On August 8, HaiChen Storage announced the mass production of its Shandong Changshi Energy Storage Integrated Industrial Park, the world's first such park dedicated to long-duration energy storage. Regarding long-duration storage, Wang Pengcheng, co-founder and president of HaiChen Storage, stated that it is not limited to 4 or 6 hours and will extend further. The launch of the Heze base, from a deeper perspective, opens up the imagination for new energy storage application scenarios.
Wang Pengcheng noted that in 2023, when HaiChen proposed a focus on long-duration storage, many did not understand it, seeing no application scenarios and questioning whether lithium batteries could achieve this. Now, the '15th Five-Year Plan' for new energy systems clearly calls for vigorously developing new energy storage and accelerating long-duration storage. The 'Dual Carbon' plan also emphasizes scaling up new energy storage and developing long-duration storage. The 1175Ah long-duration storage cell and the ∞Power 6.25MWh 4-hour storage system, both mass-produced at the Heze base, are HaiChen's main products for 4-hour scenarios, achieving over 6.25MWh capacity in a 20-foot standard container with 4-hour stable output and a 25-year design life. Additionally, the ∞Power 6.9MWh 8-hour system, based on 1300Ah cells, has been released. The ∞Power 1022kWh next-generation storage cabinet has also been launched, extending long-duration capability to industrial and commercial settings.
Wang Pengcheng stated that large cells address the core economic issue of storage under safe conditions, and true explosive growth for new energy storage must also rely on cost-effectiveness. He believes HaiChen has a first-mover advantage in long-duration storage, leading the industry by 2-3 years. However, he emphasized that HaiChen will not just sell cells but will provide solutions, 'always starting with the end in mind. The test for leading companies now is comprehensive solution capabilities.'
Some experts believe 4-hour storage is a good balance between substitution effect and cost-effectiveness. Wang Pengcheng argued that while 4 hours is indeed an important market balance point currently, it is a 'climbing phase' balance, not a 'final' one. 'Four hours can cover intraday peak shaving needs, but if inter-day demand arises, it falls short. In AIDC scenarios, 4 hours is also insufficient. Australia has already seen 12-hour project bidding, and in the US, storage systems over 4 hours account for over 60% of the market.'
Wang Pengcheng noted that by the end of 2025, China's new energy storage installed capacity will reach 136 million kilowatts. When renewable energy penetration is still climbing, 4-hour storage can cover most intraday peak shaving needs with the best cost-effectiveness. But as the share of renewable energy generation continues to rise, the need for inter-day and inter-week regulation will become a rigid gap. Currently, HaiChen's strategy is 'covering all durations, matching scenarios professionally'—with 587Ah system solutions for 2 hours, 1175Ah for 4 hours, and 1300Ah for 8 hours.
Regarding the upper limit of storage duration, Wang Pengcheng said there is no upper limit; it may not be 48 hours, but could be standardized modules like 12 hours to increase capacity, with the core being integration efficiency and solution design. 'This is yet to be explored. HaiChen is the most willing company to discuss this,' he said. 'We are constantly exploring the best solutions, and I believe the potential for storage exploration is vast.' He also admitted that HaiChen will continue to expand production, but adheres to the principle of not expanding without a leading position. For the 2026 storage market, Wang Pengcheng expects growth to exceed 60%.
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