Jan 8, 2026 - A 220,000-kWh power bank is now backing up Shanghai`s grid
Shanghai has launched its first large grid-side energy storage station this year, a giant “power bank” that can store over 220,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity. The station uses two types of batteries, lithium batteries for fast response and power-intensive tasks, and non-flammable vanadium flow batteries for safe, long-duration storage. It stores electricity when demand is low and releases it during peak hours, helping balance the power supply in the energy-hungry Wujing area, a major industrial hub in the city. The system can be fully charged or emptied in about two hours, and responds within milliseconds. Once operational, the station is expected to cut about 19,000 tons of CO₂ emissions a year within three years.