The Institute of Engineering Thermophysics at the Chinese Academy of Sciences recently unveiled a new type of compressor specifically designed for Compressed Air Energy Storage (CAES) applications. This CAES compressor is described as the world's highest single-unit power device currently available, with a maximum exhaust pressure reaching 10.1 megapascals and a rated power of 101 megawatts. Its load range is between 38.7% and 118.4%, achieving an efficiency of up to 88.1% at maximum exhaust pressure.
The Chinese Academy of Sciences stated in an announcement: "We have successfully developed the world's first CAES compressor with a single-unit power exceeding 100 megawatts, possessing completely independent intellectual property rights. Compared to existing CAES compressors, its single-unit power has increased by over 100%, unit cost has been significantly reduced, and it also boasts advantages such as high efficiency, high pressure, and a wide operating range."
According to the Chinese Academy of Sciences, this CAES compressor more than doubles the single-unit power of existing similar equipment while substantially lowering unit costs. High-efficiency performance, high-pressure capability, and a wide operating range are also listed as the system's main advantages. The system has passed tests conducted by a third-party company accredited by the China National Accreditation Service for Conformity Assessment (CNAS). Test results indicate that the CAES compressor meets international standards, although further technical details were not disclosed.
China is at the forefront of global deployment for large-scale CAES projects. In May 2024, Zhongchu Guoneng Technology Co., Ltd. launched the world's largest CAES project in Feicheng City, Shandong Province. This $207.8 million energy storage power station has a capacity of 300 MW/1,800 MWh and utilizes underground salt caverns for storage. In February 2025, a state-led consortium launched a 300 MW/1,200 MWh CAES project in Xinyang City, Henan Province, employing fully artificial underground caverns—the first such project in China. This ¥2.15 billion project, supported by the local state-owned enterprise Xinyang Construction Investment Group, CAES technology expert China Energy Storage National Engineering Research Center, and two other state-owned investment companies, is scheduled for completion by the end of 2026.
The Chinese Academy of Sciences itself launched a 100 MW CAES plant in Zhangjiakou City, Hebei Province, China, in October 2022. Prior to that, the state-owned energy group China Huaneng, Tsinghua University, and China National Salt Industry Corporation commissioned the Jiangsu Jintan Salt Cavern Compressed Air Energy Storage Project in Changzhou City, Jiangsu Province. That project has an energy storage capacity of 300 MWh and a power generation capacity of 60 MW.
