With the explosive growth of AI, cloud computing, and big data technologies, global demand for computing power continues to rise, bringing increasing attention to the associated power consumption challenges. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), global data center electricity usage has grown at an annual rate of 12% over the past five years. Projections indicate that by 2030, annual consumption will double to approximately 945 terawatt-hours—surpassing Japan's current total electricity usage.
Against this backdrop, energy storage and power system transformation are seen as critical solutions. The results of the 7th Sina Finance Golden Kirin Best Analyst Awards were recently announced. In the new energy equipment sector, Wu Bohua's team from Changjiang Securities claimed the top spot, followed by Zeng Duohong's team from Soochow Securities and Sun Xiaoya's team from Tianfeng Securities in second and third place, respectively. Xu Lin and Zhu Yue's team from CITIC Securities ranked fourth, while Wang Shuai's team from Industrial Securities secured fifth. These top analyst teams provide forward-looking insights into the energy transition and help identify leading companies with significant value potential.
CITIC Securities' power and new energy team believes that after three years of capacity digestion and amid stronger-than-expected demand, the power equipment and new energy industry stands at the threshold of a new cycle. During the "15th Five-Year Plan" period, global new energy installations are expected to reach new heights, driving revolutionary changes in power systems: 1. High penetration of wind and solar power will generate massive demand for energy storage and capacity. 2. Global power grids, especially in Europe and the U.S., will increase investments to align with carbon neutrality goals. 3. Rising adjustment costs and grid upgrades will further push electricity prices higher, unlocking long-term demand for residential and commercial storage. 4. AI-driven growth in global electricity consumption will elevate the importance of low-carbon, high-density power sources (offshore wind, SOFC, nuclear, and gas turbines), while data centers shift toward high-voltage power supply. These transformations will begin materializing in 2026.
Zhu Yue, following an investigation in Inner Mongolia, stated that the energy storage sector is not a short-term speculative play. Domestic demand is driven by grid necessities, while overseas markets rely on high-margin orders—both large and sustainable. A doubling of industry scale next year is certain, with profitability improvements across the supply chain (especially for leading companies). Stocks still have significant upside, dismissing rumors of "seasonal corrections" or "weak demand."
For the full list of winners in the 7th Sina Golden Kirin Best Analyst Awards, see details >>
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