Laiwu, Shandong: Advancing green development through energy storage projects
On Sept 12, personnel from the State Grid Laiwu Power Supply Company conducted an on-site service visit to the Ze'an Independent Shared Energy Storage Station. The team inspected operational status, assessed equipment safety, and ensured the facility's secure and stable performance. The station plays a critical role in integrating renewable energy by storing excess power during off-peak hours and delivering stable output during periods of high demand.
Independent energy storage facilities are capable of storing electricity generated by photovoltaic and wind power systems, as well as surplus electricity from the grid. In practice, these systems charge when grid demand is low and supply is plentiful, and discharge when demand rises and supply tightens. Compared to traditional thermal power plants, energy storage systems offer significantly faster response times — able to initiate discharge within milliseconds of receiving dispatch instructions.
The Ze'an Independent Shared Energy Storage Station is a provincial-level demonstration project and currently the largest of its kind in the Laiwu region. Officially commissioned at the end of May this year, the facility boasts a total installed capacity of 200 MW/400 MWh. This includes a 195 MW/390 MWh lithium iron phosphate battery system and a 5 MW/10 MWh solid-state battery system. Each full charge can store 400,000 kilowatt-hours — enough to meet the daily electricity needs of approximately 50,000 households. Annually, the station is expected to absorb around 1.2 kilowatt-hours of renewable energy.
To facilitate seamless grid integration, Laiwu Power Supply Company implemented a dual-track support mechanism under a "government task force + enterprise task force" model. This proactive approach provided end-to-end support throughout the project's development, including system design review, technical consulting, milestone planning, and interdepartmental coordination to expand associated substations. These efforts ensured that the development of grid infrastructure remained synchronized with the energy storage project's commissioning timeline. Since the grid connection, the company has continued to deliver follow-up services to maintain safe and stable operation. To date, the station has delivered a total of 23.15 million kWh in charging and 19.84 million kWh in discharging, serving as a critical asset in stabilizing power supply during peak summer demand.
As of now, Laiwu's total energy storage capacity has reached 502.6 MW/1,009.2 MWh — the highest ratio of storage capacity to renewable energy generation among all regions in Shandong province. These storage stations act as large-scale "power banks" for the grid: charging during low-demand periods and discharging during peak hours. Their ultra-fast, millisecond-level response enables real-time dispatch flexibility and enhances overall grid resilience and reliability.
Looking ahead, Laiwu Power Supply Company will continue to strengthen operational oversight and customer services for energy storage facilities. Regular safety inspections and technical guidance will be used to identify and mitigate equipment risks — particularly in battery rooms and transformer units. In addition, the company plans to optimize dispatch strategies based on real-time grid load and power flow, maximizing the contribution of energy storage to peak shaving, power supply security, and participation in electricity market transactions. These efforts will support the development of a new power system centered on renewable energy, driving sustainable growth across the regional economy.
