Energy Storage Concept Adjustment: How Policy Shifts Are Reshaping the Market
The Policy Earthquake: Farewell to Mandatory Energy Storage
China's energy storage landscape just got a game-changing update. Remember when your parents stopped enforcing bedtime? That's essentially what happened in February 2025 when the National Development and Reform Commission pulled the plug on mandatory energy storage requirements for renewable projects[1][2]. The controversial "强制配储" policy, which required 10%-30% storage capacity for new wind/solar installations since 2017, has officially been shelved.
This policy shift feels like removing training wheels from a bicycle. While mandatory storage helped China achieve 73.76 GW of new energy storage installations by 2024 (crushing the 2025 target two years early)[2], it also created market distortions. As Liu Yong from China Industrial Association of Power Sources puts it: "Developers were installing storage like ticking boxes, not solving real grid needs"[1].
3 Immediate Market Reactions:
- Stock market rollercoaster: While港股储能概念股 like Longpan Tech soared 64.5% in Nov 2024[3], many A-share storage stocks dipped initially
- Project delays: Over 60% of planned Q1 2025 storage projects entered "观望模式" (wait-and-see mode)[1]
- Innovation surge: Companies like China Electric Power Research Institute pivoted to niche solutions like insulation flame-retardant powder coatings for battery cabinets[4]
From Policy-Driven to Market-Driven: New Rules of Engagement
The 136号文件 isn't just removing requirements – it's rewriting the energy storage playbook. Here's what's changing:
The New Economics of Storage
With fixed electricity prices gone, developers now face a cost-benefit tightrope. Storage systems must prove their worth against:
- Spot market price fluctuations
- Grid service fees (ancillary services now priced 20-30% higher)
- Newly introduced "消纳成本" – consumer-borne renewable integration fees[1]
As industry insiders joke: "It's like dating after a breakup – storage needs to charm investors with actual value, not regulatory obligations."
Emerging Opportunities in the Chaos
While some panic, smart players are already capitalizing:
1. Behind-the-Meter Storage Goes Mainstream
Companies like Xidiandian Energy are winning big with distributed solutions. Their Tesla-approved battery connectors for C&I users saw 300% order growth post-policy[7].
2. The 8000 GW Pumped Storage Gold Rush
Despite the "new energy" focus, old-school pumped hydro is back. The 2027 target for pumped storage now matches China's Three Gorges Dam capacity...twice over[8].
3. Virtual Power Plants (VPPs) – The Dark Horse
Post-policy, VPP projects combining EV charging, smart buildings and storage grew 47% MoY in Q1 2025. As one developer quipped: "Why build storage when you can borrow your neighbor's Tesla battery?"
What Comes Next? Industry Predictions for 2025-2030
- Short-term (2025-2026): Market consolidation – 30% of pure-play storage startups expected to fold or merge
- Mid-term (2027-2028): Breakthroughs in 4-hour+ duration storage – the new "sweet spot" for grid services
- Long-term (2029-2030): AI-optimized storage fleets predicted to capture 60% of ancillary services market
The energy storage concept adjustment isn't an ending – it's a much-needed reset. As the dust settles, one thing's clear: Storage that solves real grid problems will thrive, while "checkbox compliance" systems become relics of the past.
[1] 储能大变局:强制配储取消，市场驱动新时代来了 [2] 叫停“强制配储”后，新型储能全面市场化开始了 [3] 延续调整!港股三大指数集体走低 储能概念股逆势大涨 [4] 概念动态|中国电研新增“储能”概念 [7] 概念动态|西典新能新增“储能”概念 [8] 迎政策利好，储能概念强势拉升，禾迈股份、固德威等走高