Yunnan Xichou Pumped Storage Station Starts Construction, Southern Yunnan's First Large Project
Xichou pumped storage power station, a national key project under the pumped storage development plan, officially started construction in Wenshan Prefecture, Yunnan Province. With an installed capacity of 1,200 MW and a total investment of about CNY 8 billion, the station will house four 300 MW units and is the first large-scale pumped storage project in southern Yunnan. Located in a karst rocky desertification area, the plant uses a natural depression for its upper reservoir and a dam on the Dama River for its lower reservoir, excavating less than 30 percent of the total reservoir volume. Once complete, it will absorb about 2.16 billion kWh of clean energy and cut carbon dioxide emissions by some 1.9 million tonnes annually, providing strong support for the integration of 8 GW of wind and solar power in southern Yunnan. Full operation is expected in the early period of the 16th Five-Year Plan.
Main Powerhouse Construction Begins at Chongqing Fengjie Caiziba Pumped Storage Plant
Excavation of the main powerhouse began on September 23 at the Caiziba pumped storage power station in Fengjie, Chongqing, marking the start of main construction. The project is Three Gorges Group's first pumped storage project in Chongqing and a key national project under the 14th Five-Year Plan, with a total installed capacity of 1,200 MW and four 300 MW units. The first unit is expected to generate power in June 2030. Located in typical karst terrain with complex geological conditions, the station will mainly undertake peak shaving, valley filling, energy storage, frequency and voltage regulation and emergency backup for the Chongqing power grid, supporting the region's new energy system construction.
CGN's Mojiang Longba 205 MW Solar Project in Yunnan Fully Grid-Connected
CGN's 205 MW Mojiang Longba photovoltaic project achieved full-capacity grid connection on September 21 in Yunnan Province. With a total investment of CNY 770 million, the project comprises 67 PV units plus a 220 kV booster station and energy storage system. Located in the hilly terrain around Longba Town in Mojiang County, the plant is expected to generate annual industrial output value of about CNY 100 million and pay about CNY 12 million in annual taxes, contributing to the local economy and the province's clean energy mix.
Three Gorges Yunnan Energy Investment Connects 70 MW Lijiang Ninglang Solar Project
On September 22, the 70 MW Shimen Guanshan photovoltaic project in Ninglang County, Lijiang, invested and built by Three Gorges Group Yunnan Energy Investment Co., was connected to the grid. Covering about 1,500 mu of land, the plant is expected to generate approximately 120 million kWh of electricity annually, saving about 39,000 tonnes of standard coal and reducing carbon dioxide emissions by about 106,200 tonnes each year. The project further strengthens Yunnan's position as a clean energy powerhouse and supports the province's green power development goals.
Hubei Starts Expansion of No.3 Main Transformer at 1,000 kV Jingmen UHV Station
Construction of the No.3 main transformer expansion at the 1,000 kV Jingmen ultra-high-voltage substation began on September 22, the first UHV expansion project launched in Hubei during the 15th Five-Year Plan. The project will add a 3,000 MVA main transformer and is scheduled to be completed in October 2027. It will significantly enhance the station's power flow regulation capability, allow more Three Gorges hydropower to be consumed within Central China, and improve interprovincial power mutual support and renewable energy absorption across the Central China grid.
Sichuan Commissions 500 kV Tianlin I and II Line Upgrade Project
The 500 kV Tianlin I and II line upgrade project in Sichuan was officially commissioned on September 27. The works included 13 new towers and 11.204 km of line, 44 surge arresters, 44 backup protection clamps and six distributed fault diagnostic devices, along with defect treatment on 49 towers. The line runs from the 1,000 kV Tianfu station to the 500 kV Dalin station and forms an important part of the Chengdu-Meishan ring network. Its commissioning improves the transmission capacity and operational reliability of Sichuan's main grid and adds security for the winter peak season.
Shanghai Songjiang Commissions Distribution-Level Battery Storage Unit
On September 22, State Grid Shanghai Songjiang Power Supply Company commissioned a 260 kWh distribution-level battery storage unit in Jiajiabang Village, Maogang Town. The system stores surplus rooftop photovoltaic power during the day and discharges it back to the grid at night, resolving reverse overload and voltage-limit problems and completing the "last mile" of local renewable energy consumption. Requiring no large-scale transformer replacement or line renovation, the low-cost, fast-to-deploy model is a showcase for the nationwide scale-up of "grid-substitution" storage at the distribution level.
Australia's Waratah Super Battery Reaches Full Capacity
The Waratah Super Battery reached full commercial capacity on September 28, a major milestone for one of the world's most powerful battery energy storage systems. Designed to deliver 850 MW of power and store 1,680 MWh, it is Australia's most powerful battery system, built, owned and operated by Akaysha Energy. Integrated with Transgrid's System Integrity Protection Scheme, the battery can detect grid disturbances in milliseconds and respond instantly, acting as a giant "shock absorber" that maintains system reliability as New South Wales retires its coal-fired generation.
Belgium's Giga Storage Starts Construction on 2.8 GWh Battery Project
Giga Storage has begun construction on a 2.8 GWh battery energy storage project in Belgium. The four-hour duration system will be built and supplied by Tesla, with 640 Megapack 3 units to be deployed. The project ranks among Europe's largest standalone battery storage developments and will provide flexibility and grid support services as Belgium expands its renewable generation and phases out conventional capacity.
India's NTPC Tenders 1,100 MW / 3,300 MWh BESS at Khavda Solar Plant
On September 23, NTPC Green Energy Limited issued an EPC tender for a 1,100 MW / 3,300 MWh grid-connected battery energy storage system at its Khavda solar plant in Gujarat. The package is divided into four independently evaluated blocks (three of 300 MW / 900 MWh and one of 200 MW / 600 MWh). The tender specifies a 25-year design life, 15 years of operation and maintenance within the EPC scope, and guaranteed capacity-degradation benchmarks. Bids are due by October 27, 2026, with the project representing a key step in pairing India's largest solar park with large-scale storage.
Chile Completes First Grid-Forming Storage Field Test at 48 MW / 275 MWh BESS
On September 22, Chile's national grid operator conducted the country's first field tests of grid-forming technology at Engie's Los Loros battery energy storage system in the Atacama region. The 48 MW / 275 MWh facility demonstrated the ability to provide voltage support and synthetic inertia, marking an important advance for grid stability in a market with rapidly growing solar and wind capacity.
Hungary Commissions 70 MW Solar-Plus-Storage Hybrid Facility
Hungary has commissioned a hybrid renewable energy facility in Hodmezovasarhely combining a 70 MW solar plant with an 80 MWh battery, described as the country's largest hybrid renewable installation. Covering 86.6 hectares and using around 98,000 bifacial modules, the plant is expected to generate about 105 GWh annually. Risen Energy supplied the modules, while Sungrow provided the inverters and battery equipment. Developed by Solar Markt without state subsidies at a cost of around EUR 77 million, the project sells power to large corporate buyers through long-term power purchase agreements.
Latvia's Sunly Opens 54 MW Solar Park Under EUR 100m Hybrid Project
On September 23, Estonian renewable developer Sunly opened a 54 MW solar park near Matisi in northern Latvia, the first operating part of a larger hybrid energy project combining solar, wind and battery storage. The wider development is expected to attract around EUR 100 million in investment and will use a shared grid connection for the three technologies, the first hybrid park of its kind in the Baltics. The solar component is expected to generate enough electricity annually to match the consumption of about 15,000 households. Financing involves the European Investment Bank, the EBRD and SEB.
Romania's 315 MW Solar Project with LONGi Modules Grid-Connected
Two photovoltaic projects developed by Israel's Nofar Energy in Giurgiu County, Romania, have been officially commissioned, with a combined capacity of over 315 MW and all modules supplied by LONGi. The projects rank among the largest solar developments built in Romania to date, with expected annual generation of about 430 GWh, enough to meet the electricity demand of more than 250,000 households and cutting about 160,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions each year. A battery energy storage system is also planned at the site to enhance grid stability and clean power consumption.