China has unveiled an ambitious plan to significantly enhance its energy storage capacities, aiming to achieve 180 gigawatts (GW) of installed battery energy storage systems (BESS) by 2027. This initiative, known as the ‘Special Action Plan for Large-Scale Construction of New Energy Storage (2025-2027)’, was collaboratively developed by the National Development and Reform Commission and the National Energy Administration. The plan, published recently, is designed to attract substantial investments—approximately RMB 250 billion (around USD 35.2 billion)—into the energy market.
This initiative marks a bold expansion in China’s already leading position in energy storage technologies, as the country had an installed capacity of 73.8 GW/168 GWh at the end of 2024. The China Energy Storage Alliance (CNESA) highlighted that this reflects a staggering 130% increase year-on-year, accounting for nearly 40% of the world’s total energy storage capacity. If successful, China’s goal could see its BESS capacity rival the current total for the entire globe by the end of 2027. Recent market reports indicated that global grid-scale BESS capacity reached 189 GW/457 GWh, with China contributing significantly—approximately 2.5 GW/8 GWh in August alone, representing 64% of the world’s new installations during that month.
To fulfill the objectives laid out in the Special Action Plan, 21 key measures have been identified. These include fostering greater energy storage applications within power grid systems, accelerating technological advancements, and promoting standardization across storage technologies. Additionally, the plan emphasizes the importance of developing a skilled workforce and enhancing international collaboration in the energy sector. The CNESA also noted that the initiative encourages the trial deployment of emerging technologies and advocates for orderly participation of energy storage solutions in the electricity market. Notably, this announcement coincided with Chinese President Xi Jinping’s launch of a new initiative focusing on the advancement of artificial intelligence technologies.