Exploding Demand for Energy Storage: A Production Line in Urgent Need to “Run”
Project Overview: The Chuyuan Century 3GWh Energy Storage System Integration Project is a major initiative with a total investment of 2 billion yuan, spanning 96 acres. It includes the establishment of a 3GWh energy storage system integration production line, warehouses, and research facilities.
Project Progress: Groundbreaking took place in July 2024, and the main structure of the factory has been completed. Some equipment has already arrived, and installation and debugging are underway. The factory is expected to be fully operational by the end of October, with mass production targeted for late December. Although not all equipment is in place yet, preliminary individual machine debugging has begun.
On October 20, the Chuyuan Century 3GWh Energy Storage System Integration Project in the Renshou Economic Development Zone of Sichuan entered the final sprint phase before production. “Can we expedite the debugging process?” asked Wang Wengui, Deputy General Manager of Sichuan Chuyuan Century New Energy Technology Co., Ltd., with urgency in his voice. “Our production line must be operational within a month.”
With a sustained rise in the energy storage sector, Chuyuan Century has already received orders extending through the end of the year, prompting the project team to work diligently to seize market opportunities and accelerate towards the goal of mass production by year-end.
Mass Production Expected by Year-End: Projected Output Surpassing 700 Million Yuan Next Year
Entering the construction site of Chuyuan Century, one can see rows of standardized white factories where workers are busily completing renovations. The factory is expected to be fully operational by the end of October. As a key project in Sichuan Province, the Chuyuan Century energy storage initiative is being developed in two phases, with the first phase focused on establishing a 3GWh energy storage system integration production line.
Wang Wengui explained that the energy storage system comprises various components, including battery cells, energy management systems, battery management systems, and inverters. These components are assembled to create a complete energy storage system. The company also produces structural components necessary for assembly, such as the casing and covers for the battery cells. The core of the project is system integration, where all components are assembled in the workshop, and the final products are shipped domestically and internationally, reaching households, enterprises, industrial parks, and even power plants.
The energy storage system functions like a large “power bank,” charging during low electricity demand periods and discharging during peak usage, effectively alleviating grid pressure and reducing electricity costs for users. With the ongoing global energy transition and the continuous rise in renewable energy capacity, energy storage has become a vital facility for addressing the challenges of renewable energy integration.
“Renewable energy generation from sources like solar and wind is inherently variable and intermittent, but energy storage systems can effectively manage these fluctuations,” Wang Wengui noted.
At the energy storage system integration workshop, AGV (Automated Guided Vehicle) production line equipment is being installed, with technicians diligently adjusting the robotic parameters. “Time is of the essence, and the workload is heavy; we work from 8 AM to 8 PM every day,” said Deng Haipeng, the head of equipment debugging, as the team strives to complete individual machine debugging by the end of October, start system debugging in early November, and aim for trial production by the end of November, with mass production targeted for late December.
Local Government Support to Accelerate Project Progress
To ensure the project proceeds swiftly, the Renshou Economic Development Zone has established a “working group” with dedicated service personnel available 24/7 to respond to business needs. “We employ a work mechanism of ‘targeted action + on-site supervision + responsibility closure’ to closely monitor goals, enhance resource support, and fully assist the project’s rapid development,” explained Zhang Xin, the responsible person for project support in the development zone.
The acceleration of this project aligns with the explosive growth of the domestic and international energy storage markets. According to the ICC Xinluo Energy Storage Database, the global energy storage battery shipment volume is projected to reach 258GWh in the first half of 2025, marking a staggering year-on-year increase of 106%. Among this, domestic manufacturers are expected to ship 252GWh, reflecting a 109% increase and solidifying their dominant position in the global market.
Recently, the government released the “New Energy Storage Scale Construction Special Action Plan (2025-2027),” which sets a target to double the domestic new energy storage installation capacity by 2027, further igniting the industry. In response to market opportunities, Chuyuan Century has adjusted its strategy, expanding the planned production capacity of the first phase from 2GWh to 3GWh. “We are adapting to market changes, as the demand for energy storage is surging, and technology upgrades occur approximately every six months. Currently, battery cell capacities are evolving from 314Ah to 500Ah and 600Ah, requiring us to respond quickly,” Wang Wengui stated.
Having operated in the industry for three years since its establishment in Xiamen, Chuyuan Century has built a solid client base. Despite not being fully operational yet, orders are already pouring in. “We are currently preparing bidding materials for a large state-owned enterprise, and customers from Fujian and other regions have visited our company for inspections,” Wang Wengui revealed, noting that some orders are being fulfilled through factories outside the province to ensure timely delivery. Once operational, the project is expected to achieve full production capacity, with anticipated annual output reaching 700-800 million yuan by 2026.
Embracing Flexible Production and Expanding Overseas Markets
The energy storage industry is entering a golden period, yet competition remains fierce. According to incomplete statistics, there are over 300,000 registered energy storage companies in China, with leading enterprises capturing over 70% of the market share. As a small to medium-sized enterprise, how will Chuyuan Century carve out its niche?
In contrast to traditional drum-style assembly lines, the project employs AGV as the core transportation device, utilizing QR codes and laser navigation for precise positioning, while achieving high coordination with robotic arms to significantly enhance production efficiency. During the battery cell feeding process, a robot accurately picks up individual cells weighing 5 kilograms each and carefully places them on the operating table. “In the future, the production line is expected to complete 13-15 battery cell assemblies per minute, placing us at a leading level in the industry,” Wang Wengui remarked.
To capture market share, Chuyuan Century is also pursuing a differentiated approach. “The domestic market is quite competitive, but there are few companies qualified to operate energy storage businesses overseas,” Wang Wengui added. The company is advancing its EU CE certification and leveraging partnerships with leading energy storage enterprises to aggressively explore markets in Europe, the Middle East, and ASEAN. The local market in Sichuan also presents vast application opportunities. “We chose Renshou not only for its favorable investment environment but also for its market demand; currently, the Meishan area lacks large-scale energy storage projects, indicating a significant market gap,” Wang Wengui explained. Through connections facilitated by local government, the company has secured orders with several major electricity consumers in the industrial park.
Across from Chuyuan Century’s factory is the facility of Sichuan Xiexin Lithium Battery Technology Co., Ltd., which primarily produces lithium iron phosphate cathode materials, a crucial raw material for energy storage cells. “The park has established three lithium battery energy storage projects,” noted Yi Xiaoyan, Director of the Economic Development Bureau of the Renshou Economic Development Zone. The next step will focus on extending and complementing the lithium battery energy storage industry chain, with an emphasis on attracting core enterprises involved in battery cell manufacturing and energy storage inverters to continuously cultivate new growth drivers.
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