Energy Storage Industry Research White Paper 2026 Summary

The Energy Storage Industry Research White Paper 2026 Summary Edition, published by the China Energy Research Association Energy Storage Special Committee and Zhongguancun Energy Storage Industry Technology Alliance, highlights 2025 as a landmark year for the energy storage sector. China's newly operational energy storage projects reached 189.48 GWh, a 73% year-on-year increase, surpassing historical cumulative installations. The industry is shifting from supply-driven to demand-driven growth, with diverse application scenarios and market acceleration. The white paper traces the industry's evolution from policy-driven beginnings in 2015 to market-driven maturity, emphasizing a transition from hardware cost competition to multi-dimensional competition centered on full life cycle value creation. Technological innovation now focuses on intelligent manufacturing, engineering intelligence, and digital operations to optimize costs, while business models integrate with scenarios like wind-solar-thermal storage collaboration, compressed air, green hydrogen, zero-carbon parks, and data center backup. The paper underscores the industry's central role in the new power system and energy revolution.