China’s 15th Five-Year Plan for New Energy System Development: Key Takeaways

Article | Jun 26, 2026 | 4 min read

China’s 15th Five-Year Plan for New Energy System Development: Key Takeaways

China’s government has released its latest Five-Year Plan for New Energy System Development, setting out a range of new 2030 targets for its energy markets, including storage, generation and consumption. “The plan sets conservative and in-line new energy targets, serving more as a policy floor rather than a strict ceiling,” said Calvin Xu, a BESS analyst at Benchmark. “Supported by strong industry momentum, actual installations and deployments have consistently outperformed official goals during the previous five-year plan.” The plan is largely focused on “reinforcing market certainty” by providing “clear long-term development direction across renewables, energy storage, grid integration and power market reform,” Xu explained. Upcoming provincial targets and implementation rules are expected to provide more granular detail.

China's battery exports reach $40bn in first five months of 2026 as new markets emerge

Article | Jun 23, 2026 | 3 min read

China's battery exports reach $40bn in first five months of 2026 as new markets emerge

China's lithium ion battery exports reached US$8 billion in May 2026, up 37% year-on-year (YOY), bringing the year to May total to $40 billion. That marks a 45% increase on the same period in 2025. According to China Automotive Battery Innovation Alliance (CABIA) data, exports reached 29GWh in May, taking the Jan–May total to 145GWh. The year to May figures reflect a front-loaded quarter. March exports hit a record $9.7 billion, likely driven in part by exporters pulling forward shipments ahead of the 1 April cut to the battery export rebate. Levels normalised in April and May, but remain well ahead of the same months in 2025.

Could the Middle East become an anode supply chain hub?

Article | Jun 18, 2026 | 3 min read

Could the Middle East become an anode supply chain hub?

The Middle East is rapidly establishing itself as a key growth hub for the anode supply chain, underpinned by large-scale investments, strategic geographic positioning, and competitively priced energy. The region’s push into battery materials reflects a broader shift as Gulf economies look to diversify away from hydrocarbons and position themselves within the global energy transition. As of 2026, the region has no active capacity, yet Benchmark data shows that the Middle East will account for 11% of 2030 capacity for traditional anode active material (AAM) in the ex-China market, with this share remaining broadly stable through to 2035.

Chinese OEM energy storage offtakes in H1 2026 quadruple compared to H1 2025

Article | Jun 17, 2026 | 3 min read

Chinese OEM energy storage offtakes in H1 2026 quadruple compared to H1 2025

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. Large 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.

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