Soochow Securities·2025-09-26 02:06Investment Rating - The report maintains a positive outlook on the independent energy storage sector, highlighting the economic viability and significant demand growth in the market [2][3]. Core Insights - The transition from mandatory energy storage to independent energy storage is underway, with local governments implementing capacity price compensation policies to establish a market-oriented revenue mechanism [2][3]. - The domestic energy storage demand forecast has been revised upward, with expectations of continued strong growth, particularly in regions like Xinjiang and Inner Mongolia [2][3]. - The supply of energy storage cells is expected to remain tight until the second half of 2026, benefiting leading companies in the industry [2][3]. - The report emphasizes the importance of innovative business models and integrated system solutions, which are expected to enhance profitability for companies with technological and resource advantages [2][3]. Summary by Sections PART 1: Capacity Price Policies and Independent Storage Models - The shift from mandatory energy storage to independent storage is supported by new policies that provide stable cash flow through capacity price compensation [2][3]. - The report outlines the differences in revenue structures and economic viability between mandatory and independent storage models, with independent storage showing superior profitability potential [11][36]. PART 2: Revised Domestic Energy Storage Demand Forecast - The report projects that domestic energy storage installations will reach 149 GWh in 2025 and 194 GWh in 2026, with a long-term forecast of 340 GWh by 2030 [2][3]. - The demand for energy storage is significantly driven by the development of data centers, which are expected to account for one-third of total energy storage demand by 2030 [2][3]. PART 3: Supply Constraints and High-Quality Development - The report anticipates a continued shortage of energy storage cells until the second half of 2026, with global demand expected to reach 521 GWh in 2025 and 710 GWh in 2026 [2][3]. - The focus on high-quality development in the energy storage industry is expected to benefit leading companies, as well as improve the performance of second-tier players [2][3]. PART 4: Valuation Comparison and Investment Recommendations - The report recommends investing in leading companies such as CATL, Sungrow, and others, while also highlighting the potential of emerging players in the market [2][3]. - The overall sentiment is bullish on the large-scale energy storage sector, driven by strong demand in Europe and emerging markets, as well as favorable policies in the U.S. [2][3].