On August 8, the 200MW/800MWh Wangneng Minfeng Grid-Forming Independent Energy Storage Project in Minfeng County, Hotan Prefecture, Xinjiang, successfully achieved full-capacity grid connection and officially entered operation. Guangzhou Zhiguang Energy Storage Technology Co., Ltd. (“Zhiguang Energy”) supplied the project’s core equipment across the full project lifecycle.

With a total investment of 620 million RMB and around 75,000 square meters of land, the project is equipped with Zhiguang Energy Storage’s independently developed 35 kV grid-forming cascaded high-voltage energy storage system. Once fully operational, the project is expected to deliver approximately 280 million kWh of clean electricity annually.

The project represents a major milestone for the grid-forming energy storage industry and is currently the largest grid-forming cascaded high-voltage energy storage project in China to enter commercial operation, according to the company. It also marks an important step in Zhiguang Energy Storage’s expansion into Northwest China’s renewable energy market and demonstrates the application of its proprietary grid-forming cascaded high-voltage direct-connected energy storage technology in addressing the challenges of weak-grid conditions in regions with high renewable energy penetration.

Advanced Grid-Forming Technology for High-Renewable-Energy Environments

As an advocate and technology leader in large-capacity cascaded high-voltage direct-connected energy storage, Zhiguang Energy Storage independently developed and integrated the complete grid-forming energy storage system deployed at the project. The system incorporates the company’s proprietary core technologies and is designed to meet the operating requirements of Xinjiang’s power grid, where high levels of renewable energy generation can create challenging weak-grid conditions.

The standardized high-voltage integrated system combines power conversion, thermal management, fire protection, and power distribution within a single platform. Its modular architecture enables efficient installation and commissioning, while Zhiguang Energy Storage’s proprietary Energy Management System (EMS) enables coordinated optimization and dispatch across multiple units throughout the plant. The system is designed to support multiple grid ancillary services, including peak shaving, frequency regulation, and reserve capacity, while balancing operational safety with the project’s diverse revenue requirements.

Enhancing Grid Stability and Renewable Energy Integration

The system can emulate key characteristics of conventional synchronous generators such as providing inertia support and increasing short-circuit capacity to the grid. It can also perform precise active and reactive power control at the millisecond level and provides key grid-support capabilities, including high- and low-voltage ride-through, fast frequency response, and one-click black start. These capabilities enable stable operation under both islanded and weak-grid conditions and help address challenges such as limited regional peak-shaving resources and difficulties integrating renewable energy into the power system.

Designed for the demanding conditions of the Gobi region, the energy storage equipment can operate across a wide temperature range of -40°C to 45°C and withstand high levels of windblown sand and dust. Zhiguang Energy Storage’s project team successfully navigated challenges associated with remote transportation, complex geological conditions, and extreme weather to deliver the complete equipment package on schedule and to specification. The team also completed system commissioning and grid connection efficiently, demonstrating Zhiguang Energy Storage’s end-to-end project execution and delivery capabilities.

End-to-End Capabilities from Technology Development to Project Delivery

The successful commissioning of the Wangneng Minfeng project represents a comprehensive demonstration of Zhiguang Energy Storage’s vertically integrated capabilities ranging from core power electronics and high-voltage energy storage system development to customized project solutions, cross-regional project execution, and full-lifecycle technical operations and maintenance.

By integrating these capabilities into a complete service model, Zhiguang Energy Storage is positioned to provide customers with solutions spanning the entire project lifecycle.

Advancing Grid-Forming Energy Storage for the Global Energy Transition

Looking ahead, Zhiguang Energy Storage will continue to advance its large-capacity grid-forming cascaded high-voltage direct-connected energy storage technology and develop solutions for a broad range of applications, including large-scale wind and solar power bases, standalone energy storage projects, and grid peak-shaving applications.

Building on its previous technology and power electronics expertise, the company will continue expanding across energy storage markets in China and overseas. Zhiguang Energy Storage aims to support the development of new power systems and contribute to China’s “Dual Carbon” goals with innovative energy storage solutions through continued innovation in power electronics and energy storage technologies.