Recently, the Gansu Provincial Development and Reform Commission issued a notice regarding matters related to energy storage configuration for centralized new energy projects in Gansu Province. The document indicates that new energy projects are encouraged to implement differentiated configurations of new energy storage technologies across different regions.

1. First Batch of Wind and Solar Power Projects in the 14th Five-Year Plan Period

The first batch of wind and solar power projects in Gansu Province during the 14th Five-Year Plan period shall continue to implement the energy storage configuration requirements outlined in the “Notice on Matters Related to the Development and Construction of the First Batch of Wind Power and Photovoltaic Power Generation Projects in the 14th Five-Year Plan Period” (Gan Fa Gui Neng Yuan [2021] No. 327).

On May 28, 2021, Gansu Province proposed the following in the “Notice on Matters Related to the Development and Construction of the First Batch of Wind Power and Photovoltaic Power Generation Projects in the 14th Five-Year Plan Period”:

1) Allocate an additional 12,000 megawatts for new wind and solar power project construction.

2) In the Hexi region (Jiuquan, Jiayuguan, Jinchang, Zhangye, Wuwei), energy storage facilities shall be configured at a minimum of 10% of the power station's installed capacity. In other regions, the minimum configuration shall be 5% of the power station's installed capacity. The continuous energy storage duration for all storage facilities shall not be less than 2 hours.

2. Second Batch of Wind and Solar Power Projects under the 14th Five-Year Plan

For the second batch of wind and solar power projects under the province's 14th Five-Year Plan, energy storage capacity shall be allocated as follows: - Western regions (Jiuquan, Jiayuguan, Zhangye, Jinchang, Wuwei): 15% capacity with 4-hour storage duration - Central and eastern regions (Lanzhou, Baiyin, Tianshui, Pingliang, Qingyang, Dingxi, Longnan, Gannan, Linxia, Lanzhou New Area): 10% capacity with 2-hour storage duration For the central and eastern regions, any excess capacity from existing or completed energy storage projects may be offset against the energy storage capacity requirements of other projects by the same enterprise or leased to external parties. Projects not yet commenced shall comply with these requirements.

The document also encourages the development of shared energy storage projects. Shared energy storage stations may connect to nearby renewable energy project collection and step-up substations, or directly to public grid 330kV or 750kV substations. Leasing arrangements shall be established through autonomous contracts between power generation enterprises and energy storage enterprises, with installment leasing permitted. Revenue generated from shared energy storage shall be distributed among participating new energy enterprises. For shared energy storage projects led by third-party enterprises, revenue distribution shall be determined through negotiation with new energy power generation enterprises.

Additionally, the construction of grid-side independent energy storage projects is encouraged. In principle, the rated power of each grid-side independent energy storage station shall not be less than 10,000 kilowatts, with a duration of no less than 2 hours.