The Chinese battery manufacturer CATL has opened a new energy storage testing and validation center in Xiamen. According to the company, the ten-hectare facility cost approximately three billion yuan, equivalent to about 440 million U.S. dollars. CATL describes the center as the largest testing platform of its kind worldwide.
The center is designed to test stationary battery storage systems under realistic conditions prior to delivery. It is CATL’s response to a well-known industry problem: many storage projects fail to perform as expected once operational. The company reports that nearly one in five large-scale storage facilities worldwide is operating below capacity. Additionally, 46.5 percent of the systems experience grid connection delays of more than two months.
Focus on Grid Connection, Safety, and Extreme Conditions
At the heart of the facility are five laboratories. These will test grid connection behavior, high-voltage safety, thermal risks, environmental durability, and electromagnetic compatibility, among other things. CATL cites a 35-kV/100-MVA grid simulator, the ability to test up to 500 kV, and a fire test hall with a 20-MW calorimeter as key features of the facility. It is designed to test full 40-foot containers under high-performance conditions.
This move aligns with the company’s strategic direction. According to Reuters, CATL expects energy storage to account for half of its global revenue by 2030. Currently, that share stands at about 25 percent, up from two percent just five years ago. Batteries for electric vehicles remain the core business and currently account for about three-quarters of sales.
Sources:
https://www.catl.com/en/news/6815.html
https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/chinese-battery-maker-catl-expects-energy-storage-make-up-half-global-sales-by-2026-06-04/
