STORY: 300 MW compressed air energy storage station in C China fully operational
SHOOTING TIME: Jan. 9, 2025
DATELINE: Jan. 11, 2025
LENGTH: 00:01:27
LOCATION: YINGCHENG, China
CATEGORY: TECHNOLOGY

SHOTLIST:
1. various of the compressed air energy storage (CAES) power station in Yingcheng City, central China's Hubei Province
2. SOUNDBITE (Chinese): SONG HAILIANG, Chairman of China Energy Engineering Corp., Ltd.
3. various of the CAES power station

STORYLINE:

A compressed air energy storage (CAES) power station utilizing two underground salt caverns in Yingcheng City, central China's Hubei Province, was successfully connected to the grid at full capacity on Thursday, marking the official commencement of commercial operations for the power station.

The project utilizes the caverns of an abandoned salt mine, about 500 meters deep, as its gas storage facility. This approach creates a super "power bank" with a single unit power output of up to 300 MW and a storage capacity of 1,500 MWh. The system conversion efficiency is about 70 percent, according to China Energy Digital Technology Group Co., Ltd., one of the project's major investors.

The single unit power, energy storage capacity and conversion efficiency of this project rank first globally among similar salt cavern CAES power plants, the company said.

This power station can store energy for eight hours and release energy for five hours every day. It generates an annual average of approximately 500 million kilowatt-hours of electricity, which can meet the annual power demand of 750,000 residents, according to the company.

SOUNDBITE (Chinese): SONG HAILIANG, Chairman of China Energy Engineering Corp., Ltd.
"The project stands out with its distinct features, including high power, large capacity, strong grid integration, full sustainability, and high reliability and safety. It fully leverages the advantages of long-duration, physical, and non-combustion-based energy storage.
This project holds significant importance for advancing the energy transition, promoting green development, building energy and power systems, and achieving China's dual carbon goals."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Yingcheng, China.
(XHTV)