On October 21, the 200MW/400MWh independent energy storage power station in Heze City, Shandong Province, completed all grid-related commissioning and was successfully connected to the grid on its first attempt. The project’s supporting 2.5MW/5MWh sodium-ion battery energy storage system from BENAN ENERGY also completed grid-connection commissioning at the same time. 

The project uses BENAN ENERGY’s 166Ah energy-type sodium-ion cells featuring long life, high safety, and a wide temperature range. The successful grid connection provides new engineering practice for BENAN ENERGY’s sodium-ion batteries to participate in the operation of independent energy storage power stations, and demonstrates the excellent integration and operation capabilities of BENAN ENERGY’s cells in actual energy storage systems.

Entering Independent Energy Storage: Sodium Batteries Undergo Real Engineering Tests

The sodium-ion energy storage demonstration system put into operation this time consists of two 1.25MW/2.5MWh containers. It will subsequently participate in Shandong’s electricity spot and ancillary services markets and, according to project operation arrangements, undertake functions such as peak shaving and valley filling and frequency regulation ancillary services.

Shandong has large seasonal temperature differences and environmental humidity variations, placing higher requirements on the temperature adaptability, operational reliability, and safety management of energy storage systems. This grid connection has accumulated more engineering experience for BENAN ENERGY’s sodium-ion energy storage in system integration and grid-connected operation in independent energy storage power stations, and provides a richer reference for subsequent applications.

166Ah Cells: An Energy-Type Choice for Energy Storage Applications

BENAN ENERGY’s 166Ah cells are aimed at commercial and industrial energy storage and large-scale energy storage applications, focusing on the needs for long life, high safety, and excellent environmental adaptability in long-term power station operation.

Cycle Life Performance Based on product testing and design data, the cycle life can reach more than 20,000 cycles, and the design calendar life exceeds 20 years.

Safety Design The cells adopt a polyanion system. Relevant BENAN ENERGY cells have obtained relevant certifications or test reports such as UL 9540A and UL 1973. The material system and system-level safety design together form part of the safety assurance of energy storage projects.

Wide Temperature Range Adaptability It can support system design under different climate environments.

Standardized Integration The standardized cell design facilitates series-parallel configuration and integration of the system, and corresponding adaptation can be carried out according to project requirements.

From Cells to Power Stations: Continuously Advancing Engineering Applications of Sodium Batteries

The completion of grid connection for the Heze project demonstrates the engineering application pathway of BENAN ENERGY’s sodium-ion cells in energy storage container systems and independent energy storage power stations. For cell suppliers, product performance needs to be continuously verified through system integration, grid-related commissioning, and actual operation; for project owners, cell selection also needs to be considered in coordination with system design, operating strategies, lifetime management, and safety solutions.

BENAN ENERGY will continue to advance R&D and product iteration in sodium-ion battery materials, cells, and energy storage applications, and will promote technology optimization and large-scale application based on project needs, working with industry partners to explore the application potential of sodium-ion batteries in independent energy storage and other energy storage fields.