Daily Storage Capacity of 800,000 kWh! A large lithium-sodium hybrid energy storage station has been put into operation.
On May 25, the National New Energy Storage Pilot Demonstration Project—the Baoci Energy Storage Station—officially commenced operations in Qiubei County, Wenshan Zhuang and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province. This large-scale lithium-sodium hybrid storage facility has a daily electricity storage capacity of 800,000 kilowatt-hours (equivalent to 800,000 kWh).
From an aerial view, the energy storage station features over 150 battery units and boost converter units arranged neatly, all having a similar appearance. However, upon entering the facility, one can notice that the sizes of the battery and converter units vary across different areas. After walking approximately 200 meters from the entrance, you reach the sodium-ion battery storage area, which emits a continuous humming sound from the battery units.
According to reports, as part of the national new energy storage pilot project, the Baoci Energy Storage Station spans around 50 acres and boasts a maximum instantaneous output capacity of 200 megawatts with a total storage capacity of 400 megawatt-hours. Based on calculations of two charge and discharge cycles per day, this facility can store 800,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity daily and regulate 1.6 million kilowatt-hours each day. Annually, it can adjust 584 million kilowatt-hours, which is equivalent to the annual electricity consumption of approximately 270,000 households.
In Yunnan Province, renewable energy accounts for a significant portion of the energy mix, with installed capacity exceeding 60 million kilowatts and a penetration rate nearing 70% in the power system. Luo Yao, a staff member at the dispatch control center of the Yunnan Power Grid Company under the Southern Power Grid, stated that a high proportion of renewable energy leads to greater fluctuations in the grid, thereby increasing the demand for energy storage support.
Wang Hui, the head of the Baoci Energy Storage Station, explained that this facility is a large lithium-sodium hybrid storage station utilizing network-based sodium battery technology. It employs the latest high-capacity sodium-ion batteries developed in China, which have a response speed up to six times faster than existing sodium-ion batteries. The enhanced performance of sodium batteries, combined with mature lithium battery technology and a 200-megawatt output capability, allows the station to serve over 30 wind and solar power stations in Yunnan. This setup enhances the stable integration of substantial renewable energy into the grid and facilitates participation in electricity market transactions, promoting efficient utilization of renewable energy.
Wan Minhui, a researcher at the Southern Power Grid Energy Storage Research Institute, noted that the Baoci Energy Storage Station integrates the storage advantages of lithium and sodium batteries in one facility, further expanding the application scenarios for sodium-ion battery storage in China. It also accelerates the development of the new energy storage industry chain. Additionally, the use of network-based storage technology allows for flexible adjustment of charge and discharge modes according to renewable energy integration, balancing the fluctuations of renewable sources. This technology can also be applied in regions with high renewable energy penetration, such as Tibet, Xinjiang, Gansu, and Ningxia, aiding in the reliable transmission of electricity from renewable energy bases in desert, gobi, and arid areas.
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