CATL opens large-scale energy storage validation platform in Xiamen

Image:CATL

CATL has officially inaugurated the Xiamen Energy Storage Validation Research Institute (ESVL), a large-scale, open testing and validation platform dedicated to battery energy storage systems.

Located in Xiamen, China, the institute spans 10 hectares with a total investment of approximately CNY 3 billion (USD 440 million). It serves as an open innovation infrastructure for the global energy storage industry, supporting full-system and station-level validation prior to large-scale project deployment.

ESVL is built with five core laboratories to address rising industry demands for safety, grid compatibility and long‑term reliability under real‑world operating conditions.

The station‑level grid integration laboratory is equipped with a 35 kV/100 MVA grid simulator and real‑time simulator. It can test more than 10 large‑scale storage containers simultaneously, simulate 1,000‑node grid topologies, and cover a frequency range from 15 Hz to 60 Hz, enabling verification of grid‑forming capability and multi‑unit coordination in complex grid environments.

The high‑voltage safety laboratory supports testing from 1 kV to 500 kV, focusing on failure mechanisms under lightning impulse, power‑frequency, DC withstand‑voltage and partial‑discharge conditions to define safety boundaries for components and full systems.

The thermal safety and combustion laboratory features a 20 MW calorimeter and 100,000 cubic meters of indoor combustion space, capable of conducting explosion tests on nine large containers at once to support safety spacing, layout planning and system design optimization.

The new institute marks a major step in strengthening full‑life‑cycle safety and performance validation for global grid‑scale energy storage systems.