The final of the Grid-Source-Load-Storage Integration track of the 4th Energy Electronics Industry Innovation Competition, organized under China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), was recently held in Shanghai. The project titled “Demonstration Project for Grid-Source-Load-Storage Integration at Energy-Intensive Enterprises Based on Grid-Forming Cascaded High-Voltage Energy Storage,” jointly submitted by Guangzhou Zhiguang Energy Storage Technology Co., Ltd. (“Zhiguang Energy Storage”) and Inner Mongolia Chuangyuan Metal Co., Ltd., stood out among numerous entries. Recognized for its original technological breakthroughs in grid-forming cascaded high-voltage direct-connected energy storage and its engineering demonstration value in energy-intensive industrial applications, the project won First Prize in the competition.

Organized by the MIIT Industrial Development Promotion Center, the 4th Energy Electronics Industry Innovation Competition is a prestigious event in the energy electronics sector. It focuses on areas including solar photovoltaics, advanced energy storage, key end-use applications, and critical information technologies and products.

The Grid-Source-Load-Storage Integration track addresses the national strategic priority of developing a new-type power system. It places particular emphasis on the coordinated interaction of power sources, grids, loads, and storage, the efficient integration of renewable energy, and the ability to support grid security and stability. With stringent evaluation criteria and intense competition, the track recognizes projects demonstrating outstanding technical capabilities and practical value. This award validates the originality and technological advancement of cascaded high-voltage direct-connected energy storage and demonstrates that Zhiguang’s solutions for grid-source-load-storage integration rank among the industry’s leading technologies in terms of advancement and maturity.

A World-First Technological Breakthrough with Significant Demonstration Value

Located in Holingol, Inner Mongolia, the award-winning project is a 35 kV grid-forming cascaded high-voltage direct-connected energy storage system custom-developed by Zhiguang Energy Storage for Inner Mongolia Chuangyuan Metal Co., Ltd. At its core is grid-forming cascaded high-voltage energy storage, which works in coordination with coal-fired generating units and large-scale renewable energy sources. The project was developed in three phases, with a total capacity exceeding 1 GWh. All phases have now been completed and commissioned, and the project has been recognized as an outstanding energy storage demonstration project in Inner Mongolia.

The project showcases several pioneering achievements:

· World’s first black-start test combining grid-forming cascaded high-voltage direct-connected energy storage with coal-fired generating units.

· China’s largest grid-forming energy storage power station on the customer side.

· A pioneering 35 kV transformerless, direct-connected grid-forming solution. The system can proactively establish voltage and frequency support, switch to islanded operation within milliseconds during grid faults, and independently establish voltage under completely de-energized conditions. These capabilities help safeguard power supply reliability for energy-intensive loads such as aluminum smelting.

Since commissioning, the project has delivered significant environmental and operational benefits. It enables the utilization of approximately 100 million kWh of otherwise-curtailed electricity annually, saves around 30,000 tonnes of standard coal equivalent, and reduces carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 78,000 tonnes per year.

By supporting the stable operation of power grids with high renewable energy penetration, ensuring reliable production for key regional industries, and increasing renewable electricity consumption, the project also provides a replicable and scalable model for the green and low-carbon transformation of energy-intensive industries, including aluminum smelting, steelmaking, and chemicals.

The 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026–2030) is a critical stage in developing a new-type power system and advancing China’s carbon peaking and carbon neutrality goals. Zhiguang Energy Storage will continue to advance grid-forming cascaded high-voltage direct-connected energy storage technology while accelerating innovation in both technology and business models. Through safer, more efficient, and smarter integrated grid-source-load-storage solutions, the company will continue to contribute Zhiguang’s expertise and strength to the green and low-carbon energy transition and high-quality development.