Scale of new compressed air energy storage power station

What is a compressed air energy storage project?

A compressed air energy storage (CAES) project in Hubei, China, has come online, with 300MW/1,500MWh of capacity. The 5-hour duration project, called Hubei Yingchang, was built in two years with a total investment of CNY1.95 billion (US$270 million) and uses abandoned salt mines in the Yingcheng area of Hubei, China’s sixth-most populous province.

Will China's first large-scale compressed air energy storage project be commercialized?

A state-backed consortium is constructing China’s first large-scale compressed air energy storage (CAES) project using a fully artificial underground cavern, marking a major step in the technology’s commercialization.

How efficient is China energy storage?

Once operational, the facility is expected to achieve a conversion efficiency of 72.1% and generate 420 million kWh annually—enough to power 350,000 households. The system incorporates China Energy Storage’s latest 300 MW CAES technology, featuring multi-stage compressors, high-load turbines, and advanced supercritical heat exchangers.

How is China energy storage building a CAES facility?

Construction involves precision blasting, structural reinforcement, concrete lining, and a sealed steel layer to withstand an operating pressure of 14MPa. The project is led by China Energy Storage’s Henan subsidiary, which has previously developed multiple CAES facilities, including 100 MW, 150 MW, and 300 MW installations.

How many GWh of electricity can A CAES facility provide?

The project plans to enable up to 2.8 GWh of electricity storage per full charge—more than any other CAES facility in the world.

How many GWh can A CAES system store?

This will enable up to 2.8 GWh of electricity storage per full charge—more than any other CAES facility in the world. Designed to operate for 330 charge-discharge cycles annually, the project outpaces existing technologies in both single-unit power generation and overall system efficiency.