1. EU Signs First Tripartite Energy Storage Agreement with Phased Expansion Targets
On June 26, during the EU Energy Ministers' meeting in Luxembourg, the EU signed its first regional tripartite storage agreement, creating a coordination mechanism among governments, industry, and financial institutions. The agreement sets short-term targets of 45 GW of new storage capacity (2026–2028) versus 12 GW in 2025, with storage's share of peak grid supply rising from 5 % to 10 %. The long-term plan targets 200 GW total EU storage capacity by 2030, up from 55 GW today, while removing project barriers, providing financing, and reducing fossil fuel dependence—opening sustained European market opportunities for Chinese storage equipment exports.
2. EU Allocates € 2.5 B Modernisation Fund to Accelerate Storage Infrastructure
The European Commission and EIB announced € 2.5 billion in Modernisation Fund allocations from EU ETS revenues for 51 clean energy projects across 11 countries. Central/Eastern European nations like Czechia, Poland, Romania, and Greece are major beneficiaries (Greece receiving € 233.9 million), with funds dedicated to new storage, solar/wind projects, grid upgrades, and industrial decarbonization. This will significantly boost European storage deployment and sustain policy dividends for Chinese storage equipment makers expanding in Europe.
3. Huizhou, China Sets 1 GW New Storage Target in 15th Five-Year Plan
On July 8, Huizhou, a city in Guangdong Province, China, released its 15th Five-Year Plan, naming new storage and solid-state batteries as priority emerging sectors and setting a target of 1 GW new storage capacity over five years. The plan covers lithium, sodium, flow batteries, and hydrogen fuel cells, focusing on core components (cells, PCS, BMS) to build an integrated storage manufacturing cluster. It also promotes large-scale independent storage projects (300 MW / 200 MW) and distributed microgrids, cementing Huizhou's status as a Greater Bay Area storage hub.
4. 500 MW / 2000 MWh Oman Ibri BESS Project Energized Successfully
On June 27, the Oman Ibri BESS Project (500 MW / 2000 MWh), built by China Electric Power Equipment and Technology Co. as EPC contractor, was successfully energized and entered grid commissioning—taking only five months from site preparation. This marks the country's first large-scale electrochemical storage project, connecting to the grid via a 400 kV switchyard.
5. EVE Energy Invests RMB 160 M to Boost Chengdu Solid-State Battery Subsidiary
On July 7, EVE Energy announced a RMB 160 million capital increase for its wholly-owned Chengdu subsidiary, raising its registered capital from RMB 600 M to RMB 760 M. The Chengdu base, which produced the "Longquan No.2" all-solid-state battery in 2025 for robotics, eVTOL, and AI applications, will use the funds for production line expansion and tech iteration, advancing pilot manufacturing of high-energy-density solid-state cells.
6. Shandong, China Issues Virtual Power Plant Rules Effective Aug 1
On July 7, Shandong Province, China, released its VPP management rules, which take effect on Aug 1, covering full lifecycle oversight. VPPs can aggregate storage, distributed PV, and flexible loads to participate in energy, ancillary services, and demand response markets, with a cap preventing double-dipping for the same adjustment action. This is China's first comprehensive provincial VPP standard adapted for spot markets, providing new arbitrage paths for C&I and shared storage while promoting source-grid-load-storage integration.
7. Stars New Energy Secures ~RMB 500 M Round, Launches Pre-IPO; Targets 8 GWh Shipments
On July 8, vanadium-LFP hybrid storage firm Stars New Energy announced a nearly RMB 500 million Series C funding round from CSC Capital, ICBC Capital, and others, and has commenced Pre-IPO preparations. Its 8 GWh Shaoxing "dark factory" is operational. The company targets 8 GWh storage system shipments and 10 GWh managed capacity in 2026. Funds will support production expansion, AI O&M platform development, and overseas project pipelines.
8. CATL Invests in Jiangsu Kaiyang Ship Co. to Tap Marine Storage Applications
On July 8, registration data showed CATL's Electric Boat Technology platform acquired a 7.4 % stake in Jiangsu Kaiyang Ship Co., a builder of electric vessels (100 units/year covering cargo, fishing, and official craft). This investment advances CATL's "cell manufacturing + vessel integration" strategy, accelerating deployment of marine storage systems and opening a new waterborne storage market segment.
9. State Council Sets 2030 Target of 300 GW New Storage in Carbon Peaking Plan
On July 9, the State Council released its 15th Five-Year Carbon Peaking Action Plan, setting quantitative targets for power system regulation resources. Key 2030 targets: about 160 GW pumped hydro, striving for 300 GW new storage, over 50 GW VPP regulation capacity, and demand response covering 5 % of peak load. This substantially raised storage target will drive long-term expansion across lithium, flow, sodium, and storage system supply chains.
10. BYD Storage Lands 11.275 GWh Order for UAE Flagship Round-the-Clock Project
On July 9, BYD Storage announced an 11.275 GWh supply deal with UAE's Masdar for the Abu Dhabi RTC solar-plus-storage project (5.2 GW PV + 19 GWh total storage), the world's first GW-scale 24/7 renewable project. BYD will supply its Haohan liquid-cooled system with 2 710 Ah blade cells for extreme desert conditions. Combined with a prior 2.4 GWh Polish project, BYD's overseas storage orders now exceed 13 GWh.
11. JinkoSolar Controller Kangping Chen Resigns All Roles, Leaving After Just 4 Months as Vice Chair
On July 10, JinkoSolar announced Vice Chairman Kangping Chen resigned for personal reasons, stepping down from the Strategy Committee and all subsidiaries. Chen, a 20-year Jinko veteran and one of three controllers, had become Vice Chairman only four months earlier. His sudden departure raises questions about the company's future strategy and energy storage business direction.