Group 1 - The global energy storage market is expected to see significant growth in demand from Europe, Asia, Africa, and Latin America by 2026, with AIDC contributing to new capacity [1][2] - In the U.S., AIDC demand is increasing rapidly, with projections suggesting that by 2030, AIDC storage demand could reach 100-200 GWh, driven by the need for enhanced flexibility and self-supply through solar storage [1] - The shipping industry is catalyzing green alcohol demand, with numerous domestic projects in wind, solar, and hydrogen alcohol expected to accelerate construction and drive storage demand [1] Group 2 - China's independent storage market is expected to thrive post-2H25 due to favorable capacity pricing policies, with a strong economic model based on peak-valley arbitrage, capacity pricing, and ancillary services [2] - The European market is experiencing positive storage demand due to energy shortages and a lack of flexible resources, shifting focus from household storage to large-scale and commercial storage [2] - The Australian electricity market is maturing, with large-scale storage projects accelerating and household storage being reinforced by high subsidies, ensuring medium to long-term demand [2] Group 3 - The strong demand for energy storage has led to a tight supply of storage cells since 2H25, with leading companies fully booked until Q1 2026, although relief is expected post-Q2 2026 as production capacity increases [3] - Companies are building competitive barriers through overseas factories and technology licensing in response to local policy trends in Europe and the U.S., capitalizing on high growth in overseas markets [3] - The global surge in storage demand presents investment opportunities, particularly in non-U.S. markets, focusing on both front-of-the-meter and behind-the-meter storage solutions [3]

Core Viewpoint - The global energy storage market is expected to experience significant growth by 2026, driven by increasing demand in Europe, Asia, Africa, and Latin America, alongside contributions from AIDC (Advanced Industrial Data Centers) storage solutions [2][3]. Group 1: Market Demand and Growth - Demand in Europe is expected to rise due to energy shortages and the need for grid flexibility, shifting focus from residential storage to large-scale and commercial storage [2][3]. - In Australia, the mature electricity market is accelerating large-scale storage projects, supported by high subsidies for residential storage, ensuring long-term demand [2][3]. - The U.S. market is witnessing a continuous increase in large-scale storage demand due to aging grid infrastructure, although policy restrictions may push for accelerated domestic lithium battery production [2][3]. - The Asia-Pacific and Latin American markets are benefiting from reduced costs in solar storage, driving demand for large-scale storage to ensure power stability and lower electricity costs [2][3]. Group 2: AIDC and New Energy Projects - The U.S. AIDC sector is experiencing high growth, with more AIDC facilities integrating storage to enhance interconnectivity and accelerate grid connection [3]. - The demand for green methanol in the shipping industry is catalyzing the growth of green methanol projects, which are expected to boost storage demand [3]. - The ongoing demand surge is leading to a shortage of battery cells, with leading companies experiencing full order books extending into Q1 2026 [3]. Group 3: Policy and Economic Drivers - The storage industry's rapid growth is primarily driven by the increasing share of wind and solar power generation and the deepening of electricity market mechanisms [6]. - In China, the "Document No. 136" policy is pivotal in driving storage growth by transitioning from administrative pricing to market-based pricing, enhancing the economic viability of independent storage [11][12]. - The Australian government has introduced a significant subsidy program for home batteries, which is expected to boost residential storage installations substantially [16][18]. Group 4: Regional Market Insights - The European storage market is transitioning from subsidy-driven growth to economic viability, with increasing price differentials and declining system costs driving project implementations [21][22]. - In Latin America, countries like Chile and Brazil are reforming their electricity markets to allow independent storage systems to participate, creating substantial growth potential [32][33]. - In Africa, the reliance on diesel generators is expected to decline as the costs of solar storage systems decrease, providing a more stable power supply [33][45].

Group 1 - The core viewpoint is that after 2H25, China's provinces will successively implement capacity pricing policies, leading to excellent economic viability for independent energy storage under the "peak-valley arbitrage + capacity pricing + ancillary services" revenue model, with high demand expected to continue in the short term [1] - The European market is experiencing positive storage demand due to energy shortages and a lack of grid flexibility resources, with a shift in focus from household storage to large-scale and industrial storage [1] - The Australian electricity market is maturing, with large-scale storage projects accelerating, while household storage is being reinforced by high subsidies, ensuring medium to long-term demand [1] Group 2 - The AIDC (Automated Industrial Data Center) demand in the U.S. is expected to grow significantly, with projections indicating that by 2030, AIDC storage demand could reach 100-200 GWh, driven by the need for enhanced flexibility and interconnectivity [2] - The green methanol sector is seeing increased demand from the shipping industry, which is catalyzing the construction of numerous wind-solar-storage hydrogen-methanol integrated projects in China, thereby boosting storage demand [2] Group 3 - The strong demand for energy storage is leading to a tight supply of storage cells, with major companies experiencing full order books and production schedules extending into Q1 2026; however, relief is expected post-Q2 2026 as production capacity is released [3] - Major companies are building competitive barriers through overseas factories and technology licensing in response to local policy trends in Europe and the U.S., allowing them to benefit from high growth in overseas markets [3] Group 4 - Recommended companies for front-of-the-meter storage include CATL (300750.SZ, 03750), EVE Energy (300014.SZ), and Haibo Technology (688411.SH), while for behind-the-meter storage, recommended companies include Deye Technology (605117.SH), Airo Energy (688717.SH), and Pylon Technologies (688063.SH) [4]