Large-scale hybrid lithium-sodium-ion BESS comes online in China

LinkedIn
Twitter
Reddit
Facebook
Email

A 200MW/400MWh BESS project in China combining lithium-ion and sodium-ion batteries has been put into operation.

The project in Qiubei County, Wenshan Prefecture, Yunnan Province, has achieved ‘full capacity grid-connected operation’, technology provider HiNa Battery said yesterday (1 April).

The project combines 40MWh of sodium-ion batteries with the remainder lithium-ion and is the largest of its kind in China, the firm said, and therefore almost certainly the world. The firm also said it is the first 1-hour duration sodium-ion battery energy storage system (BESS) project, implying the lithium-ion portion of the site is a 160MW/360MWh, 2.25-hour system.

“It is the first commercial model for sodium-ion batteries to participate in the high- and low-rate compound operation of the power grid on a large scale,” the company said.

This article requires Premium SubscriptionBasic (FREE) Subscription

Enjoy 12 months of exclusive analysis

  • Regular insight and analysis of the industry’s biggest developments
  • In-depth interviews with the industry’s leading figures
  • Annual digital subscription to the PV Tech Power journal
  • Discounts on Solar Media’s portfolio of events, in-person and virtual

Or continue reading this article for free

HiNa is the same company that provided the batteries for a sodium-ion BESS in Qianjiang, Hubei province, claimed as the largest BESS using that battery chemistry in the world when it partially came online last year.

Sodium holds potential as an alternative to lithium-ion, thanks to its more abundant raw materials, lower fire safety risk, wider temperature operating conditions and higher depth of discharge capabilities. The latter means it can be fully charged or discharged with less negative effects on the batteries’ degradation.

However, if cycle limits are abided by, lithium-ion batteries do have a longer lifecycle and their energy density is far superior.

The more abundant raw materials mean that sodium-ion has a lower theoretical cost than lithium-ion, at US$5 per kWh versus US$25 per kWh for lithium-ion, according to figures cited by startup Moonwatt in an interview last week (Premium access). But, the industry will need to scale to achieve that.

The world’s largest EV firm BYD launched a BESS using sodium batteries last year, with reaction to it and the technology’s long-term potential a subject of much debate thereafter (Premium access).

7 October 2025
Asia
By 2026, the Asia-Pacific region is forecast to contribute 68% of the projected $10.84 billion market. Over the past decade, Asia has fortified its grids with batteries that enable smart grids, renewable integration, responsive electricity markets, and ancillary services. In this rapidly evolving landscape, Energy Storage Summit Asia is your guide to this burgeoning market. Now in its second year, the Summit gathers independent generators, policymakers, banks, funds, offtakers, and cutting-edge technology providers and clarifies what successful energy storage procurement and deployment strategies look like. Topics covered include macro-level policy, supply chain dynamics, financing strategies, co-location considerations, safety measures, microgrid insights and more.

Read Next

August 1, 2025
Sodium-ion battery energy storage system (BESS) startup Peak Energy has launched and shipped its first sodium-ion BESS to be deployed in a shared pilot with nine utility and independent power producers (IPPs).
July 28, 2025
LG Energy Solution (LG ES) will nearly double the production capacity of battery cells for energy storage systems (ESS) at its Michigan, US, factory by the end of 2026.
July 24, 2025
CEA has recently released two battery energy storage system (BESS) reports for Q2 2025, the Energy Storage System Price Forecasting Report and the ESS Supply, Technology, and Policy Report.
Premium
July 24, 2025
Steady price falls the past few years have made lithium-ion BESS a real contender for long-duration energy storage (LDES), and that is now reflected in global project pipelines.
Premium
July 24, 2025
ESN Premium’s deep dive into Japan continues with a look at the complexities of an evolving market underpinned by strong drivers for energy storage.

Most Popular

Email Newsletter