Vanadium Flow Battery and Lithium-Ion Coupling: China Commissions the World's Largest Grid-Forming Hybrid Energy Storage Station
The commissioning of the Gushanliang 300MW hybrid energy storage project marks the beginning of a new era in which storage technology becomes more diversified and differentiated. The millisecond-level response of lithium-ion batteries, paired with the ultra-long cycle life of vanadium flow batteries, overcomes the limitations of any single technology. Tellus Materials' hybrid energy storage systems are built on exactly this principle — flexibly combining different storage technologies to match the requirements of each application scenario and maximize overall system value.
A Commercial Operations Milestone
A 300MW/1,200MWh hybrid battery energy storage system (BESS) in Ordos, Inner Mongolia, China has successfully entered commercial operation. Following rigorous performance verification testing, the project deploys a hybrid configuration of lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries and vanadium flow batteries, combining fast-response short-duration storage with long-cycle storage in a complementary architecture. This breakthrough hybrid storage design marks a new phase in the large-scale, grid-forming application of energy storage technology in China.
Grid-Forming Power Conversion System
The project employs grid-forming power conversion systems supplied by Sineng Electric, each rated at 1.25MW. The complete system is capable of providing power support during grid disturbances, stabilizing the grid through virtual inertia and damping, and performing black-start functions in response to large-scale outage scenarios. Sineng Electric's millisecond-level power support technology effectively suppresses various forms of grid frequency oscillation, responding precisely to both large- and small-scale grid disturbances. The reliability of this system was fully validated during a three-charge, three-discharge performance verification process.
An Energy Hub in the Kubuqi Desert
Located in the Kubuqi Desert, this facility is the core component of the Gushanliang Energy Storage Station — a multi-gigawatt project in Inner Mongolia with a total planned capacity of 3GW/12.8GWh. The project covers approximately 73 hectares and represents a total investment of RMB 11.2 billion (approximately USD 1.58 billion). This level of investment reflects China's firm commitment to next-generation storage technologies and large-scale deployment. According to publicly available information, the project is led by Hunan Kerun New Energy, with participation from Xingchen New Energy and other members of the Large-Scale Energy Storage Ecosystem Innovation Alliance.
Design Advantages of Complementary Technologies
The core strength of the hybrid storage configuration lies in the complementary nature of its two battery technologies. Lithium iron phosphate batteries offer high energy density, fast response capability, and high charge-discharge efficiency, making them well-suited for managing grid frequency fluctuations on a timescale of seconds to minutes. Vanadium flow batteries, by contrast, deliver ultra-long cycle life (exceeding 20,000 cycles), the flexibility to independently scale energy and power capacity, and outstanding performance under extreme temperature and environmental conditions — making them ideal for providing long-duration storage services spanning hours to days.
In the Gushanliang project, the combined 300MW output is contributed by both storage technologies. LFP batteries handle rapid power response and virtual inertia support, while vanadium flow batteries ensure the system can address longer-cycle energy balancing needs, effectively managing the variability inherent in wind and solar generation.
Establishing Global Leadership in Energy Storage
The commissioning of the Gushanliang project represents China's global leadership in grid-forming energy storage deployment at scale. By comparison, similar projects in European and North American markets remain largely at the pilot stage or face regulatory hurdles. Chinese developers have now advanced grid-forming storage technology to routine deployment at the gigawatt level. The facility will connect to the 500kV Gushanliang substation, supplying power to industrial and residential users across Ordos and western Inner Mongolia.
This development reflects the urgent need within China's power system for flexible dispatch capability for renewable energy, as well as the government's sustained investment in the research, development, and demonstration of next-generation storage technologies. The successful commissioning of the Gushanliang project validates the viability of hybrid storage technology and lays a solid foundation for the broader energy transition ahead.
