Expand more green energy storage space

On March 17th, the third batch of national Shagehuang project, Datang Shichengzi 1 million kilowatt supporting solar thermal project, is carrying out the foundation pouring and mirror field support installation work in the field area. A solar thermal power generation system can store excess heat during the day and release it at night to generate electricity, achieving continuous power supply.

Due to climate reasons, the overall output of new energy in Xinjiang is characterized by "large in spring and autumn, small in winter and summer", which is opposite to the peak load of the power grid in summer and winter, posing challenges to power supply guarantee.

By developing diversified energy storage, a solid foundation is laid for the large-scale conversion of clean energy into sustained and stable electricity supply. In the 2024 list of independent new energy storage projects released by the autonomous region, 41 independent new energy storage projects widely cover various types such as lithium iron phosphate, vanadium flow, sodium ion batteries, compressed air, gravity energy storage, lead carbon, hydrogen storage, and thermal storage.

At present, the development of energy storage in Xinjiang presents the characteristics of scale, marketization, and diversification, which can better meet the needs of the new power system development in Xinjiang. From the perspective of scale, the energy storage will add 5.553 million kilowatt hours/195.29 million kilowatt hours in 2024, a year-on-year increase of 139%, and the development speed is relatively fast. From the perspective of marketization, Xinjiang has introduced supporting policies such as market entry trading, time of use electricity prices, and capacity compensation, clarified the investment expectations for energy storage, and created a favorable market development environment, "said Li Changling, Deputy Director of the Energy Development Research Center of State Grid Xinjiang Economic Research Institute.

According to the National Medium - and Long Term Pumped Storage Development Plan (2021-2035), Xinjiang plans to construct 30 pumped storage power stations with a capacity of 39 million kilowatts. At present, the construction of four pumped storage power stations with a total capacity of 6.8 million kilowatts is accelerating, which will further ensure the safe and stable operation of the Xinjiang and Northwest power grids.

Building a new energy storage industry highland

Towards new development and green development, Xinjiang has anchored the "dual carbon" goal, vigorously developed new quality productivity, and promoted the scale of new energy storage to a new level. In 2024, the annual charging capacity will reach 4.48 billion kilowatt hours, effectively improving the utilization rate of new energy by 3.6% and providing strong support for the electricity supply during peak hours in the morning and evening of the power grid.

In the wind zone of Hami's Thirteen Rooms, the first new independent energy storage power station on the grid side in Xinjiang, the Woneng Thirteen Rooms Energy Storage Station, 27 energy storage units charge during low demand periods and discharge during peak demand periods, achieving the consumption of new energy while also increasing economic benefits by utilizing the price difference between peak and valley electricity prices. This energy storage power station can achieve "two charges and two discharges" per day, with a conversion efficiency of nearly 90%, and its utilization level ranks among the top in the country.

On March 7th, the 300 MW/1200 MW grid type independent energy storage project in Kezhou has been connected to the grid for four months. This project can fully charge 1.2 million kWh of electricity at once, ensuring 6 hours of electricity consumption for about 200000 households during peak hours. The annual adjustable power consumption is about 384 million kWh, saving about 115500 tons of standard coal and reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 300000 tons.

According to statistics, from 2023 to present, Xinjiang has approved the first and second batches of independent new energy storage projects with a total scale of over 11 million kilowatts. It is expected that by the end of 2025, the grid connected scale of new energy storage in Xinjiang will exceed 20 million kilowatts.

Assist in the sustainable development of the energy storage industry

Since the beginning of this year, with the completion of the access system design review for 4065 MW/16260 MW energy storage projects, including the 1 million kW/4 million kWh independent new energy storage project at Xinjiang Huadian Urumqi Photovoltaic Base and the 300 MW/1200 MW grid type independent energy storage project in Lixin Hetian County, Xinjiang's energy storage has entered a high-speed development lane.

During the 14th Five Year Plan period, the total scale of new energy storage projects approved by the national, autonomous region, corps, and prefectural development and reform commissions reached 48.35 million kilowatts, including 34.12 million kilowatts of supporting energy storage projects and 14.23 million kilowatts of independent energy storage projects.

Since 2021, State Grid Xinjiang Electric Power has completed the evaluation of over 33 million kilowatts of new energy storage projects. The principle of "reporting, reviewing, and approving at the same time" is implemented during the evaluation process, effectively shortening the evaluation cycle, optimizing the service experience, and efficiently assisting the autonomous region in regulating high-quality development of resources. In order to better ensure the sound development of energy storage industry, State Grid Xinjiang Electric Power has created a lean whole process management and control of energy storage "process specification, grid connection commissioning, day ahead dispatching, real-time dispatching, panoramic monitoring, operation evaluation, and safety management", giving full play to the comprehensive efficiency of new energy storage "peak shifting and valley filling".

Through the deep integration of technological innovation and industrial innovation, the scattered green energy in various parts of Xinjiang is gathering into a surging force through efficient energy storage technology, starting the wheels of distant factories, lighting up the lights of happiness, and continuing to sail towards a green and sustainable future.