Recently, a 3.45 MW/7.72 MWh energy storage system has completed full process grid connection and commissioning at the 220 kV substation in Kokshetau, northern Kazakhstan, and is officially ready for operation. This is the first grid side energy storage system in Kazakhstan's history to achieve grid connected operation, and domestic liquid cooled energy storage technology has been implemented for the first time in the Central Asian extremely cold power grid scenario. Despite its small scale, the operation of this demonstration project has opened the curtain for the large-scale development of the energy storage market in Central Asia.

Verification technology for extremely cold scenarios

The project is located in northern Kazakhstan, where the lowest winter temperature can reach minus 40 degrees Celsius. To address the challenge of extreme low temperatures, Xinyuan Intelligent Storage provides its independently developed POWERCABIN3 liquid cooled energy storage system, equipped with 314 ampere hour high-capacity battery cells and DC 1500 volt integrated technology. The system adopts intelligent liquid cooling temperature control technology to control the temperature difference of the battery cells within 5 degrees Celsius, reducing auxiliary power consumption by 20%; The cycle life exceeds 8000 times, and the design life is not less than 15 years, meeting international certification standards such as UL, IEC, NFPA, etc. The project adopts a Chinese investment plus system delivery plus local operation and maintenance model, with Green Energy International Investment under State Power Investment Corporation and Kazakhstan Energy Investment responsible for on-site construction and operation and maintenance.

Kazakhstan's energy storage opens curtain

The installed capacity of renewable energy in Kazakhstan continues to climb, and the demand for energy storage is becoming increasingly urgent. This project is the first grid connected energy storage demonstration project in Kazakhstan, and its operational data will provide important references for the large-scale application of local energy storage, fine management of the power grid, and revision of relevant standards. Kazakhstan plans to add 11.7 gigawatts of energy storage capacity by 2029, and the independent energy storage auction mechanism is currently being legislated and promoted. The demonstration project has completed the feasibility verification of domestic liquid cooled energy storage in the Central Asian extremely cold power grid, and the energy storage equipment has been connected with the unified power grid dispatch of Kazakhstan, providing a practical basis for subsequent large-scale energy storage bidding. Keywords: the Belt and Road news network, energy storage, Central Asia

Central Asian energy storage track erupts

Outside of Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan is advancing a three-phase independent energy storage project cluster of 400 MW/800 MWh, with China Energy Engineering Corporation investing in EPC, making it the largest independent energy storage cluster in Central Asia. The Navoi 300 MW photovoltaic with 150 MW/300 MW solar energy storage integration project has completed reverse power transmission. The Pavlodar 1 GW wind power with 300 MW/600 MWh energy storage project in Kazakhstan is scheduled to be put into operation in 2029. The Central Asian market has clear commonalities, with significant temperature differences between day and night, winter and summer. There is a strong demand for peak shaving due to outdated power grids, and policies are rapidly iterating to move energy storage from supporting facilities to independent electricity price auctions. Priority is given to those who have the investment EPC、 Chinese enterprises with full chain capabilities in equipment supply and post operation and maintenance. The Kokshetao energy storage project is a crucial step for domestic energy storage to obtain admission to the Harbin State Grid, paving the way for subsequent hundred megawatt level projects.Editor/Gao Xue