Large-Capacity Lithium Cells Set to Become Industry Standard at SNEC 2025

**500Ah+ Cells Set to Become the New Industry Standard at SNEC 2025**

Carrie Xiao reports from SNEC, the world’s largest solar PV and energy storage trade show, where large-format lithium cells took the spotlight. The SNEC PV & ES International Photovoltaic & Energy Storage Exhibition, held in Shanghai, China, concluded on June 13, 2025. This year, over 120 Chinese energy storage companies participated, unveiling hundreds of new storage products and solutions, including more than 20 large-capacity cells with capacities of 392Ah, 472Ah, 587Ah, and 684Ah.

The evolution of cell technology has transitioned from initial capacities of 280Ah and 314Ah to the now more common 500Ah+ range. What insights do these new products provide into the market, and what trends are emerging?

### The Race for Next-Generation Cell Technology

The exhibition showcased the competitive landscape of the energy storage industry, which is shifting from price-based competition to a value-driven model following the implementation of China’s National Development and Reform Commission’s “Document No. 136.” This transition has spurred a new round of technological competition focused on next-generation storage cells.

Two industry leaders, Sungrow and CATL, introduced their flagship third-generation large-capacity cells. Sungrow presented nearly 30 new energy exhibits, including the PowerTitan 3.0 intelligent storage platform, specifically designed for large-scale energy storage power plants. This platform centers around the new 684Ah cell, which more than doubles the capacity of the existing 314Ah cells, setting a new industry record for mass-producible large-cell technology.

The 684Ah cell is part of a series of products that break the constraints of fixed container sizes, including the 10-foot Flex version, 20-foot Class version, and 30-foot Plus version. The Plus version boasts a remarkable single-unit capacity of 12.5MWh and achieves a world-leading volumetric energy density of over 500kWh/m³, along with a cycle life exceeding 15,000 cycles.

Xu Qingqing, Vice President of Sungrow and President of its Energy Storage Division, emphasized the company’s commitment to innovation that delivers clear economic benefits to customers.

In contrast, CATL announced the mass production of its 587Ah large-capacity storage cell. This cell, developed over three years, features significant improvements, such as a 10% increase in energy density to 434Wh/L and a 25% enhancement in system energy density, with an initial round-trip efficiency of 96.5%. Zheng Yelai, Co-President of CATL’s Market Division, highlighted the cell’s reliability and performance as key advantages for customers.

### The Impact of Large-Capacity Storage Cells

Large-capacity storage cells are transforming the energy storage supply chain by addressing the growing demand for long-duration energy storage (LDES) solutions that can support durations of 4-8 hours or longer. They also contribute to cost reductions, improved efficiency, and extended cycle life.

At the SNEC expo, HiTHIUM introduced the world’s first kiloampere-hour (kAh) long-duration energy storage cell, the ∞Cell 1175Ah. This cell is designed for long-duration applications and offers significant advantages such as ultra-large capacity, long lifespan, high safety, and low cost.

In addition to HiTHIUM, other companies like EVE Energy, CORNEX, and SVOLT showcased ultra-large-capacity cells exceeding 500Ah. SVOLT’s 770Ah cell achieved an energy density of 435Wh/L, while JA Solar’s next-generation intelligent energy storage system, ‘BlueGalaxy 4.0,’ based on 500Ah+ cells, enables a 20-foot container to achieve a capacity of 7.8MWh, representing a 38.84% improvement in volumetric energy density.

### Conclusion

As the energy storage landscape evolves, the introduction of larger capacity cells and enhanced energy densities reflects a significant shift in technology and market demands. With continued innovation and competition among manufacturers, the future of energy storage seems poised for exciting developments. Stay tuned for the second part of Carrie Xiao’s report from SNEC 2025, where we will explore the integration of technologies in commercial and industrial storage markets and the safety considerations of increasing cell sizes and energy densities.