China Three Gorges’ 200 MW/1,000 MWh Vanadium Flow Battery Energy Storage Project in Xinjiang Achieves Full-Capacity Operation
Date: 01 Jan 2026 |
Source: VRFB WeChat, 31 December 2025
China’s largest vanadium flow battery (VFB) energy storage power station has reached full-capacity operation, as the China Three Gorges Corporation (CTG) confirmed that its Jimsar 200 MW / 1,000 MWh VFB energy storage project in Xinjiang has now been fully commissioned and is running at full output.
The project represents a major milestone for large-scale, long-duration energy storage deployment in China. With 200 MW power capacity and 1,000 MWh energy capacity (five-hour duration), the VFB system is paired with 1 GW of photovoltaic (PV) generation as part of an integrated “PV + storage” demonstration project. Total investment is reported at RMB 3.8 billion.
“From a barren stretch of land to a ‘super power bank’, we did it in less than three years — this is not only a victory of speed, but also a reflection of confidence in our technology,” said Wang Lei, Project Manager at China Three Gorges New Energy Jimsar Power Generation Co., Ltd.
Strong decarbonisation and grid-support benefits
CTG estimates the integrated project will deliver:
- Average annual electricity generation: ~1.72 billion kWh
- Standard coal savings: ~519,000 tonnes/year
- CO₂ emissions reduction: ~1.424 million tonnes/year
With the storage system now in operation, the project is expected to increase renewable energy utilisation by enabling an additional ~220 million kWh of green electricity absorption annually, while providing key grid-support capabilities.
Technology breakthroughs for long-duration storage in harsh environments
CTG highlighted multiple innovations achieved through the project’s development and commissioning, including:
- Materials & system innovation: wide-temperature-range electrolyte development and high-reliability stack sealing materials
- Advanced operations: intelligent thermal management and a digital-twin O&M platform to improve safety and efficiency
- PV-storage coordinated dispatch: optimisation across multiple operating scenarios, raising PV utilisation by ~9% and maintaining stable performance under extreme conditions
The VFB electrolyte is described as recyclable, supporting environmental safety and lifecycle sustainability, while the project’s operating model provides a practical reference for storage configuration across large renewable energy bases.
Project partners
The project was jointly built by Shanghai Investigation, Design & Research Institute Co., Ltd., China Construction Third Engineering Bureau Group Co., Ltd., and Dalian Rongke Power Co., Ltd.