As the competition in the global optical storage market becomes increasingly fierce, Chinese design institutes are emerging on the international stage with their dual advantages in technology and management. Just as the first quarter of 2026 came to an end, a heavyweight bid news stunned the industry: China Power Construction East China Institute and Power Construction Abu Dhabi Branch formed a joint venture and successfully won the EPC contract for the RTC solar energy storage project in Abu Dhabi, UAE, with a contract amount equivalent to RMB 13.962 billion, about 14 billion. This huge order is not only a major breakthrough in the overseas layout of East China Institute, but also demonstrates the hard core strength of Chinese engineering design enterprises in the global new energy field.

14 billion project attracts industry attention

The RTC optical storage project in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, which won the bid this time, is a benchmark in the industry in terms of scale, and the core data remains unchanged throughout the entire process. The project adopts an integrated photovoltaic and energy storage mode, including 2.1GW photovoltaic power generation and 7.75GWh energy storage capacity. The core logic is to capture and store solar energy during the day, and release electricity at night and on cloudy days to achieve stable power supply. The total construction period of the project is 21 months, with a warranty period of 24 months, and the contract amount is equivalent to RMB 13.962 billion. 

For many small design institutes in China, this amount is sufficient to support their long-term operations, and only enterprises with top-notch capabilities can undertake such high specification EPC projects. As a backbone enterprise under China Power Construction Corporation, Huadong Institute has successfully stood out and won this heavyweight order with its profound accumulation.

Why does Huadong Institute stand out

The strength of East China Institute in winning this heavyweight order in the trillion dollar track is not accidental. As a national first-class survey, design and research unit founded in 1954, Huadong Institute was the first to deeply cultivate the field of hydropower. With the planning and design experience of numerous large and medium-sized hydropower projects at home and abroad, it has accumulated strong technical strength and financial reserves, laying a solid foundation for subsequent transformation. With the arrival of the new energy trend, Huadong Institute has rapidly transformed and accurately laid out in the fields of offshore wind power, photovoltaics, energy storage, etc. In the first two years of the offshore wind power boom, Huadong Institute became the biggest winner in the industry with its leading technology. Now, the integration of photovoltaics and energy storage has become a trend, and it has taken the lead in seizing market opportunities.

In addition to technological advantages, the EPC management capability of East China Institute is also its core competitiveness. According to peer evaluation, the EPC of East China Institute is not simply "design+construction", but deeply integrates design and construction, controlling cost and quality from the source of the project. Although on-site construction is mostly undertaken by labor teams, the core aspects of project design, procurement, and construction management are firmly controlled by East China Institute. This dual advantage of "technology+management" makes it highly competitive in the international market and has become the key to winning this bid.

Salary and Strength Double Online

In the context of wage cuts in some enterprises in the design institute industry, East China Institute has always been the first echelon in the industry. Although it is not as good as Internet enterprises, it can be called the "ceiling" level of the design institute circle, which also confirms its strong enterprise strength from the side. As a high-tech enterprise in China, Huadong Institute has nearly 5000 employees, including over 1000 senior professional and technical personnel. It has established more than ten national and provincial-level engineering technology research centers. With the advantages of the entire industry chain and a complete technical system, it continues to make breakthroughs in the field of new energy. Winning the UAE solar energy storage large order this time is an important step in its global layout.

The landing of this 14 billion order is not only a milestone in the development of East China Institute, but also demonstrates the competitiveness of Chinese engineering design enterprises in the global new energy field, setting a benchmark for Chinese design institutes to explore emerging markets overseas and promoting Chinese engineering technology and standards to go international. Editor/Yang Beihua