China’s new-type energy storage reached 136 GW at the end of 2025
National Energy Administration figures: 136 GW / 351 GWh installed, up 84% in a year, lithium-ion at 96%, and storage working harder. What the growth means for PCS and battery makers.
- 01Installed new-type storage reached 136 GW / 351 GWh at the end of 2025, up 84.3% year on year.
- 02It passed 100 GW in 2025 and is now more than twice pumped-hydro capacity.
- 03Lithium-ion batteries account for 131 GW / 331 GWh, a 96.1% share.
- 04North and Northwest China together hold 60.7% of national capacity.
- 05Average utilisation rose to 1,195 hours and 256 equivalent cycles in 2025.
The numbers
The National Energy Administration’s China New-Type Energy Storage Development Report (2026) gives the position at the end of 2025. “New-type” storage means everything except pumped hydro: mainly battery storage, plus compressed air, flow batteries and others.
| Indicator | End-2024 | End-2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Installed power | 73.76 GW | 136 GW |
| Installed energy | 168 GWh | 351 GWh |
| Utilisation hours (year) | 911 h | 1,195 h |
| Equivalent full cycles (year) | 221 | 256 |
Year-on-year growth was 84.3%. Capacity is more than 40 times the level at the end of 2020. At mid-2025 it stood at 94.91 GW / 222 GWh, and it crossed 100 GW later in the year.
Two derived figures, from our own calculation: about 62 GW was added during 2025, and average duration is about 2.6 hours (351 GWh ÷ 136 GW).
Technology and location
Lithium-ion batteries dominate, with 131 GW / 331 GWh, or 96.1% of capacity. The report notes that long-duration storage and other technologies are developing, but gives no shares for them.
Capacity is concentrated where wind and solar are:
| Region | Installed |
|---|---|
| North China | 44.13 GW / 123.30 GWh |
| Northwest China | 38.38 GW / 117.34 GWh |
| Combined share | 60.7% |
Worldwide, new-type storage is about 280 GW, and China accounts for about half.
Storage is being used more
Higher utilisation matters as much as capacity. Average hours rose by 31.2% and equivalent cycles by 15.8% in a year. More cycling means more wear on cells and power conversion systems, and more scrutiny of safety and grid behaviour.
What it means for manufacturers
- Safety is now mandatory. GB 44240-2024 has applied to lithium batteries for energy storage since 1 August 2025, including thermal propagation tests.
- Grid behaviour is tested, not assumed. With storage at this scale, grid operators expect verified grid-connection performance from power conversion systems.
- Export evidence counts too. Many Chinese storage makers sell into Europe, Southeast Asia and the Middle East, where IEC 62619, IEC 62477-1 and local grid codes apply.
Our partner laboratory network supports energy storage manufacturers with converter and system testing up to 2.5 MW, covering grid connection, safety and EMC.
FAQ
How much new-type storage did China have at the end of 2025?
136 GW / 351 GWh, according to the National Energy Administration, up 84.3% on a year earlier.
What does “new-type” storage include?
All storage other than pumped hydro. In practice it is mostly lithium-ion batteries, at 96.1% of capacity.
Where is the capacity?
North China and Northwest China together hold 60.7% of national capacity, close to large wind and solar bases.
