China forges ahead in energy storage using advanced lead batteries

One of my early impressions as I tour China’s vast industrial heartlands is the country’s growing demand for electricity from renewable sources to help power its belt and road initiative. This energy revolution is growing exponentially and heralding a renaissance for advanced lead batteries. I’ve spent the last few days visiting companies across China and it’s clear they see an enormous market for energy storage using reliable, safe and affordable technology to store energy generated by solar and wind farms. One of the businesses at the forefront of this is Narada, based in Hangzou province, one of China’s leading battery manufacturers. I toured their futuristic control room (pictured) which maps the 50 or so existing energy storage facilities they manage in China, all using advanced lead carbon battery systems. 

 The future’s bright: advanced lead battery technology powers China’s renewable energy revolutionThere are at least 40 more planned and the company is making inroads in north America and in Europe, including a project already up and running in Berlin. Their systems help regulate peak demand in China’s national grid, as well as providing distinct micro-grid applications. I’ll be talking about these developments in Boston, US, in April at a workshop ahead of the Energy Storage Association’s annual conference. You can find out more about that workshop here.