,"attrs":602,"content":603},"paragraph",{"textAlign":49},[604,611,623,628,637],{"text":605,"type":606,"marks":607},"Global ","text",[608],{"type":609,"attrs":610},"textStyle",{"color":547},{"text":612,"type":606,"marks":613},"battery energy stationary storage",[614,621],{"type":615,"attrs":616},"link",{"href":617,"uuid":618,"anchor":49,"target":619,"linktype":620},"/article/benchmark-battery-energy-stationary-storage-database-surpasses-10000-projects","3e888653-ccc0-48d2-89aa-6b0b4e35e911","_blank","story",{"type":609,"attrs":622},{"color":547},{"text":624,"type":606,"marks":625}," (BESS) offtake agreements from ",[626],{"type":609,"attrs":627},{"color":547},{"text":629,"type":606,"marks":630},"Chinese OEMs",[631,635],{"type":615,"attrs":632},{"href":633,"uuid":634,"anchor":49,"target":619,"linktype":620},"/article/regional-spotlight-china","746036af-b9fc-4d0d-b721-56d0d1094635",{"type":609,"attrs":636},{"color":547},{"text":638,"type":606,"marks":639}," in H1 2026 were over four times their H1 2025 level in GWh terms, Benchmark analysis shows, reaching 659GWh so far in 2026.",[640],{"type":609,"attrs":641},{"color":547},{"type":601,"attrs":643,"content":644},{"textAlign":49},[645,654],{"text":646,"type":606,"marks":647},"Large offtake agreements",[648,652],{"type":615,"attrs":649},{"href":650,"uuid":651,"anchor":49,"target":619,"linktype":620},"/article/lges-signs-4-3-billion-bess-cell-supply-deal-with-tesla","c9e36cab-5f2c-4a05-9341-1aad24c0277d",{"type":609,"attrs":653},{"color":547},{"text":655,"type":606,"marks":656}," of ≥10GWh capacity represented the largest proportion, with 474GWh capacity signed in H1 2026 through 25 agreements, up from 102GWh in H1 2025 from five agreements.",[657],{"type":609,"attrs":658},{"color":547},{"type":660,"attrs":661},"blok",{"id":662,"body":663},"de7a690f-a5ad-406a-8d2f-1be2ac69143e",[664],{"id":665,"_uid":666,"type":667,"component":668,"fixed_height":547,"use_fixed_height":50,"fixed_height_mobile":547,"fixed_height_tablet":547},"29392061","i-43aa9bcc-ba11-43b0-a94d-a66a263d00d1","visualisation","ContentFlourish",{"type":670,"attrs":671,"content":673},"heading",{"level":672,"textAlign":49},2,[674],{"text":675,"type":606,"marks":676},"Growing cell sizes meeting higher demand",[677,679],{"type":609,"attrs":678},{"color":547},{"type":680},"bold",{"type":601,"attrs":682,"content":683},{"textAlign":49},[684,689,698,703,712],{"text":685,"type":606,"marks":686},"Battery manufacturers ",[687],{"type":609,"attrs":688},{"color":547},{"text":690,"type":606,"marks":691},"looking to meet growing BESS capacity demand",[692,696],{"type":615,"attrs":693},{"href":694,"uuid":695,"anchor":49,"target":619,"linktype":620},"/article/battery-manufacturers-ramp-up-cell-size-to-meet-growing-bess-capacity-demands","8a3561ee-39d5-443e-abf1-4148319e3650",{"type":609,"attrs":697},{"color":547},{"text":699,"type":606,"marks":700}," are pushing towards larger capacity cells, which in some cases are optimised for longer duration solutions. These include ",[701],{"type":609,"attrs":702},{"color":547},{"text":704,"type":606,"marks":705},"CATL’s 587Ah cell",[706,710],{"type":615,"attrs":707},{"href":708,"uuid":709,"anchor":49,"target":619,"linktype":620},"/article/the-top-energy-storage-cell-suppliers-and-system-integrators-in-2025","dd7b0985-5771-4a9e-b68e-7060e85efa48",{"type":609,"attrs":711},{"color":547},{"text":713,"type":606,"marks":714},", which reached GWh-scale shipments in June 2025, as well as HiTHIUM's ∞Cell 587Ah, which entered mass production in August, with the accompanying ∞Power 6.25MWh two-hour system completing its first unit rollout. This was a trend noted by Benchmark analyst Calvin Xu at the recent solar and new energy-focused SNEC conference in Shanghai (3–5 June), where long-duration cells were a focus of the event.",[715],{"type":609,"attrs":716},{"color":547},{"type":601,"attrs":718,"content":719},{"textAlign":49},[720],{"text":721,"type":606,"marks":722},"A second wave of manufacturers, including REPT Battero, CALB, Ganfeng Lithium, Gotion High-Tech, Sunwoda, Great Power, Pengcheng Infinity, CORNEX, and Rongjie Energy, have all committed to mass production of large-capacity cells in H2 2026. Multiple companies also previewed 600Ah+ and 700Ah+ products at SNEC, notably including a 1,300Ah cell from HiTHIUM.",[723],{"type":609,"attrs":724},{"color":547},{"type":601,"attrs":726,"content":727},{"textAlign":49},[728],{"text":729,"type":606,"marks":730},"“We have seen that BESS projects in some provinces, like Ningxia or Xinjiang, are shifting towards four hour-plus duration this year. The larger capacity cells and systems are designed to meet this longer-duration storage demand,” Xu said.",[731],{"type":609,"attrs":732},{"color":547},{"type":670,"attrs":734,"content":735},{"level":672,"textAlign":49},[736],{"text":737,"type":606,"marks":738},"Sodium ion role growing",[739,741],{"type":609,"attrs":740},{"color":547},{"type":680},{"type":601,"attrs":743,"content":744},{"textAlign":49},[745,750,759],{"text":746,"type":606,"marks":747},"Among the notable offtake agreements struck in the first half of 2026 was ",[748],{"type":609,"attrs":749},{"color":547},{"text":751,"type":606,"marks":752},"a 60GWh deal for CATL to supply sodium-ion battery storage systems to HyperStrong",[753,757],{"type":615,"attrs":754},{"href":755,"uuid":756,"anchor":49,"target":619,"linktype":620},"/article/hyperstrong-and-catl-sign-three-year-60gwh-sodium-ion-bess-battery-supply-agreement","559ec0b3-b734-4f91-9dcf-4c2548f38fe3",{"type":609,"attrs":758},{"color":547},{"text":760,"type":606,"marks":761},". The most displayed format was a 160–180Ah cell with the same dimensions as the standard 314Ah lithium form factor, allowing them to be more easily deployed into current systems. CATL also showed 300Ah+ cells for LDES, and REPT Battero debuted its Wending 320Ah sodium ion cell for storage applications. During the show, CATL confirmed GWh-scale batch delivery of sodium ion storage systems for 2026.",[762],{"type":609,"attrs":763},{"color":547},{"type":601,"attrs":765,"content":766},{"textAlign":49},[767],{"text":768,"type":606},"Outside of China, sodium ion interest has also been increasing, with GM and Peak Energy recently partnering to produce sodium ion cells in Michigan from 2028. Currently the vast majority of sodium ion cathode and anode supply is concentrated in China, a challenge GM and Peak will need to overcome to produce 45X eligible cells.","Global battery energy stationary storage (BESS) offtake agreements from Chinese OEMs in H1 2026 were over four times their H1 2025 level in GWh terms, Benchmark analysis shows, reaching 659GWh so far in 2026.\n\nLarge offtake agreements of ≥10GWh capacity represented the largest proportion, with 474GWh capacity signed in H1 2026 through 25 agreements, up from 102GWh in H1 2025 from five agreements.",[771],{"slug":544,"name":543,"content":772},{"job_title":557,"image":773,"bio":548,"linkedin":555,"markets_covered":558},{"filename":552},"article","Chinese OEM energy storage offtakes in H1 2026 quadruple H1 2025",[777,780],{"slug":778,"name":779},"ess","ESS",{"slug":781,"name":782},"batteries","Batteries","private",{"id":49,"alt":49,"name":547,"focus":49,"title":49,"source":49,"filename":547,"copyright":49,"fieldtype":553,"meta_data":785},{},{"id":787,"alt":547,"name":547,"focus":547,"title":547,"source":547,"filename":788,"copyright":547,"fieldtype":553,"meta_data":789,"is_external_url":50},188475360393561,"https://a.storyblok.com/f/287943243085208/1430x954/8d2cfc585b/hithium-snec-booth.jpg",{},"Global battery energy stationary storage (BESS) offtake agreements from Chinese OEMs in H1 2026 were over four times their H1 2025 level in GWh terms, Benchmark analysis shows, reaching 659GWh so far in 2026.","Jun 17, 2026",{"id":793,"uuid":709,"name":794,"slug":795,"full_slug":796,"content":797},171841961546330,"The top energy storage cell suppliers and system integrators in 2025","the-top-energy-storage-cell-suppliers-and-system-integrators-in-2025","article/the-top-energy-storage-cell-suppliers-and-system-integrators-in-2025",{"_uid":798,"date":799,"tags":800,"editor":849,"content":859,"excerpt":1122,"featured":50,"reporter":1123,"component":774,"seo_title":547,"categories":1137,"visibility":1143,"data_vis_image":1144,"featured_image":1146,"seo_description":547,"formattedDate":1150},"3a730302-9186-4cce-a997-cb5cc4a579ae","2026-05-01 00:00",[801,802,805,808,809,812,815,818,821,824,827,828,831,834,837,840,843,846],{"slug":576,"name":577},{"slug":803,"name":804},"byd","BYD",{"slug":806,"name":807},"tesla","Tesla",{"slug":579,"name":580},{"slug":810,"name":811},"fluence","Fluence",{"slug":813,"name":814},"eve-energy","EVE Energy",{"slug":816,"name":817},"gotion","Gotion",{"slug":819,"name":820},"calb","CALB",{"slug":822,"name":823},"rept-battero","REPT Battero",{"slug":825,"name":826},"cornex","Cornex",{"slug":582,"name":583},{"slug":829,"name":830},"envision","Envision",{"slug":832,"name":833},"huawei","Huawei",{"slug":835,"name":836},"sunwoda","Sunwoda",{"slug":838,"name":839},"sungrow","Sungrow",{"slug":841,"name":842},"great-power","Great Power",{"slug":844,"name":845},"crrc","CRRC",{"slug":847,"name":848},"data-visualisation","Data Visualisation",[850],{"slug":851,"name":852,"content":853},"matthew-bird","Matthew Bird",{"job_title":854,"image":855,"bio":857,"linkedin":858},"Senior Editor - Supply Chains & Data Visualisation",{"filename":856},"https://a.storyblok.com/f/287943243085208/512x512/14738033ec/matthew-bird.jpeg","Matthew writes, edits and produces content for Benchmark Intelligence and Benchmark Source across the whole mine to grid supply chain. He also acts as a liaison to the press. He has a PhD in electrochemistry from the University of Nottingham.","https://www.linkedin.com/in/birdmatthew/",{"type":598,"content":860},[861,898,931,939,959,993,1014,1022,1030,1038,1046,1054,1062,1070,1083,1091,1099,1109],{"type":601,"attrs":862,"content":863},{"textAlign":49},[864,870,879,884,893],{"text":865,"type":606,"marks":866},"In 2025, over 600GWh of cells were shipped globally for ",[867],{"type":609,"attrs":868},{"color":869},"#000000",{"text":612,"type":606,"marks":871},[872,877],{"type":615,"attrs":873},{"href":874,"uuid":875,"anchor":49,"target":876,"linktype":620},"/videos/behind-the-ai-boom-how-data-centre-demand-is-reshaping-bess-lithium-lfp-and-copper-markets","1573e0e7-8137-439e-b583-f703c3136f5e","_self",{"type":609,"attrs":878},{"color":869},{"text":880,"type":606,"marks":881}," (BESS) applications, almost double that of 2024 as assessed by ",[882],{"type":609,"attrs":883},{"color":869},{"text":885,"type":606,"marks":886},"Benchmark's Battery Energy Stationary Storage Service",[887,891],{"type":615,"attrs":888},{"href":889,"uuid":49,"anchor":49,"target":876,"linktype":890},"https://www.benchmarkminerals.com/battery-energy-stationary-storage","url",{"type":609,"attrs":892},{"color":869},{"text":894,"type":606,"marks":895},".",[896],{"type":609,"attrs":897},{"color":869},{"type":601,"attrs":899,"content":900},{"textAlign":49},[901,906,915,920,927],{"text":902,"type":606,"marks":903},"Combined, the top 10 BESS ",[904],{"type":609,"attrs":905},{"color":869},{"text":907,"type":606,"marks":908},"cell suppliers",[909,913],{"type":615,"attrs":910},{"href":911,"uuid":912,"anchor":49,"target":876,"linktype":620},"/article/the-top-five-battery-producers-past-present-and-future","5a87817c-f839-49ea-9a92-ccb5a2952b63",{"type":609,"attrs":914},{"color":869},{"text":916,"type":606,"marks":917}," in 2025 accounted for 90% of cells shipped and all are ",[918],{"type":609,"attrs":919},{"color":869},{"text":921,"type":606,"marks":922},"headquartered in China",[923,925],{"type":615,"attrs":924},{"href":633,"uuid":634,"anchor":49,"target":876,"linktype":620},{"type":609,"attrs":926},{"color":869},{"text":894,"type":606,"marks":928},[929],{"type":609,"attrs":930},{"color":869},{"type":601,"attrs":932,"content":933},{"textAlign":49},[934],{"text":935,"type":606,"marks":936},"“Notably the Korean cell manufacturers are missing from the top 10,” said Iola Hughes, Benchmark’s Head of Research. “That is likely to change in the coming years with significant commitments now made to BESS, in particular in the US market.”",[937],{"type":609,"attrs":938},{"color":869},{"type":601,"attrs":940,"content":941},{"textAlign":49},[942,947,954],{"text":943,"type":606,"marks":944},"In its Q1 financial report, ",[945],{"type":609,"attrs":946},{"color":869},{"text":948,"type":606,"marks":949},"LGES stated",[950,952],{"type":615,"attrs":951},{"href":650,"uuid":651,"anchor":49,"target":876,"linktype":620},{"type":609,"attrs":953},{"color":869},{"text":955,"type":606,"marks":956}," it is targeting over 50GWh of production capacity by the end of 2026. If it were to produce at this level, LGES would likely climb to within the top 10.",[957],{"type":609,"attrs":958},{"color":869},{"type":601,"attrs":960,"content":961},{"textAlign":49},[962,971,980,985,987,992],{"type":963,"attrs":964,"marks":968},"image",{"id":965,"alt":547,"src":966,"title":547,"source":547,"copyright":547,"meta_data":967},171852754434440,"https://a.storyblok.com/f/287943243085208/3348x2475/86be51ce37/benchmark-top-10-bess-cell-suppliers-2025.png",{},[969],{"type":615,"attrs":970},{"href":889,"uuid":49,"anchor":49,"target":876,"linktype":890},{"text":972,"type":606,"marks":973},"CATL continued to be the top supplier",[974,978],{"type":615,"attrs":975},{"href":976,"uuid":977,"anchor":49,"target":876,"linktype":620},"/article/catl-posts-record-results-as-efficiency-and-capacity-expansion-drive-profit-growth","508da94f-bb3a-4c2e-a103-9a22048151f3",{"type":609,"attrs":979},{"color":869},{"text":981,"type":606,"marks":982}," of BESS cells in 2025, representing 20% of the market. However, this is down from the 29% share the company held in 2024 and 32% share in 2023. Towards the end of 2025, it secured a three-year 200GWh deal to provide cells to system integrator HyperStrong. This deal was expand",[983],{"type":609,"attrs":984},{"color":869},{"text":986,"type":606},"ed to include 60GWh of ",{"text":988,"type":606,"marks":989},"CATL’s sodium ion BESS cells in April 2026",[990],{"type":615,"attrs":991},{"href":755,"uuid":756,"anchor":49,"target":876,"linktype":620},{"text":894,"type":606},{"type":601,"attrs":994,"content":995},{"textAlign":49},[996,1001,1009],{"text":997,"type":606,"marks":998},"HiTHIUM and EVE Energy are both gaining ground on ",[999],{"type":609,"attrs":1000},{"color":869},{"text":577,"type":606,"marks":1002},[1003,1007],{"type":615,"attrs":1004},{"href":1005,"uuid":1006,"anchor":49,"target":876,"linktype":620},"/article/charting-the-evolution-of-catls-revenue-streams","62db0e85-b8ad-4ea7-80c5-d285c4b019c0",{"type":609,"attrs":1008},{"color":869},{"text":1010,"type":606,"marks":1011},". The two companies took second and third spots, respectively, with around 12% of the market each.",[1012],{"type":609,"attrs":1013},{"color":869},{"type":601,"attrs":1015,"content":1016},{"textAlign":49},[1017],{"text":1018,"type":606,"marks":1019},"For HiTHIUM, this is a substantial jump from fourth position in 2024 when it represented 9% of BESS cells shipped. The company signed a five-year, 120GWh cooperation agreement in December 2025 with system integrator CRRC.",[1020],{"type":609,"attrs":1021},{"color":869},{"type":601,"attrs":1023,"content":1024},{"textAlign":49},[1025],{"text":1026,"type":606,"marks":1027},"Although EVE Energy dropped down to third from second in 2024, it is still strongly competitive. In 2025 the company secured more than 10 cell offtakes of at least 1GWh including 50GWh with HyperStrong and 20GWh with Rochenergy. EVE Energy has also had a strong start to 2026, with over 40GWh of offtakes signed in the first quarter.",[1028],{"type":609,"attrs":1029},{"color":869},{"type":601,"attrs":1031,"content":1032},{"textAlign":49},[1033],{"text":1034,"type":606,"marks":1035},"Another rapidly rising competitor is CORNEX, which has over 400GWh of production capacity under construction with a further 100GWh in the pipeline, though this is for both EV and BESS applications.",[1036],{"type":609,"attrs":1037},{"color":869},{"type":670,"attrs":1039,"content":1040},{"level":672,"textAlign":49},[1041],{"text":1042,"type":606,"marks":1043},"Who were the top BESS system integrators in 2025?",[1044],{"type":609,"attrs":1045},{"color":869},{"type":601,"attrs":1047,"content":1048},{"textAlign":49},[1049],{"text":1050,"type":606,"marks":1051},"In 2025, around 460GWh of BESS systems were shipped globally with the market highly dominated by Chinese system integrators. Tesla and Fluence, both based in the US, are the only system integrators in the top 10 which are headquartered outside of China.",[1052],{"type":609,"attrs":1053},{"color":869},{"type":601,"attrs":1055,"content":1056},{"textAlign":49},[1057],{"text":1058,"type":606,"marks":1059},"BYD overtook Tesla in 2025 to take the top spot for BESS systems, with Tesla now in second place and Sungrow in third. The three companies combined represented around a third of the systems market in 2025.",[1060],{"type":609,"attrs":1061},{"color":869},{"type":601,"attrs":1063,"content":1064},{"textAlign":49},[1065],{"text":1066,"type":606,"marks":1067},"At the start of 2025, BYD signed to deliver a 12.5GWh BESS project with the Saudi Electricity Company, adding to the 2.6GWh already delivered.",[1068],{"type":609,"attrs":1069},{"color":869},{"type":601,"attrs":1071,"content":1072},{"textAlign":49},[1073,1078],{"type":963,"attrs":1074},{"id":1075,"alt":547,"src":1076,"title":547,"source":547,"copyright":547,"meta_data":1077},171852754446729,"https://a.storyblok.com/f/287943243085208/3348x2475/c22864e287/benchmark-top-10-system-integrators-2025.png",{},{"text":1079,"type":606,"marks":1080},"Tesla’s BESS deployments for the full year 2025 reached 46.7GWh, growing 49% year-on-year, according to its annual report. The company says it will begin production of Megapack 3 at its Houston Megafactory in 2026, ramping up to 50GWh of manufacturing capacity. That said, Tesla has had a weaker start to 2026, with Q1 2026 BESS system installations down 15% year-on-year.",[1081],{"type":609,"attrs":1082},{"color":869},{"type":601,"attrs":1084,"content":1085},{"textAlign":49},[1086],{"text":1087,"type":606,"marks":1088},"BESS systems were the largest revenue segment for Sungrow in 2025, reaching 42% of total revenue surpassing its photovoltaic inverter business which accounted for 36%.",[1089],{"type":609,"attrs":1090},{"color":869},{"type":601,"attrs":1092,"content":1093},{"textAlign":49},[1094],{"text":1095,"type":606,"marks":1096},"Many smaller Tier 2 and Tier 3 players reduced their net revenues in order to compete for market share leading to a price war and involution. As such, the share of companies outside the top 10 grew to 32% in 2025 compared to 18% in 2024.",[1097],{"type":609,"attrs":1098},{"color":869},{"type":601,"attrs":1100,"content":1101},{"textAlign":49},[1102],{"text":1103,"type":606,"marks":1104},"The insights in this article were drawn from Benchmark’s Battery Energy Stationary Storage Service. To learn more about this, please fill in the form below and one of the team will be in touch:",[1105,1107],{"type":609,"attrs":1106},{"color":869},{"type":1108},"italic",{"type":660,"attrs":1110},{"id":1111,"body":1112},"885b332e-3048-4002-b8a9-4b4088e47352",[1113],{"id":1114,"_uid":1115,"component":1116,"wrap_in_box":50,"redirect_url":1117,"success_file":1119,"default_height":547,"success_message":547,"v2_hubspot_form":50,"success_sub_text":547,"hidden_field_values":1121,"show_on_intelligence":50},"57a99950-73f5-48be-98a4-7324c28e5d0b","i-85472cde-6418-4314-a266-2cbd3675a175","ContentHubspotForm",{"id":547,"url":547,"linktype":620,"fieldtype":1118,"cached_url":547},"multilink",{"id":49,"alt":49,"name":547,"focus":49,"title":49,"source":49,"filename":547,"copyright":49,"fieldtype":553,"meta_data":1120},{},[],"In 2025, over 600GWh of cells were shipped globally for battery energy stationary storage (BESS) applications, almost double that of 2024 as assessed by Benchmark Mineral Intelligence, a leading specialist in battery supply chain research.\nCombined, the top 10 BESS cell suppliers in 2025 accounted for 90% of cells shipped and all are headquartered in China.\n",[1124,1127],{"slug":544,"name":543,"content":1125},{"job_title":557,"image":1126,"bio":548,"linkedin":555,"markets_covered":558},{"filename":552},{"slug":1128,"name":1129,"content":1130},"iola-hughes","Iola Hughes",{"job_title":1131,"image":1132,"bio":1134,"linkedin":1135,"markets_covered":1136},"Head of Research",{"filename":1133},"https://a.storyblok.com/f/287943243085208/852x854/03382be015/iola-h.png","Iola was Head of Research at Rho Motion prior to the acquisition, and now leads the downstream research for the Benchmark. She has six years of experience in the battery space and works across electric vehicle, battery, and energy storage markets. Previous experience includes a research position with a Servomex working on paramagnetic sensors and spectroscopy gas analysis. Iola graduated with a First-Class Honours Master’s Degree in Geophysics from University College London","https://www.linkedin.com/in/iolahughes/","Battery, BESS, EV and Battery",[1138,1141,1142],{"slug":1139,"name":1140},"gigafactories","Battery & Gigafactory",{"slug":781,"name":782},{"slug":778,"name":779},"public",{"id":965,"alt":547,"name":547,"focus":547,"title":547,"source":547,"filename":966,"copyright":547,"fieldtype":553,"meta_data":1145,"is_external_url":50},{},{"id":1147,"alt":547,"name":547,"focus":547,"title":547,"source":547,"filename":1148,"copyright":547,"fieldtype":553,"meta_data":1149,"is_external_url":50},171849521801503,"https://a.storyblok.com/f/287943243085208/5500x3842/752b24de88/energy-storage.jpeg",{},"May 01, 2026",{"id":1152,"uuid":756,"name":1153,"slug":1154,"full_slug":1155,"content":1156},170744686016982,"HyperStrong and CATL sign three-year 60GWh sodium ion BESS battery supply agreement","hyperstrong-and-catl-sign-three-year-60gwh-sodium-ion-bess-battery-supply-agreement","article/hyperstrong-and-catl-sign-three-year-60gwh-sodium-ion-bess-battery-supply-agreement",{"_uid":1157,"date":1158,"tags":1159,"editor":1165,"content":1169,"excerpt":1411,"featured":51,"reporter":1412,"component":774,"seo_title":1416,"categories":1417,"visibility":783,"data_vis_image":1423,"featured_image":1428,"seo_description":1432,"formattedDate":1433},"a07faad6-143a-4146-a8a7-bff3e2aa24e0","2026-04-28 00:00",[1160,1161,1162,1163,1164],{"slug":585,"name":586},{"slug":576,"name":577},{"slug":847,"name":848},{"slug":573,"name":574},{"slug":579,"name":580},[1166],{"slug":851,"name":852,"content":1167},{"job_title":854,"image":1168,"bio":857,"linkedin":858},{"filename":856},{"type":598,"content":1170},[1171,1229,1266,1274,1296,1305,1338,1345,1367,1403],{"type":601,"attrs":1172,"content":1173},{"textAlign":49},[1174,1179,1186,1191,1197,1202,1211,1216,1224],{"text":1175,"type":606,"marks":1176},"On 27",[1177],{"type":609,"attrs":1178},{"color":547},{"text":1180,"type":606,"marks":1181},"th",[1182,1184],{"type":609,"attrs":1183},{"color":547},{"type":1185},"superscript",{"text":1187,"type":606,"marks":1188}," April, Beijing HyperStrong Technology signed a strategic cooperation agreement with ",[1189],{"type":609,"attrs":1190},{"color":547},{"text":577,"type":606,"marks":1192},[1193,1195],{"type":615,"attrs":1194},{"href":1005,"uuid":1006,"anchor":49,"target":876,"linktype":620},{"type":609,"attrs":1196},{"color":547},{"text":1198,"type":606,"marks":1199}," in Ningde, Fujian, covering 60GWh of ",[1200],{"type":609,"attrs":1201},{"color":547},{"text":1203,"type":606,"marks":1204},"sodium ion batteries",[1205,1209],{"type":615,"attrs":1206},{"href":1207,"uuid":1208,"anchor":49,"target":876,"linktype":620},"/article/infographic-the-state-of-play-of-next-generation-battery-capacity-in-2025","7a6d4dcc-a850-4b49-84ce-7c8db7ef8260",{"type":609,"attrs":1210},{"color":547},{"text":1212,"type":606,"marks":1213}," over three years for ",[1214],{"type":609,"attrs":1215},{"color":547},{"text":612,"type":606,"marks":1217},[1218,1222],{"type":615,"attrs":1219},{"href":1220,"uuid":1221,"anchor":49,"target":876,"linktype":620},"/article/china-bess-installations-in-december-surpass-us-2025-total","e2705a82-dc4e-449f-9777-6a15bc082b5e",{"type":609,"attrs":1223},{"color":547},{"text":1225,"type":606,"marks":1226}," (BESS) applications. ",[1227],{"type":609,"attrs":1228},{"color":547},{"type":601,"attrs":1230,"content":1232},{"textAlign":1231},"left",[1233,1238,1247,1252,1261],{"text":1234,"type":606,"marks":1235},"The deal represents the world’s largest ",[1236],{"type":609,"attrs":1237},{"color":547},{"text":1239,"type":606,"marks":1240},"sodium ion battery",[1241,1245],{"type":615,"attrs":1242},{"href":1243,"uuid":1244,"anchor":49,"target":876,"linktype":620},"/videos/sodium-ion-batteries-hype-vs-reality-on-the-road-to-commercialisation","5f3789b4-ae8b-49e3-9d84-bbd0ec1e1c91",{"type":609,"attrs":1246},{"color":547},{"text":1248,"type":606,"marks":1249}," agreement dedicated to energy storage to date. HyperStrong is one of the ",[1250],{"type":609,"attrs":1251},{"color":547},{"text":1253,"type":606,"marks":1254},"top five system integrators globally",[1255,1259],{"type":615,"attrs":1256},{"href":1257,"uuid":1258,"anchor":49,"target":876,"linktype":620},"/article/bess-system-integrator-ranking-in-h1-2025-shows-change-is-on-the-horizon-for-the-industry","b3df4ba0-52b6-469b-9695-870f7eb68178",{"type":609,"attrs":1260},{"color":547},{"text":1262,"type":606,"marks":1263},", having shipped 26GWh of systems in 2025 and with a cumulative total of BESS installations exceeding 50GWh. ",[1264],{"type":609,"attrs":1265},{"color":547},{"type":601,"attrs":1267,"content":1268},{"textAlign":1231},[1269],{"text":1270,"type":606,"marks":1271},"This latest deal builds on a strategic cooperation agreement signed between HyperStrong and CATL in November 2025 which covered collaboration for the period 2026–2035. Under that agreement, HyperStrong will procure no less than 200GWh of battery capacity from 2026 to 2028.  ",[1272],{"type":609,"attrs":1273},{"color":547},{"type":601,"attrs":1275,"content":1276},{"textAlign":1231},[1277,1282,1291],{"text":1278,"type":606,"marks":1279},"Earlier in April, ",[1280],{"type":609,"attrs":1281},{"color":547},{"text":1283,"type":606,"marks":1284},"CATL unveiled its first sodium ion battery cell",[1285,1289],{"type":615,"attrs":1286},{"href":1287,"uuid":1288,"anchor":49,"target":876,"linktype":620},"/article/catl-gears-up-for-mass-market-sodium-ion-batteries","2bc56633-b6f9-40c0-bf7e-ec7a7d4ccbd6",{"type":609,"attrs":1290},{"color":547},{"text":1292,"type":606,"marks":1293}," designed specifically for energy storage. The cell features a capacity of over 300Ah and a cycle life exceeding 15,000 cycles, supporting large-scale storage applications ranging from two to eight hours, as well as AI data centre scenarios. ",[1294],{"type":609,"attrs":1295},{"color":547},{"type":670,"attrs":1297,"content":1298},{"level":672,"textAlign":1231},[1299],{"text":1300,"type":606,"marks":1301},"What is the state of sodium ion BESS projects in China? ",[1302,1304],{"type":609,"attrs":1303},{"color":547},{"type":680},{"type":601,"attrs":1306,"content":1307},{"textAlign":1231},[1308,1313,1322,1327,1333],{"text":1309,"type":606,"marks":1310},"Cumulative operational sodium ion battery (SIB) ",[1311],{"type":609,"attrs":1312},{"color":547},{"text":1314,"type":606,"marks":1315},"energy storage capacity",[1316,1320],{"type":615,"attrs":1317},{"href":1318,"uuid":1319,"anchor":49,"target":876,"linktype":620},"/article/chinese-battery-energy-storage-market-to-triple-by-2033","053e428e-4052-43a5-b2cd-38e03753495a",{"type":609,"attrs":1321},{"color":547},{"text":1323,"type":606,"marks":1324}," in ",[1325],{"type":609,"attrs":1326},{"color":547},{"text":586,"type":606,"marks":1328},[1329,1331],{"type":615,"attrs":1330},{"href":633,"uuid":634,"anchor":49,"target":876,"linktype":620},{"type":609,"attrs":1332},{"color":547},{"text":1334,"type":606,"marks":1335}," reached 784MWh by the end of 2025, as assessed by Benchmark’s BESS Service. The project pipeline scheduled for commissioning in China totals 3,080MWh in 2026 and a further 2,200MWh in 2027. The largest individual project is the Xingkong Sodium Dazhou Maliu Industrial Park SIB Energy Storage Project, with a planned capacity of 1,000MWh. ",[1336],{"type":609,"attrs":1337},{"color":547},{"type":660,"attrs":1339},{"id":1340,"body":1341},"44ad1ac7-cf34-4ad8-a5ec-7e79b59579bf",[1342],{"id":1343,"_uid":1344,"type":667,"component":668,"fixed_height":547,"use_fixed_height":50,"fixed_height_mobile":547,"fixed_height_tablet":547},"28731570","i-0fed5908-4316-4803-be70-9a3f3808a93e",{"type":601,"attrs":1346,"content":1347},{"textAlign":1231},[1348,1353,1362],{"text":1349,"type":606,"marks":1350},"On the policy front, at the beginning of 2026, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) issued ",[1351],{"type":609,"attrs":1352},{"color":547},{"text":1354,"type":606,"marks":1355},"Document No. 114",[1356,1360],{"type":615,"attrs":1357},{"href":1358,"uuid":1359,"anchor":49,"target":876,"linktype":620},"/article/china-introduces-national-capacity-pricing-for-gridside-ess-","cf6f633d-0990-45e9-b405-0feefc7463f1",{"type":609,"attrs":1361},{"color":547},{"text":1363,"type":606,"marks":1364},", incorporating independent energy storage into the capacity tariff compensation mechanism. Sodium ion battery projects can enjoy the same treatment as lithium-ion projects, benefiting from a “triple revenue stream” of capacity payments, energy market revenues, and ancillary service income, thereby directly improving project economics. ",[1365],{"type":609,"attrs":1366},{"color":547},{"type":601,"attrs":1368,"content":1369},{"textAlign":1231},[1370,1375,1384,1391,1398],{"text":1371,"type":606,"marks":1372},"China’s ",[1373],{"type":609,"attrs":1374},{"color":547},{"text":1376,"type":606,"marks":1377},"15",[1378,1382],{"type":615,"attrs":1379},{"href":1380,"uuid":1381,"anchor":49,"target":876,"linktype":620},"/article/china-sets-180gw-target-for-bess-by-2027","5b7453ab-7ce0-47ec-ba4e-8e22fcd3a8dd",{"type":609,"attrs":1383},{"color":547},{"text":1180,"type":606,"marks":1385},[1386,1388,1390],{"type":615,"attrs":1387},{"href":1380,"uuid":1381,"anchor":49,"target":876,"linktype":620},{"type":609,"attrs":1389},{"color":547},{"type":1185},{"text":1392,"type":606,"marks":1393}," Five-Year Plan",[1394,1396],{"type":615,"attrs":1395},{"href":1380,"uuid":1381,"anchor":49,"target":876,"linktype":620},{"type":609,"attrs":1397},{"color":547},{"text":1399,"type":606,"marks":1400}," also explicitly calls for accelerating the large-scale industrialisation and commercial deployment of sodium ion batteries.  ",[1401],{"type":609,"attrs":1402},{"color":547},{"type":601,"attrs":1404,"content":1405},{"textAlign":1231},[1406],{"text":1407,"type":606,"marks":1408},"The strong policy backing reflects energy security considerations, as sodium resources are abundant domestically and offer a cost advantage over lithium-based technologies. As a result, the share of sodium ion batteries in the Chinese energy storage mix is forecast to rise gradually to over 5% by 2030.",[1409],{"type":609,"attrs":1410},{"color":547},"On 27th April, Beijing HyperStrong Technology signed a strategic cooperation agreement with CATL in Ningde, Fujian, covering 60GWh of sodium ion batteries over three years for battery energy stationary storage (BESS) applications. \n\nThe deal represents the world’s largest sodium ion battery agreement dedicated to energy storage to date. HyperStrong is one of the top five system integrators globally, having shipped 26GWh of systems in 2025 and with a cumulative total of BESS installations exceeding 50GWh. ",[1413],{"slug":544,"name":543,"content":1414},{"job_title":557,"image":1415,"bio":548,"linkedin":555,"markets_covered":558},{"filename":552},"HyperStrong, CATL three-year 60GWh sodium-ion BESS battery supply",[1418,1419,1420],{"slug":781,"name":782},{"slug":778,"name":779},{"slug":1421,"name":1422},"battery-technology","Battery Technology",{"id":1424,"alt":1425,"name":547,"focus":547,"title":547,"source":547,"filename":1426,"copyright":547,"fieldtype":553,"meta_data":1427,"is_external_url":50},170745413426594,"China's sodium-ion BESS pipeline is strong for 2026","https://a.storyblok.com/f/287943243085208/1590x1320/4021f3bf5b/china-sodium-ion-bess-pipeline-2x.png",{"alt":1425,"title":547,"source":547,"copyright":547},{"id":1429,"alt":547,"name":547,"focus":547,"title":547,"source":547,"filename":1430,"copyright":547,"fieldtype":553,"meta_data":1431,"is_external_url":50},170744722939165,"https://a.storyblok.com/f/287943243085208/1500x902/c56a211686/hyperstrong.png",{},"On 27th April, Beijing HyperStrong Technology signed a strategic cooperation agreement with CATL in Ningde, Fujian, covering 60GWh of sodium-ion batteries over three years for battery energy stationary storage (BESS) applications. ","Apr 28, 2026",{"id":1435,"uuid":1436,"name":1437,"slug":1438,"full_slug":1439,"content":1440},153434458264009,"16e5191e-fffd-47f2-953d-ca1adb9595a5","Middle East escalation disrupts energy storage deployment and Chinese overseas expansion","middle-east-escalation-disrupts-energy-storage-deployment-and-chinese-overseas-expansion","article/middle-east-escalation-disrupts-energy-storage-deployment-and-chinese-overseas-expansion",{"_uid":1441,"date":1442,"tags":1443,"editor":1452,"content":1456,"excerpt":1585,"featured":51,"reporter":1586,"component":774,"seo_title":1590,"categories":1591,"visibility":783,"data_vis_image":1594,"featured_image":1596,"seo_description":1585,"formattedDate":1600},"da894629-a52a-4750-ae1c-ae1681042caf","2026-03-10 00:00",[1444,1447,1450],{"slug":1445,"name":1446},"bess-systems","BESS Systems",{"slug":1448,"name":1449},"middle-east","Middle East",{"slug":1451,"name":558},"bess",[1453],{"slug":589,"name":590,"content":1454},{"job_title":592,"image":1455,"bio":595,"linkedin":596},{"filename":594},{"type":598,"content":1457},[1458,1494,1502,1510,1518,1526,1546,1554,1561,1569,1577],{"type":601,"attrs":1459,"content":1460},{"textAlign":49},[1461,1466,1475,1480,1489],{"text":1462,"type":606,"marks":1463},"The ongoing military conflict in the Middle East presents risks to the implementation and maintenance of ",[1464],{"type":609,"attrs":1465},{"color":547},{"text":1467,"type":606,"marks":1468},"energy storage projects across the region",[1469,1473],{"type":615,"attrs":1470},{"href":1471,"uuid":1472,"anchor":49,"target":619,"linktype":620},"/article/how-the-middle-east-is-fast-becoming-a-key-player-in-the-bess-industry","ed167b13-1dda-4a8c-8054-734c47d92672",{"type":609,"attrs":1474},{"color":547},{"text":1476,"type":606,"marks":1477},", including the ",[1478],{"type":609,"attrs":1479},{"color":547},{"text":1481,"type":606,"marks":1482},"largest projects",[1483,1487],{"type":615,"attrs":1484},{"href":1485,"uuid":1486,"anchor":49,"target":619,"linktype":620},"/article/sovereign-wealth-funds-support-the-middle-easts-pivot-to-clean-energy-supply-chains","dd5cc0ca-55e4-45c5-9b45-45e858a59fc0",{"type":609,"attrs":1488},{"color":547},{"text":1490,"type":606,"marks":1491},", many of which involve Chinese contractors and suppliers.",[1492],{"type":609,"attrs":1493},{"color":547},{"type":670,"attrs":1495,"content":1496},{"level":672,"textAlign":49},[1497],{"text":1498,"type":606,"marks":1499},"Almost a fifth of Chinese OEM offtake is planned for the Middle East",[1500],{"type":609,"attrs":1501},{"color":547},{"type":601,"attrs":1503,"content":1504},{"textAlign":49},[1505],{"text":1506,"type":606,"marks":1507},"Benchmark’s battery energy storage system (BESS) offtake tracker database, which tracks publicly announced offtake agreements and does not cover all existing players, has recorded 265GWh of publicly announced ex-China offtake orders from Chinese OEMs from January 2025 to March 2025. Among these, the Middle East accounts for 46.8GWh, 17.7% of the total, making it the third-largest growth market after the EU & EFTA & UK and North America.",[1508],{"type":609,"attrs":1509},{"color":547},{"type":601,"attrs":1511,"content":1512},{"textAlign":49},[1513],{"text":1514,"type":606,"marks":1515},"Direct shipping to and from the Middle East via the Strait of Hormuz faces security risks, and increased freight costs and insurance premiums, forcing delays to the construction and delivery schedules of some energy storage projects currently under development. Airspace closures and port attacks have further prolonged delivery timelines, while after-sales services and project payment cycles have also become increasingly uncertain.",[1516],{"type":609,"attrs":1517},{"color":547},{"type":670,"attrs":1519,"content":1520},{"level":672,"textAlign":49},[1521],{"text":1522,"type":606,"marks":1523},"What proportion of planned projects involves Chinese players?",[1524],{"type":609,"attrs":1525},{"color":547},{"type":601,"attrs":1527,"content":1528},{"textAlign":49},[1529,1534,1541],{"text":1530,"type":606,"marks":1531},"According to ",[1532],{"type":609,"attrs":1533},{"color":547},{"text":1535,"type":606,"marks":1536},"Benchmark’s BESS Service",[1537,1539],{"type":615,"attrs":1538},{"href":889,"uuid":49,"anchor":49,"target":619,"linktype":890},{"type":609,"attrs":1540},{"color":547},{"text":1542,"type":606,"marks":1543},", energy storage projects in the Middle East potentially affected by the conflict amount to a total of around 55GWh. Of this, 45.4GWh of the projects involve Chinese companies as an EPC contractor or BESS system suppliers.",[1544],{"type":609,"attrs":1545},{"color":547},{"type":601,"attrs":1547,"content":1548},{"textAlign":49},[1549],{"text":1550,"type":606,"marks":1551},"The total includes a range of large-scale projects that are underway. In the UAE, a Masdar 19GWh EWEC BESS project and MBR’s 8.4GWh solar BESS project could be affected. A 12.5GWh BYD project and four Saudi Power Procurement Company (SPCC) BESS projects, totaling 8GWh, could also be affected in Saudi Arabia.",[1552],{"type":609,"attrs":1553},{"color":547},{"type":660,"attrs":1555},{"id":1556,"body":1557},"df82c0e9-8221-409f-8167-bf71fc9e1948",[1558],{"id":1559,"_uid":1560,"type":667,"component":668,"fixed_height":547,"use_fixed_height":50,"fixed_height_mobile":547,"fixed_height_tablet":547},"27965330","i-ac158ae4-f21e-47de-a758-0a3759c50b95",{"type":601,"attrs":1562,"content":1563},{"textAlign":49},[1564],{"text":1565,"type":606,"marks":1566},"The current situation has led to the emergency evacuation of on-site personnel from Chinese EPC contractors, leaving projects suspended and equipment idle. Installed systems face potential damage from prolonged exposure to harsh environmental conditions without maintenance, while energy storage system suppliers are confronted with inventory backlogs due to completed products being unable to ship as scheduled.",[1567],{"type":609,"attrs":1568},{"color":547},{"type":601,"attrs":1570,"content":1571},{"textAlign":49},[1572],{"text":1573,"type":606,"marks":1574},"Calvin Xu, a BESS analyst at Benchmark, said:",[1575],{"type":609,"attrs":1576},{"color":547},{"type":601,"attrs":1578,"content":1579},{"textAlign":49},[1580],{"text":1581,"type":606,"marks":1582},"“It is foreseeable that the current instability in the Middle East may persist for several months or longer, further extending project timelines. Chinese companies are therefore likely to reassess the stability of the Middle Eastern market and explore alternative regional opportunities.”",[1583],{"type":609,"attrs":1584},{"color":547},"The ongoing military conflict in the Middle East presents risks to the implementation and maintenance of energy storage projects across the region, including the largest projects, many of which involve Chinese contractors and suppliers.",[1587],{"slug":544,"name":543,"content":1588},{"job_title":557,"image":1589,"bio":548,"linkedin":555,"markets_covered":558},{"filename":552},"Middle East escalation disrupts ESS deployment, Chinese expansion",[1592,1593],{"slug":778,"name":779},{"slug":781,"name":782},{"id":49,"alt":49,"name":547,"focus":49,"title":49,"source":49,"filename":547,"copyright":49,"fieldtype":553,"meta_data":1595},{},{"id":1597,"alt":547,"name":547,"focus":547,"title":547,"source":547,"filename":1598,"copyright":547,"fieldtype":553,"meta_data":1599,"is_external_url":50},129069552762665,"https://a.storyblok.com/f/287943243085208/9a3e78127e/bm-livent-bessemer-city.png",{},"Mar 10, 2026",{"id":1602,"uuid":1603,"name":1604,"slug":1605,"full_slug":1606,"content":1607},149570920239599,"0ff0e0c5-d9dd-4f8c-9b1b-4aa57cb0e0b4","Form Energy announces largest capacity energy storage system to date","form-energy-announces-largest-capacity-energy-storage-system-to-date","article/form-energy-announces-largest-capacity-energy-storage-system-to-date",{"_uid":1608,"date":1609,"tags":1610,"editor":1619,"content":1623,"excerpt":1744,"featured":51,"reporter":1745,"component":774,"seo_title":1749,"categories":1750,"visibility":783,"data_vis_image":1754,"featured_image":1758,"seo_description":1744,"formattedDate":1762},"ca524aa9-ea72-4232-8fef-90bbabbfc093","2026-02-27 00:00",[1611,1612,1615,1618],{"slug":1445,"name":1446},{"slug":1613,"name":1614},"lithium-ion-batteries","lithium ion batteries",{"slug":1616,"name":1617},"usa","USA",{"slug":847,"name":848},[1620],{"slug":589,"name":590,"content":1621},{"job_title":592,"image":1622,"bio":595,"linkedin":596},{"filename":594},{"type":598,"content":1624},[1625,1635,1642,1654,1661,1666,1671,1683,1690,1695,1702,1707,1712,1719,1733,1738],{"type":601,"attrs":1626,"content":1627},{"textAlign":49},[1628,1630,1633],{"text":1629,"type":606},"On 24",{"text":1180,"type":606,"marks":1631},[1632],{"type":1185},{"text":1634,"type":606}," February, Google formally signed an agreement with Xcel Energy to deploy a 30GWh / 300MW, 100-hour iron-air battery energy storage system (BESS) supplied by Form Energy in Pine Island, Minnesota.",{"type":670,"attrs":1636,"content":1637},{"level":672,"textAlign":49},[1638],{"text":1639,"type":606,"marks":1640},"Largest ever BESS project globally",[1641],{"type":680},{"type":601,"attrs":1643,"content":1644},{"textAlign":49},[1645,1647,1652],{"text":1646,"type":606},"The project is the largest energy storage project in Benchmark’s databases and ",{"text":1648,"type":606,"marks":1649},"significantly outstrips the average capacity",[1650],{"type":615,"attrs":1651},{"href":694,"uuid":695,"anchor":49,"target":876,"linktype":620},{"text":1653,"type":606}," of energy storage projects, of any technology, operational in the US in 2025.",{"type":660,"attrs":1655},{"id":1656,"body":1657},"be8a6769-e87e-486b-ae63-8e21d663e1d1",[1658],{"id":1659,"_uid":1660,"type":620,"component":668,"fixed_height":547,"use_fixed_height":50,"fixed_height_mobile":547,"fixed_height_tablet":547},"3598726","i-89bd26ab-949e-4c46-964b-3ef507e5d867",{"type":601,"attrs":1662,"content":1663},{"textAlign":49},[1664],{"text":1665,"type":606},"It would also be the second-largest project anywhere in the world in terms of capacity, beaten only by a 40GWh LFP-based project in Australia. Calvin Xu, BESS analyst at Benchmark, noted the scale of the project “far exceeds the market average”.",{"type":601,"attrs":1667,"content":1668},{"textAlign":49},[1669],{"text":1670,"type":606},"The average capacity of commissioned battery energy storage projects globally was 168MWh. The US was slightly larger just under 290MWh.",{"type":601,"attrs":1672,"content":1673},{"textAlign":49},[1674,1676,1681],{"text":1675,"type":606},"“We are increasingly seeing giga-scale projects ",{"text":1677,"type":606,"marks":1678},"enter the project pipeline",[1679],{"type":615,"attrs":1680},{"href":1257,"uuid":1258,"anchor":49,"target":876,"linktype":620},{"text":1682,"type":606},",” Xu said. “But this is the largest to be announced in the US, more than double the size of the next largest announced project’s capacity.”",{"type":670,"attrs":1684,"content":1685},{"level":672,"textAlign":49},[1686],{"text":1687,"type":606,"marks":1688},"Lithium ion continues to dominate",[1689],{"type":680},{"type":601,"attrs":1691,"content":1692},{"textAlign":49},[1693],{"text":1694,"type":606},"Although the announced project utilises iron-air technology, lithium ion cells will continue to dominate in new battery storage deployments through to 2030, though their market share is expected to fall from a 98% peak in 2025 to 90% by 2030. The remaining share will be split between sodium ion and other technologies, iron air among them.",{"type":660,"attrs":1696},{"id":1697,"body":1698},"f0307b01-89cf-4d10-85a1-2a5657047185",[1699],{"id":1700,"_uid":1701,"type":667,"component":668,"fixed_height":547,"use_fixed_height":50,"fixed_height_mobile":547,"fixed_height_tablet":547},"27805048","i-f9f2920e-0907-4977-b2bc-fc62b55a1115",{"type":601,"attrs":1703,"content":1704},{"textAlign":49},[1705],{"text":1706,"type":606},"The new project is an outlier in this trend and reflects the unique ability of iron air chemistry to meet exceptional duration demands. The iron-air battery system generates electricity through the oxidation of iron when exposed to air, effectively utilising a reversible rusting process.",{"type":601,"attrs":1708,"content":1709},{"textAlign":49},[1710],{"text":1711,"type":606},"Form Energy has been selected as the BESS system supplier. The batteries will be manufactured at Form Factory 1 in Weirton, West Virginia, which is currently expanding to an annual production capacity of 500MW.",{"type":670,"attrs":1713,"content":1714},{"level":672,"textAlign":49},[1715],{"text":1716,"type":606,"marks":1717},"All 100-hour projects utilising iron-air",[1718],{"type":680},{"type":601,"attrs":1720,"content":1721},{"textAlign":49},[1722,1724,1731],{"text":1723,"type":606},"The 100-hour long duration of the project signals an ",{"text":1725,"type":606,"marks":1726},"accelerating shift in energy storage",[1727],{"type":615,"attrs":1728},{"href":1729,"uuid":1730,"anchor":49,"target":876,"linktype":620},"/article/is-the-energy-storage-market-shifting-to-longer-duration-capacities-","6c350409-abcd-42f5-a9a4-15e7729cd431",{"text":1732,"type":606}," from an “emergency backup” role towards serving as a primary energy supply resource.",{"type":601,"attrs":1734,"content":1735},{"textAlign":49},[1736],{"text":1737,"type":606},"Most non-lithium-ion projects have durations of 0-4 hours, largely using flow batteries, while all 10 of the 100-hour projects globally utilise iron-air technology. Nine of these are supplied by Form Energy.",{"type":660,"attrs":1739},{"id":1697,"body":1740},[1741],{"id":1742,"_uid":1743,"type":667,"component":668,"fixed_height":547,"use_fixed_height":50,"fixed_height_mobile":547,"fixed_height_tablet":547},"27807513","i-88477fc8-eb90-4196-93c5-1e1c4132c34d","On 24th February, Google formally signed an agreement with Xcel Energy to deploy a 30GWh / 300MW, 100-hour iron-air battery energy storage system (BESS) supplied by Form Energy in Pine Island, Minnesota.",[1746],{"slug":544,"name":543,"content":1747},{"job_title":557,"image":1748,"bio":548,"linkedin":555,"markets_covered":558},{"filename":552},"Form Energy announces largest ever capacity energy storage system",[1751,1752,1753],{"slug":1421,"name":1422},{"slug":778,"name":779},{"slug":1139,"name":1140},{"id":1755,"alt":547,"name":547,"focus":547,"title":547,"source":547,"filename":1756,"copyright":547,"fieldtype":553,"meta_data":1757,"is_external_url":50},149573595989641,"https://a.storyblok.com/f/287943243085208/811x805/5c45b847d0/bess-circle-chart.png",{},{"id":1759,"alt":547,"name":547,"focus":547,"title":547,"source":547,"filename":1760,"copyright":547,"fieldtype":553,"meta_data":1761,"is_external_url":50},129067331742369,"https://a.storyblok.com/f/287943243085208/c3f6f9d2ee/bm-energy-storage-systems.jpg",{},"Feb 27, 2026",{"id":1764,"uuid":1359,"name":1765,"slug":1766,"full_slug":1767,"content":1768},141084890272419,"China introduces national capacity pricing for grid‑side energy storage","china-introduces-national-capacity-pricing-for-gridside-ess-","article/china-introduces-national-capacity-pricing-for-gridside-ess-",{"_uid":1769,"date":1770,"tags":1771,"editor":1779,"content":1789,"excerpt":1955,"featured":51,"reporter":1956,"component":774,"seo_title":1969,"categories":1970,"visibility":783,"author_company":547,"data_vis_image":1983,"featured_image":1985,"seo_description":1955,"author_full_name":547,"author_job_title":547,"formattedDate":1989},"1d6bbdc8-d687-41d6-ba85-bb562ba97ec6","2026-02-03 00:00",[1772,1773,1776],{"slug":585,"name":586},{"slug":1774,"name":1775},"policy","Policy",{"slug":1777,"name":1778},"energy-storage","Energy storage",[1780],{"slug":1781,"name":1782,"content":1783},"didi-bostock","Didi Bostock",{"job_title":1784,"image":1785,"bio":1787,"linkedin":1788},"Editor - Energy Transition & Economics",{"filename":1786},"https://a.storyblok.com/f/287943243085208/512x512/2c5ca5c1a3/didi-bostock.jpeg","Didi is the Energy Transition & Economics Editor at Benchmark, covering a broad range of markets across the energy transition. His remit spans from downstream sectors such as BESS and EVs, through to midstream such as new technologies and battery production, to upstream critical minerals mining. He also leads on financial analysis across these supply chains, alongside in-depth policy analysis.\n","https://www.linkedin.com/in/didi-bostock-656342198/",{"type":598,"content":1790},[1791,1836,1841,1849,1872,1877,1882,1889,1896,1907,1914,1919,1924,1931,1936,1941,1948,1953],{"type":601,"attrs":1792,"content":1793},{"textAlign":49},[1794,1796,1801,1803,1807,1809,1814,1816,1821,1823,1828,1830,1834],{"text":1795,"type":606},"China has introduced a national capacity",{"text":1797,"type":606,"marks":1798},"‑",[1799],{"type":609,"attrs":1800},{"color":547},{"text":1802,"type":606},"based pricing mechanism for grid",{"text":1797,"type":606,"marks":1804},[1805],{"type":609,"attrs":1806},{"color":547},{"text":1808,"type":606},"side independent energy storage, marking a structural shift in how storage assets are compensated within the power system. Issued jointly by the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) and National Energy Administration (NEA) under Document No.",{"text":1810,"type":606,"marks":1811}," ",[1812],{"type":609,"attrs":1813},{"color":547},{"text":1815,"type":606},"114, the reform recognises energy storage as a provider of system reliability under the principle of ",{"text":1817,"type":606,"marks":1818},"“",[1819],{"type":609,"attrs":1820},{"color":547},{"text":1822,"type":606},"equal pay for equal work",{"text":1824,"type":606,"marks":1825},"”",[1826],{"type":609,"attrs":1827},{"color":547},{"text":1829,"type":606},", aligning compensation with coal",{"text":1797,"type":606,"marks":1831},[1832],{"type":609,"attrs":1833},{"color":547},{"text":1835,"type":606},"fired power.",{"type":601,"attrs":1837,"content":1838},{"textAlign":49},[1839],{"text":1840,"type":606},"The policy addresses underinvestment in flexible capacity as renewable penetration rises, while materially improving the bankability of standalone energy storage projects.",{"type":670,"attrs":1842,"content":1844},{"level":1843,"textAlign":49},1,[1845],{"text":1846,"type":606,"marks":1847},"How does the capacity pricing mechanism work?",[1848],{"type":680},{"type":601,"attrs":1850,"content":1851},{"textAlign":49},[1852,1854,1858,1860,1864,1866,1870],{"text":1853,"type":606},"Eligible grid",{"text":1797,"type":606,"marks":1855},[1856],{"type":609,"attrs":1857},{"color":547},{"text":1859,"type":606},"side standalone energy storage projects will receive an annual capacity payment based on verified effective capacity, benchmarked against local coal",{"text":1797,"type":606,"marks":1861},[1862],{"type":609,"attrs":1863},{"color":547},{"text":1865,"type":606},"fired power standards. From 2026, coal",{"text":1797,"type":606,"marks":1867},[1868],{"type":609,"attrs":1869},{"color":547},{"text":1871,"type":606},"fired capacity prices must recover at least 50% of fixed costs, implying a minimum reference payment of around RMB165/kW/year, subject to provincial implementation.",{"type":601,"attrs":1873,"content":1874},{"textAlign":49},[1875],{"text":1876,"type":606},"These capacity payments are paid independently of dispatch and energy price spreads, are received in addition to market revenues such as arbitrage and ancillary services and are recovered through system operating costs ultimately borne by end users.",{"type":601,"attrs":1878,"content":1879},{"textAlign":49},[1880],{"text":1881,"type":606},"The mechanism does not mandate new construction or guarantee energy revenues but introduces a stable, financeable revenue stream that materially reduces reliance on volatile power market conditions.",{"type":670,"attrs":1883,"content":1884},{"level":1843,"textAlign":49},[1885],{"text":1886,"type":606,"marks":1887},"Implications for ESS demand and upside scenarios",[1888],{"type":680},{"type":660,"attrs":1890},{"id":1891,"body":1892},"3af7fe9a-34c2-48ac-9e97-bea1ab037d09",[1893],{"id":1894,"_uid":1895,"type":667,"component":668,"fixed_height":547,"use_fixed_height":50,"fixed_height_mobile":547,"fixed_height_tablet":547},"27496148","i-ec9a59fe-2cb5-4eeb-af5a-a6c2c94cc97a",{"type":601,"attrs":1897,"content":1898},{"textAlign":49},[1899,1901,1905],{"text":1900,"type":606},"While the reform does not raise absolute build limits, still constrained by grid planning and EPC capacity, it underwrites a baseline level of deployment and increases the probability that higher",{"text":1797,"type":606,"marks":1902},[1903],{"type":609,"attrs":1904},{"color":547},{"text":1906,"type":606},"end energy storage system (ESS) demand scenarios are realised. Upside deployment becomes less dependent on favourable power prices or low battery input costs.",{"type":670,"attrs":1908,"content":1909},{"level":1843,"textAlign":49},[1910],{"text":1911,"type":606,"marks":1912},"Will we see an increase in project duration?",[1913],{"type":680},{"type":601,"attrs":1915,"content":1916},{"textAlign":49},[1917],{"text":1918,"type":606},"Only standalone grid‑side projects included in provincial plans are eligible; storage paired with wind or solar is excluded. The adjustment factor strongly favours four‑hour‑plus systems, with shorter‑duration projects receiving proportionally lower payments. Over time, this is likely to shift system design towards longer‑duration storage, a trend already seen in recent years. From 2023 to 2025 Benchmark’s BESS Service saw average duration of grid projects in China rise from 2.1 hour to 2.9 hours.",{"type":601,"attrs":1920,"content":1921},{"textAlign":49},[1922],{"text":1923,"type":606},"Future reforms will transition all resources towards settlement based on “reliable capacity”, increasing the importance of performance, dispatch integration, and long‑term operations and maintenance capabilities.",{"type":670,"attrs":1925,"content":1926},{"level":1843,"textAlign":49},[1927],{"text":1928,"type":606,"marks":1929},"How can capacity compensation as a key driver of project viability?",[1930],{"type":680},{"type":601,"attrs":1932,"content":1933},{"textAlign":49},[1934],{"text":1935,"type":606},"Across several provinces, market‑based revenues alone are insufficient for standalone storage projects to cover capital and operating costs. Without capacity payments, project internal IRRs are often negative. With reasonable capacity compensation, IRRs rise above investment thresholds (~4–5%), enabling financing.",{"type":601,"attrs":1937,"content":1938},{"textAlign":49},[1939],{"text":1940,"type":606},"Since late 2025, developers have increasingly modelled projects assuming capacity compensation, with IRR‑based screening now central to investment decisions.",{"type":670,"attrs":1942,"content":1943},{"level":1843,"textAlign":49},[1944],{"text":1945,"type":606,"marks":1946},"Lower exposure to lithium price swings",[1947],{"type":680},{"type":601,"attrs":1949,"content":1950},{"textAlign":49},[1951],{"text":1952,"type":606},"Benchmark analysis shows that a capacity-based price of RMB165/kW/yr would be able to offset an increase in lithium carbonate  of up to RMB44,000/tonne for a typical 6-hour project (so long as lithium prices are the only thing that change). This significantly increases energy storage providers resilience against volatile raw material prices.",{"type":670,"attrs":1954},{"level":1843,"textAlign":49},"China has introduced a national capacity‑based pricing mechanism for grid‑side independent energy storage, marking a structural shift in how storage assets are compensated within the power system.",[1957,1960],{"slug":544,"name":543,"content":1958},{"job_title":557,"image":1959,"bio":548,"linkedin":555,"markets_covered":558},{"filename":552},{"slug":1961,"name":1962,"content":1963},"cameron-perks","Cameron Perks",{"job_title":1964,"image":1965,"bio":1967,"linkedin":1968,"markets_covered":8},"Product Director - Lithium",{"filename":1966},"https://a.storyblok.com/f/287943243085208/512x512/5504398139/cam-perks.png","Dr Cameron Perks is a leading global lithium expert and currently serves as Product Director for Lithium at Benchmark Mineral Intelligence. With over a decade of experience in opaque mineral markets, he has led market strategy, pricing analysis, and bespoke consulting for clients ranging from junior explorers to OEMs and institutional investors. He was previously a consultant at TZMI, a geologist with the Geological Survey of NSW, and holds a PhD in Environmental Engineering.","https://www.linkedin.com/in/cameronperks/","China introduces national capacity pricing for grid‑side ESS",[1971,1972,1973,1976,1978,1980,1982],{"slug":781,"name":782},{"slug":778,"name":779},{"slug":1974,"name":1975},"critical-minerals","Critical Minerals",{"slug":1977,"name":8},"lithium",{"slug":1979,"name":261},"anode",{"slug":1981,"name":298},"cathode",{"slug":1139,"name":1140},{"id":49,"alt":49,"name":547,"focus":49,"title":49,"source":49,"filename":547,"copyright":49,"fieldtype":553,"meta_data":1984},{},{"id":1986,"alt":547,"name":547,"focus":547,"title":547,"source":547,"filename":1987,"copyright":547,"fieldtype":553,"meta_data":1988,"is_external_url":50},141084977756156,"https://a.storyblok.com/f/287943243085208/5272x3948/e84a3df0c0/adobestock_1377471942.jpeg",{},"Feb 03, 2026",1781799448726]