The world’s largest energy storage system powered by compressed air is launched in China (Compressed air energy storage, CAES). And this is not a prototype, it is already connected to the city power grid of Zhangjiakou County in Hebei Province.

The new system, although designed for stationary use only, is an alternative to conventional batteries. The Chinese government plans to use compressed air energy storage systems more intensively and to transfer 25% of the country’s energy storage to this technology by 2030.

The power of the “air battery” is declared at 400 MWh with an efficiency of only 70.4%. For comparison, the efficiency of similar systems in other countries does not exceed 39-53%, and the two largest Hydrostor CAES installations planned to open in the USA in 2026 will yield 60%.

China’s CAES is said to power up to 40,000 to 60,000 households, reduce its carbon footprint and reduce fossil fuel consumption. This is not the only advanced energy source. They are preparing to launch a commercial thermonuclear reactor in Great Britain.