China has made significant advancements in energy storage technology, particularly with the successful development of the world’s largest 105-megawatt two-pole high-speed large-capacity synchronous generator, known as the “Shulong 105.” This generator has recently passed evaluation and is notable for having complete independent intellectual property rights. Its overall technology has reached an internationally advanced level, providing essential technical support for the development of large-scale compressed air energy storage (CAES) systems.
CAES is an efficient large-scale energy storage technology that utilizes surplus electricity during periods of low grid demand to compress air. This compressed air is stored in high-pressure sealed facilities and released during peak electricity demand to generate power. High-speed motors are one of the key core devices in CAES systems. The newly evaluated 105-megawatt motor adopts an integrated design for the first time in the country, enabling dual-function operation for both electric and power generation modes. This flexibility significantly enhances the equipment’s utilization rate.
The “Shulong 105” motor occupies over 40% less space compared to multiple conventional motors of equivalent power. Additionally, CAES systems equipped with this motor can increase the proportion of renewable energy integration in the region by 15% to 20%, with an expected annual reduction of carbon dioxide emissions by 500,000 tons.
After four years of research and development, China’s scientific team has successfully tackled world-class challenges to create the 105-megawatt high-speed motor without any mature industry standards or technical references. The core difficulty in developing this two-pole high-speed motor lies in achieving “high system integration,” which involves perfect coordination between the “power engine” and the “generation heart” within the same device.
In the assembly workshop, the world’s largest high-speed dynamic balancing test platform is in operation. Through comprehensive process precision control, the vibration indicators of the “Shulong 105” are three times stricter than national standards, meeting the precision requirements of aerospace-level equipment. Zhang Xuehui, Deputy General Manager of China Storage Energy (Beijing) Technology Co., Ltd., stated, “In the final testing and assembly phase, we further improved precision through high-speed dynamic balancing, achieving excellent vibration indicators.”
As one of the most mature large-scale physical energy storage technologies after pumped storage, CAES is now entering a period of industrial explosion. Currently, there are over ten projects under construction in China, with planned installed capacity exceeding 10 gigawatts, placing the country at the forefront of technology and engineering applications globally.
In Xinyang, Henan, the first 300-megawatt CAES project, utilizing a mountain hollow as an artificial gas storage facility, has already excavated more than half of the artificial chamber. According to incomplete statistics, China has established over ten demonstration projects at the 10-megawatt, 100-megawatt, and 300-megawatt levels, forming a complete technical chain from research and development to demonstration and large-scale implementation.
Chen Haisheng, Chairman of the Zhongguancun Energy Storage Industry and Technology Alliance, noted, “China’s CAES has developed rapidly over the past decade, achieving a technological leap from 100 megawatts to 300 megawatts.” According to the “Energy Storage Industry Research White Paper 2025,” global new energy storage installations are expected to reach 165.4 gigawatts in 2024, with China’s new energy storage additions hitting 43.7 gigawatts. CAES is becoming the preferred solution for grid-level energy storage due to its long lifespan and high safety.
Song Xiaogang, Secretary-General of the China Machinery Industry Federation, remarked, “The efficiency and economic advantages of CAES power generation present a significant market potential for us in China.” CAES has been included as a key development direction for new energy storage during the 14th Five-Year Plan, with special subsidy policies being introduced in various regions. Industry experts predict that by 2030, China’s CAES installed capacity will surpass 50 gigawatts, resulting in annual carbon dioxide emissions reductions exceeding 200 million tons, equivalent to shutting down 60 coal-fired power plants with a capacity of one million kilowatts each. This will provide a solid guarantee for the construction of a new power system.
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