CATL has opened what it describes as the “world’s largest and most comprehensive testing and validation platform for energy storage systems” at its headquarters in Ningde, China.
The facility, which CATL says spans over 100,000 square metres, is designed to simulate real-world operating conditions for battery energy storage systems (BESS) across multiple grid applications, including frequency regulation, peak shaving, renewable energy integration and black start capabilities.
The company said the platform can test systems ranging from individual battery cells to multi-megawatt containerised units, with the capacity to validate performance across temperature extremes, cycling patterns, and grid disturbance scenarios.
CATL framed the launch as a response to growing industry demand for independent, large-scale validation infrastructure to de-risk battery deployments before they reach commercial operation.
This article requires Premium SubscriptionBasic (FREE) Subscription
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Try Premium for just $1
- Full premium access for the first month at only $1
- Converts to an annual rate after 30 days unless cancelled
- Cancel anytime during the trial period
Premium Benefits
- Expert industry analysis and interviews
- Digital access to PV Tech Power journal
- Exclusive event discounts
Or continue reading this article for free
The company said the platform will be available to external clients, including project developers, utilities, and equipment manufacturers, marking a shift toward open-access testing services in a sector where performance data has historically been proprietary or limited in scope.
The move comes as battery storage projects face increasing scrutiny over performance guarantees, degradation rates and safety protocols.
Grid operators and financiers have called for more transparent, standardised testing to support bankability and long-term asset management, particularly as project sizes grow and revenue models become more complex.
CATL said that the ability to validate system performance under controlled conditions before deployment could reduce technical risk for lenders and improve project financing terms.
The facility’s scale and scope position CATL to set de facto industry standards for performance validation, particularly in markets where regulatory frameworks for energy storage testing remain underdeveloped.
Whether the platform will operate as a neutral third-party service or primarily support CATL’s own product development remains unclear, though the company indicated it intends to offer testing services commercially.
The world’s biggest lithium-ion battery manufacturer has been expanding its energy storage system (ESS) integration and supply footprint globally, recently supplying 1.5GWh for Grenergy’s long-term tolled Spanish BESS projects, with battery storage remaining a key revenue driver for clean energy technology suppliers as the sector scales.
The testing platform also supports CATL’s push into alternative chemistries. In April 2026, the company signed a 60GWh sodium-ion agreement with Hyperstrong, a deal that was described as a threshold crossed, though not a silver bullet, signalling growing commercial interest in sodium-ion (Na-ion) technology for cost-sensitive applications.
Held alongside The Battery Show Europe, Energy Storage Summit provides a focused platform to understand the policies, revenue models and deployment conditions shaping Germany’s utility-scale storage boom. With contributions from TSOs, banks, developers and optimisers, the Summit explores regulation, merchant strategies, financing, grid tariffs and project delivery in a market forecast to integrate 24GW of storage by 2037.
You can expect to meet and network with all the key industry players again in 2025 from major US asset owners, operators, RTOs and ISOs, optimizers, software and analytics providers, technical consultancies, O&M technology providers and more.
Launching September 2026 in Berlin, Energy Storage Summit Germany is a new standalone event dedicated to Germany’s energy storage market. Bringing together investors, developers, policymakers, TSOs, manufacturers and optimisation specialists, the Summit explores the regulatory shifts, revenue models, financing strategies and technology innovations shaping large-scale deployment. With Germany targeting 80% renewables by 2030, it offers a focused platform to connect with the decision-makers driving the Energiewende and the future of utility-scale storage.
The Energy Storage Summit Central Eastern Europe is set to return in September 2025 for its third edition, focusing on regional markets and the unique opportunities they present. This event will bring together key stakeholders from across the region to explore the latest trends in energy storage, with a focus on the increasing integration of energy storage into regional grids, evolving government policies, and the growing need for energy security.
Read Next
Mexico’s Ministry of Energy (SENER) has launched a new call for renewable power projects including generating and energy storage assets.
Chinese-based OEM Sungrow and Spanish IPP Sonnedix have signed a supply agreement for 643.8MWh of Sungrow’s PowerTitan 2.0 solution.
RES Australia’s 2,400MWh Bunyip North BESS has cleared the federal environmental assessment process under Australia’s EPBC Act.
In this Energy-Storage.news roundup, a collection of battery energy storage system (BESS)-related announcements from NeoVolta, Goshe Energy Storage, Frontier Power USA and Stella Energy Solutions, and Prevalon Energy.
Ausgrid has submitted its 150MW/300MWh Berkeley Vale BESS to the Australian government’s EPBC Act for federal environmental assessment.
Most Popular
