Surging overseas energy storage orders spark a 'gold rush' abroad: Companies offer million-yuan annual salaries to attract talent; headhunters admit recruitment is extremely difficult.

Rising prosperity across the energy storage industry chain The intense demand for talent reflects a sharp surge in overseas order volume. Globally, policy support remains the key driver behind overseas energy storage development, with numerous countries and regions accelerating energy storage deployment for diverse objectives. In Europe—where industrial electricity tariffs are high—governments encourage large-scale power consumers to build integrated 'photovoltaic + energy storage' systems, effectively creating self-owned power plants to reduce electricity costs through peak-to-valley price arbitrage. Moreover, in regions with underdeveloped grid infrastructure, rising electricity demand—exacerbated by extreme weather events—makes energy storage an ideal emergency backup solution to minimize losses. Coupled with years of continuous decline in energy storage cell costs, overall product costs have fallen significantly, directly lowering users’ initial investment thresholds. TrendForce Consulting noted that falling prices across China’s energy storage supply chain exert pricing pressure not only via direct product exports but also indirectly influence local pricing strategies of overseas indigenous supply chains. According to Dongzheng Futures’ research report, the energy storage market continues to outperform expectations. Non-U.S. markets remain especially strong: Chinese cell manufacturers are actively expanding into Germany, Saudi Arabia, Australia, and South America. As a result, the U.S. share of total Chinese energy storage cell exports dropped from 51% in 2024 to 24% in 2025, while total export volumes repeatedly hit new highs. Times Finance observed frequent announcements recently regarding project deliveries or partnerships across the energy storage supply chain. On September 22, SVOLT successfully delivered a 30 MWh short-blade liquid-cooled energy storage system to Slovenia. Featuring an industry-first dual-layer liquid cooling design, the system reduces cell temperature differentials by 50%, boosts lifetime throughput by 10%, and achieves a design lifespan exceeding 20 years. The units will enhance local grid capacity to absorb renewable energy and improve power system flexibility; related products have received DNV’s bankability certification. On September 23, Farizon Energy signed agreements with three Polish energy enterprises—including infrastructure developers, new-energy project developers, and EPC contractors—to deploy over 5 GWh of energy storage systems (including VenturePro and GridUltra models) in Poland. Farizon provides technical expertise and product deployment support, while its partners handle local grid interconnection, EPC execution, and project pipeline development. On September 24, Huaqin Rubber Industrial Group partnered with Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Limited (CATL) to construct a 30 MW / 60 MWh energy storage project in Jining, Shandong—the largest commercial & industrial energy storage project currently underway in Jining. Utilizing CATL’s 587 Ah cells and liquid-cooling systems, the project will increase Huaqin’s PV power consumption, lower electricity costs, and enable participation in grid frequency regulation; it is scheduled to enter operation in 2026. "Energy storage demand may sustain a high compound annual growth rate of 33% between 2024 and 2030—driven by rising shares of renewable power generation and improved project returns on energy storage systems. Long-term, it could surpass new-energy vehicles as the largest battery demand driver. Our energy storage demand forecast is more optimistic than the Wall Street consensus," Citigroup stated in a research report. "Supply tightness and resilient demand for energy storage batteries have already triggered cell price increases in Q2 2025. We expect this trend to continue through Q3 2025," the report added.

Yajiang Hydropower Station

A hydropower station on a single river holds the energy code—and geopolitical ambition—of a great nation. On July 19, 2025, Premier Li Qiang announced the official commencement of construction for the downstream hydropower project on the Yarlung Tsangpo River. China’s 99th industrial state-owned enterprise—the Yajiang Group—was formally established and officially entered the roster of central SOEs at No. 22, ranking just after the Three Gorges Corporation and ahead of the State Power Investment Corporation. With a total investment of RMB 1.2 trillion, the project equals the scale of five Three Gorges Dams, four Sichuan–Tibet Railways, or ten Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macao Bridges. Why does the Yajiang project generate such extraordinary attention? On the first trading day following the announcement, A-share markets erupted in frenzy. Shenzhen Water Resources & Hydropower Design Institute, Tibet Tianlu, Gaozheng Civil Explosives, and Tibet Urban Investment—all Yajiang-related stocks—opened at their daily upper limits and remained locked there. Sectors including water conservancy, infrastructure, steel, and cement surged across the board, with over 60 related stocks hitting daily limits. The cement sector nearly achieved full-day limit-up trading. Hong Kong markets were equally dramatic: Dongfang Electric’s share price briefly soared 703%, before settling at a 70% gain at closing. Huaxin Cement opened with a 100% surge and closed up 60%. Traders whispered privately: "This might be an epic ‘fat-finger’ error—but only the Yajiang theme could trigger such mania." This market euphoria stems from staggering figures. The Yajiang Project’s installed capacity ranges from 60 to 81 GW—equivalent to three Three Gorges power stations. Its annual power generation is approximately 300 billion kWh—enough to meet the entire yearly electricity demand of Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen combined. Citigroup swiftly calculated its macroeconomic impact: during Year One of construction alone, the project could lift China’s GDP growth by nearly 0.1 percentage points. Assuming a 10-year construction period, it would boost GDP by roughly RMB 120 billion annually—with actual effects potentially even greater. Unlike conventional hydropower projects, the Yajiang initiative innovatively adopts a “cutting off bends and diverting water through tunnels” approach. Rather than damming the river, it works with nature’s flow. At the Linzhi Great Bend, the Yarlung Tsangpo drops nearly 2,000 meters over just dozens of kilometers—a vertical drop equivalent to over 600 stories. Five underground tunnels—resembling colossal blood vessels—snake through mountains to channel river water directly onto turbine generators. Construction precision must be controlled at the millimeter level; ventilation and drainage systems feature triple-layer protective nets—akin to a real-life ‘Journey to the Center of the Earth.’ Even more astonishing is its ecological wisdom. According to the Ministry of Water Resources’ latest statement, the project’s annual water withdrawal accounts for only 0.5% of the Yarlung Tsangpo’s total runoff—less than the intake volume of many municipal water plants. Digital twin technology enables real-time simulation of environmental impacts under various dispatch scenarios, ensuring ecological water flow downstream during dry seasons. Hydropower engineers, through half a century of exploration, have proven: True technological advancement lies not in conquering nature—but in discovering the intelligent code for coexistence with mountains and rivers. For Tibet, the Yajiang Hydropower Station signifies a fundamental transformation of its economic lifeline. In 2024, Tibet’s GDP stood at just RMB 276.5 billion—less than that of a county-level city in eastern China.

Citigroup Says 'Incredible' Electricity Demand Fuels $1 Trillion Goal

1 day ago

Citigroup reports surging electricity demand is accelerating its path toward a $1 trillion sustainable finance target. Major banks highlight growing investment in green bonds, grid infrastructure, and energy solutions like nuclear and renewables to support this shift.

bloomberg

2026-11-12

Citigroup Says 'Incredible' Electricity Demand Fuels $1 Trillion Goal

Citigroup Says 'Incredible' Electricity Demand Fuels $1 Trillion Goal

FAQ