On October 30, the world's largest 60 MW national demonstration project for liquid air energy storage, for which Harbin Electric Corporation (HE) supplied core equipment including expansion generator units, hairpin heat exchangers, and drive motors for high-power air compressor units, was successfully connected to the grid and began generating electricity, marking a major breakthrough in the localization of China's core technology and equipment for liquid air energy storage.
Located in Golmud City, Qinghai Province, the project is invested in and constructed by China Green Development Investment Group. It is a pilot demonstration project for new-type energy storage of the National Energy Administration and a major technical equipment item in the energy sector (first set). The project adopts the core process of ultra-low-temperature cryogenic liquefaction at -194℃, uses air as the working medium, and realizes the storage and release of electrical energy and cold energy under normal pressure and ultra-low temperature conditions. It does not rely on geological conditions, is safe and environmentally friendly, and offers flexible layout. It also features advantages such as large scale, long duration, and long service life, achieving the scaled development of liquid air energy storage systems from the hundred-kilowatt level to the ten-thousand-kilowatt level.
The project has complete independent intellectual property rights, with a 100% localization rate of equipment. Its energy storage power and energy storage capacity both rank first in the world in the field of liquid air energy storage, and multiple core indicators have reached world-leading levels. It truly realizes the "storage during low-demand periods and use during peak-demand periods" of renewable energy power, effectively solving the difficulties of large output fluctuations and local consumption of wind power and photovoltaic power.
The Steam Turbine Company of HE provided the expansion generator units and hairpin heat exchangers for the project. The expander is currently the world's most powerful liquid air energy storage turbine, featuring fast startup response and low life consumption, and can precisely adapt to the frequent start-stop operation of energy storage units; the hairpin heat exchangers are suitable for working conditions involving large temperature differences, severe temperature alternation, and thermal shock caused by frequent start-stop operation, with outstanding fatigue resistance and thermal shock resistance.
The Electric Motor Company of HE provided the drive motors for the high-power air compressor units for the project. As the core power equipment of the liquid air energy storage system, the compressor drive motor is a key hub for realizing electrical energy conversion and air liquefaction energy storage. Its efficient and stable operation directly determines the conversion efficiency and safety and reliability of the entire energy storage system, fully demonstrating China's independent research and development and localized supporting capabilities in high-end energy equipment.
During project execution, HE established a professional service team and provided key support for the project with strong technical capabilities and rich practical experience, also accumulating valuable engineering practice experience for the construction of China's new-type power system, the transformation of the energy structure, and the promotion of similar projects in the future.
The successful grid connection of the project is an important breakthrough for HE in the field of long-duration energy storage equipment, and is also a vivid practice of China's achievement of independent controllability and technological leadership in key equipment for long-duration energy storage. Looking to the future, HE will continue to deepen technological innovation in the fields of new-type energy storage and advanced energy equipment, and contribute more HE wisdom and strength to building a clean, low-carbon, safe, and efficient energy system.