On May 25, China commissioned a landmark energy storage project in its southwestern Yunnan province, positioning itself at the forefront of next-generation grid technology. The Baochi Energy Storage Station, developed by state-owned utility China Southern Power Grid (CSG), is the country’s first large-scale facility integrating lithium-ion and sodium-ion batteries.

The 200 MW/400 MWh facility, covering 50 acres (approximately 20 hectares), has achieved multiple global milestones:

World’s First Grid-Forming Sodium-Ion Storage System: Validates sodium-ion batteries’ capability to actively stabilize power grids.

Largest Single-Unit Grid-Forming System: Uses a high-voltage direct connection design, boosting efficiency by eliminating transformers.

Operational data indicates the station can deliver 580 GWh of regulated electricity annually—enough to power ~270,000 households—with 98% sourced from renewable energy. Its hybrid chemistry leverages lithium’s high energy density and sodium’s lower cost, safety, and resource abundance.

Designated a National Pilot Project in January 2024, the station progressed rapidly: construction began in October 2024, achieved partial grid connection by December, and reached full capacity in March 2025. CSG emphasizes the project’s role in enabling China’s transition to a renewables-dominated grid, particularly in regions like Yunnan with significant wind, solar, and hydro resources.

As nations accelerate energy storage deployment to support intermittent renewables, China’s investment in multi-technology integration and grid-forming capabilities sets a benchmark. The project could influence international standards for next-generation storage infrastructure.