sodium hybrid energy storage station starts operation, with 98% being green energy

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(Global Times) 09:05, May 26, 2025

Yunnan is a representative region in China with a high share of renewables in its overall power supply. Currently, the installed renewable capacity in Yunnan exceeds 60 million kilowatts, with a penetration rate in the power system nearing 70 percent. A high share of renewables increases grid volatility, necessitating greater energy storage support.

As of now, China's new energy storage technologies are rapidly advancing, with lithium-ion battery storage, the most mature and cost-effective technology, dominating at 97 percent of the market, according to CCTV News.

However, growing demand for lithium batteries has raised concerns over resource shortages, as 70 percent of lithium battery materials in China come from overseas, meaning a high dependence on imports, the CCTV News report said.

In contrast, the raw materials for sodium batteries can be sourced from salt mines, seawater, and salt lakes. CCTV News reported that sodium resources in China's Chaka Salt Lake alone are 500 times greater than global lithium reserves, citing an industry expert.

Experts noted that sodium resources, besides being abundant, have more favorable properties, such as stable operation across a 45 °C temperature range.

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Zhong Wenxing)