Since InterBattery in March, Korea’s battery industry has been expanding its focus from high-nickel EV batteries to ESS, LFP, AI data centers, and safety. Battery-related conferences held in April also highlighted AI-enabled R&D, LFP process innovation, application-specific next-generation batteries, and stronger safety and reliability. This suggests that the definition of premium is expanding from energy density to system reliability, operational stability, and supply chain transparency.

Recently, Sanhui Energy's official account announced that the Wenshui County 200MW/100.83MWh independent hybrid energy storage project, in which it was deeply involved in construction, achieved full-capacity grid connection. The project is located in Wenshui County, Lvliang City, Shanxi Province, adopting a hybrid technology route of "flywheel energy storage + LFP battery energy storage." The station area is divided into four functional zones: office and living service facilities, power distribution and step-up substation, LFP energy storage, and flywheel energy storage. A total of 400 flywheel energy storage units with a single-unit capacity of 125KW were built, along with 13 units of 3.44MW and 2 units of 2.64MW LFP battery cabins. The supporting electrical systems, control systems, and civil engineering works were completed simultaneously.

Recently, the 220 kV Ru'an ESS power station, located in the Linfen Economic Development Zone in Shanxi, successfully completed full-capacity grid connection testing and was officially put into operation. The project was invested and constructed by Linfen Ronglin Energy Storage Technology Co., Ltd., with a total investment of approximately 400 million yuan and covering an area of 50 mu. The ESS power station has a total installed capacity of 200 MW/400 MWh, adopts high-safety LFP battery technology, and consists of 80 prefabricated containerized energy storage units. The power station collects electricity through 35 kV collector lines and is connected to the 220 kV Feihong substation via a newly built 220 kV step-up station.

The user-side ESS power station of Jiangsu Yonggang Group was recently connected to grid and put into operation. With a capacity of 134.1 MW/260.8 megawatt hours, the station became the largest user-side energy storage project in operation in Suzhou. The project is expected to deliver an annual discharge of 120 million kWh, helping the enterprise save over 40 million yuan in electricity costs each year. In terms of technology, the commissioned energy storage project adopted LFP battery and string-type technology systems, covering an area of approximately 23 mu. The project operates on a core model of "peak shaving and valley filling," implementing a daily strategy of two charges and two discharges: charging and storing electricity during valley periods, and discharging to support production during the noon peak and evening peak periods. Through this approach, the project precisely matched the production load curve, not only maximizing economic benefits and energy utilization efficiency, but also significantly improving PV absorption rates and effectively promoting the integration of green electricity into the entire production process.

Seosan City, Korea, announced that it has signed an investment agreement with SK On to establish an ESS battery production facility. Under the agreement, SK On will invest KRW 58.7 billion to convert part of its existing EV battery plant in the Seosan Auto Valley industrial complex into an ESS battery production facility. A 3 GWh-scale LFP battery production line for ESS will be installed within the site.

Battery recycling company Battery Solutions announced on April 21 that it has partnered with BYD, the world’s top EV seller, to enter the LFP (lithium iron phosphate) battery recycling market in South Korea for the first time.

Chinese battery maker Sunwoda unveiled its next-generation LFP battery, “Xingchi Supercharge 2.0,” during its Technology Day event. The key highlight of Xingchi 2.0 is its peak charging capability of up to 15C. Based on a 98.8 kWh battery, it can theoretically accept up to 1,482 kW of power. The showcased battery pack, built with 264 prismatic cells, operates under an 844.8V high-voltage system and can handle currents of up to 1,800A. It can charge from 5% to 75% in just 5 minutes and 30 seconds, with an average charging rate of 6.7C.

The company plans to launch its fifth-generation LFP full-scenario battery in mid-May, covering all application scenarios including passenger vehicles, commercial vehicles, energy storage, and low-altitude aircraft. According to reports, the new fifth-generation LFP battery can achieve a maximum energy density of 205 Wh/kg; the superfast charging version can charge from 10% to 70% SOC in less than 4.5 minutes; the ultra-long lifespan version can support over 10 years of ultra-long warranty for vehicle use and a 30-year ultra-long lifespan for energy storage applications. Gotion High-tech will hold the 2026 Global Technology Conference in Hefei on May 16, where the technology will be unveiled.

Capacity side, according to incomplete statistics, China's alkaline electrolyzer market remained at 43.77 GW, the PEM electrolyzer market remained at 2.7 GW, with no new capacity additions for the time being. Sungrow Hydrogen's alkaline electrolyzer systems and proton exchange membrane electrolyzer systems were simultaneously delivered to Oman, Europe, and South America; Trina Green Hydrogen delivered multiple sets of second-generation Tianqing series 1,000 Nm³/h alkaline electrolyzers to green hydrogen-ammonia-methanol projects in China; Hande completed the delivery of one set of 1 Nm³ PEM hydrogen production system to a Chinese university. Project-related developments: Shandong Energy Group Inner Mongolia Branch: The winning bid candidates for the 2026 Shenglu Power Plant hydrogen production station electrolyzer project were publicly announced. The first winning bid candidate was Beijing Mingyang Hydrogen Energy Technology Co., Ltd., and Tianjin Dalu Hydrogen Production Equipment Co., Ltd. ranked second. CNMC Orient Tantalum Industry: For the 50 m³ electrolytic hydrogen production and purification system, the first winning bid candidate was Tianjin Dalu Hydrogen Production Equipment Co., Ltd. with a bid price of 1.68 million yuan. The second and third candidates were Shenzhen Wenshi Hydrogen Energy Technology Co., Ltd. and Beijing Zhongdian Fengye Technology Development Co., Ltd., with bid prices of 1.79 million yuan and 1.99 million yuan, respectively. Beijing Zhongdian Fengye Technology Development Co., Ltd.: Officially signed a strategic cooperation framework agreement with Haitai New Energy. The in-depth cooperation will focus on five key areas: first, integrated development of PV-to-hydrogen systems to create standardized solutions; second, advancing integrated wind-solar-storage-green hydrogen projects to build benchmark projects in regions of China rich in wind and solar resources; third, conducting technology R&D and process optimization to overcome key technologies and jointly develop new energy hydrogen production process packages; fourth, leveraging both parties' resources for marketing and sales to jointly expand China and non-China markets; fifth, jointly applying for scientific research and industrial support projects and participating in the formulation of industry standards. CNOOC (Shanxi) Precious Metals Co., Ltd., Jinzhong City: Its Shanxi Province's first MW-class proton exchange membrane (PEM) water electrolysis hydrogen production unit was successfully commissioned. Zaoyang Tongda Passenger Transport Co., Ltd.: Issued a tender announcement for the procurement of 20 hydrogen energy buses. The procurement covers 20 hydrogen energy buses with a maximum price limit of 21 million yuan. The project does not accept consortium bidding. Jiangsu Guofu Hydrogen Energy Technology Equipment Co., Ltd.: Announced the signing of an agreement with its affiliated company GF Hydrogen Africa Sarl to provide a 20 MW green hydrogen production system for Morocco, with a total consideration of approximately $6.2 million. China Coal Shaanxi Energy Chemical Group Co., Ltd.: Published the transaction result announcement for the feasibility study report compilation service for the China Coal Shaanxi Xi'an Kang green electricity-coupled biomass-to-green methanol integration project. The supplier is Hualou Engineering Technology Co., Ltd. Inner Mongolia Green Hydrogen Steel Union Technology Co., Ltd.: Its green electricity-green hydrogen shaft furnace reduction-electric furnace short-process all-green steel production line project released the winning bid announcement for the preliminary survey and mapping portion. The winning bidder was Tianjin Geological Engineering Survey and Design Institute Co., Ltd., with a winning bid amount of 3.0362 million yuan. It is reported that the tender for the civil construction portion of the project was completed in February. Inner Mongolia Huadian Huayang Hydrogen Energy Technology Co., Ltd.: The winning bid result for the survey and design service for the wind-solar-storage portion of the Inner Mongolia Huadian Damao Banner 1 million kW wind-solar-to-hydrogen integration project was announced. Power supply engineering: total new energy installations of 1,000 MW, including 700 MW wind power and 300 MW PV, with supporting construction of one 100 MW/200 MWh LFP battery ESS power station, two 220 kV step-up substations, access roads, collector lines, and other equipment and facilities. Hydrogen production plant: construction of 88 units of 1,000 Nm³/h water electrolysis hydrogen production equipment and supporting facilities, with an annual hydrogen output of 547 million Nm³; supporting construction of one 220 kV hydrogen production main step-down substation and other facilities and equipment. The total project investment is 6.7645 billion yuan, with 30% self-owned capital. Ordos Hanxia New Energy Co., Ltd.: At the hydrogen production plant of the Narisong PV-to-hydrogen industrial demonstration project in Jungar Banner, Ordos, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region — the site of China's first 10 kt-class PV-to-hydrogen project — the first truckload of high-purity green hydrogen meeting the 99.999% national standard was successfully dispatched after completing the filling operation, marking the first shipment of 2026. Policy Review 1. The National Development and Reform Commission issued the "Standards for Determining Major Accident Hazards in the Electric Power Sector and Regulations on Governance, Supervision and Administration," Order No. 41 of 2026. The document states that under the major hazard determination standards, any of the following conditions occurring in the power grid or power equipment and facilities shall be determined as a major hazard, including: for DC ±800 kV and AC 1000 kV and above transformers (converter transformers), monitored acetylene content reaching 0.000005 liters per liter or weekly increment exceeding 0.000002 liters per liter, or hydrogen content exceeding 0.00045 liters per liter, or total hydrocarbon content exceeding 0.00045 liters per liter. 2. The Henan Provincial Development and Reform Commission issued a notice on the list of key construction projects in Henan Province for 2026. The document states that Henan Province has 1,418 provincial key projects for 2026 with a total investment of approximately 3.2 trillion yuan, aiming to complete annual investment of over 1 trillion yuan. 3. The General Office of the Gansu Provincial People's Government issued a notice on the implementation plan for accelerating scenario cultivation and opening up to promote large-scale application of new scenarios. The document states, in the clean energy sector, the plan is to promote the coordinated layout of "generation-grid-load-storage-production," accelerate the construction of industrial cluster scenarios for wind power, PV, concentrated solar power, hydrogen energy, energy storage equipment, and new energy battery industries. A number of green electricity direct-connection scenario projects are expected to be promoted, and new energy consumption models such as virtual power plants and smart microgrids are expected to be popularized. The plan is to accelerate the deployment of green electricity-to-hydrogen scenarios through multiple models including new energy direct supply, off-grid operation, and green electricity trading, expand the diversified application of green hydrogen in industry, transportation, energy storage, and power generation, and strive to build the Hexi "Green Hydrogen Corridor" innovation scenario. Enterprise Developments Shanghai Hydrogen Maple Energy Technology Co., Ltd.: Partnered with US-based Apollo Mechanical Contractors to secure a commercial order for low-temperature solid-state hydrogen storage technology from Klickitat Valley Health Hospital in Washington State, US. Its independently developed titanium-based solid-state hydrogen storage technology successfully entered the US application market. AiH2 Technology (Group) Co., Ltd.: Officially signed a cooperation agreement with Chongqing Wansheng Economic and Technological Development Zone. Both parties will leverage the by-product hydrogen resources of the Wansheng Economic and Technological Development Zone to build the largest kt-class magnesium-based solid-state hydrogen supply and storage base in south-west China. Huawang (Qingdao) Hydrogen Energy Technology Group Co., Ltd. : The groundbreaking ceremony for the hydrogen refueling station construction project at Qingdao Hydrogen Energy Industrial Park was officially held in Boli Town, West Coast New Area, Qingdao. Panzhihua Huacheng New Energy Co., Ltd. : The pre-acceptance work for the Madian hydrogen refueling station's liquid hydrogen and gaseous hydrogen expansion project was successfully completed. China Classification Society (CCS) Wuhan Branch : Officially issued a certificate of approval to CSSC 712 Research Institute, marking a key breakthrough in China's marine SOFC technology and entering a new stage of standardized and industrialised development. Yunnan Energy Investment Weixin Energy Co., Ltd.: Issued an inquiry letter for the procurement of hydrogen storage tanks for the turbine department, with a procurement quantity of 4 units. AECC Hunan Aviation Powerplant Research Institute: Its independently developed MW-class hydrogen-fueled aviation turboprop engine AEP100 successfully completed its maiden flight. The flight lasted 16 minutes and covered a distance of 36 kilometers. Shandong Hi-Speed Service Development Group Co., Ltd.: The winning bid candidates for the Phase II PEM water electrolysis hydrogen production and energy storage portion of the hydrogen highway and zero-carbon service area key technology integration and demonstration Gaomi Service Area hydrogen refueling station comprehensive utilization project were publicly announced. According to the announcement: the first winning bid candidate was Jiangsu Guofu Hydrogen Energy Technology Equipment Co., Ltd. with a bid price of 21.27 million yuan; the second winning bid candidate was Luyu Hydrogen Energy (Xiamen) Technology Co., Ltd. with a bid price of 21.95 million yuan; the third winning bid candidate was Jiangsu Huade Hydrogen Energy Technology Co., Ltd. with a bid price of 21.75 million yuan. Patent Applications 1. Shanghai Institute of Ceramics, Chinese Academy of Sciences (China) published patent CN2025110028, developing a ceramic-based anion exchange membrane with a laboratory-tested lifespan of 80,000 hours. 2. Johnson Matthey (UK) filed patent WO2025109876, disclosing an Fe-Ni-Mo ternary non-precious metal catalyst formulation with activity approaching that of platinum-based materials. Technology Footprint / Technical Specifications 1. The team led by Professor Yu Ying at Central China Normal University developed a three-dimensional hierarchical nanostructured catalytic electrode, a core part for seawater hydrogen production. 2. Dalian University of Technology designed an electron pump catalyst with an asymmetric photo-responsive structure to maintain the asymmetry of electron distribution. 3. The research team from the School of Electrical Engineering and the State Key Laboratory of Electrical Insulation and Power Equipment at Xi'an Jiaotong University successfully developed a Ru/Ti₃C₂Oₓ@NF bifunctional electrocatalyst for seawater electrolysis. 4. Johnson Matthey and Syensqo achieved efficient recovery and recycling of platinum group metals and ionomers from PEM fuel cells and electrolyzers, significantly reducing the carbon footprint. 5. Teams from Xi'an Jiaotong University and Peking University jointly developed a novel osmium-based catalyst, significantly improving AEM water electrolysis hydrogen production efficiency and economics, facilitating the scale-up of low-cost green hydrogen.

Recently, the Shanxi Yiye 150 MW/205 MWh standalone ESS, undertaken by Zhongrun Huarui Construction Co., Ltd., officially commenced construction in Beiwang Town, Fushan County, Linfen City, Shanxi Province. The project adopts the advanced technical route of “flywheel energy storage + LFP battery,” with a total installed capacity of 150 MW, including 50 MW/5 MWh of flywheel ESS installations and 100 MW/200 MWh of lithium battery ESS installations.