Core Viewpoint - The article emphasizes the urgent need for long-duration energy storage solutions in China to support the transition to a renewable energy system, highlighting the limitations of current short-duration storage technologies and the growing importance of long-duration storage for stabilizing power supply [2][5]. Group 1: Research Background and Purpose - The research is driven by the global climate change response, with China advancing energy transition and aiming to build a renewable energy-based system. In 2024, renewable energy generation in China reached 3.46 trillion kWh, accounting for approximately 35% of total generation, but the average storage duration of new storage projects was only 2.3 hours, with only 15.4% having a duration of 4 hours or more [2][3]. - Long-duration storage is essential for cross-day, cross-month, and even cross-season energy storage and release, which is crucial for stabilizing the power system amid increasing renewable energy generation [2][5]. Group 2: Policy Promotion - In August 2021, the National Development and Reform Commission and the Energy Administration issued a notice encouraging renewable energy companies to build or purchase peak-shaving capabilities, mandating that new renewable energy projects must have over 4 hours of peak-shaving capacity, thus stimulating market demand for long-duration storage [3]. - The 2024 government work report included new energy storage for the first time, indicating the government's strong emphasis on the storage industry, particularly long-duration storage [3]. Group 3: Technology Development - Pumped storage is currently the most mature technology, known for its large capacity and long discharge time, but it is limited by geographical conditions. New technologies such as flow batteries, compressed air storage, hydrogen storage, and molten salt thermal storage are gaining attention and developing diversely [4]. - As of the end of 2024, the installed capacity of flow battery storage in China reached 1.8 GWh, with future plans exceeding 15 GWh. Compressed air storage projects in Shandong and Hubei have begun operations, with a 300 MW advanced compressed air storage demonstration project completed in Feicheng, Shandong [4]. Group 4: Challenges in Long-Duration Storage - Despite progress, challenges remain, including the need for breakthroughs in key technologies like hydrogen storage, high costs, insufficient project construction experience, and unclear market mechanisms affecting investment returns [5]. - The industry chain is not yet mature, with issues in component supply and equipment manufacturing, leading to high costs and inconsistent quality [5]. Group 5: Blue Paper Overview - The "2025 TrendBank Long-Duration Energy Storage Industry Development Blue Paper" will be released during the 2025 Long-Duration Energy Storage Industry Conference, providing comprehensive analysis and recommendations for enterprises, investors, policymakers, and industry practitioners [2][6].

Core Viewpoint - Shandong Province is implementing the "Eight Major Actions" to enhance the high-level consumption of renewable energy while maintaining the role of coal power as a stabilizing force in the energy system [1] Group 1: Coal Power's Role and Measures - Coal power serves as a "ballast" for ensuring the safe and stable operation of the power system and is crucial for promoting renewable energy consumption [1] - During the 14th Five-Year Plan period, Shandong will introduce action plans for the transformation and upgrading of the coal power industry, including the phased retirement of subcritical units and the enhancement of peak regulation capabilities of coal power plants [1][5] Group 2: New Coal Power Projects - The province is accelerating the planning and construction of clean and efficient coal power units, with new standards for flexibility in operation, requiring new pure condensing and extraction condensing coal power units to have minimum technical outputs of no more than 20% and 30% of rated load, respectively [3] - A total of 8.72 million kilowatts of new coal power capacity is expected to be added through projects like Linyi Hengxin and Huawang Thermal Power [3] Group 3: Upgrading Existing Coal Power Units - The province is fully implementing upgrades for existing large coal power units, with 66 units and 31.895 million kilowatts already modified for flexibility, adding over 7 million kilowatts of regulation capacity [4] - The goal for this year is to complete the "three modifications" for approximately 20 million kilowatts of coal power units [4] Group 4: Support for Thermal-Electric Decoupling - Shandong is promoting thermal-electric decoupling technology, encouraging coal power units to adopt electric boilers and molten salt storage to enhance flexibility [4] - Pilot projects like Jining Huayuan and Datang Linqing Power Plant are being established to improve rapid response capabilities of coal power units [4] Group 5: Future Plans and Standards - The Shandong Energy Bureau will develop implementation plans aligned with national coal power upgrade initiatives, focusing on deep peak regulation, rapid adjustment, strong support, wide load, high resilience, and low emissions [5] - Future coal power projects will be strictly controlled and planned according to new generation coal power standards to enhance peak regulation capabilities and adapt to the needs of the new power system [5]