World's Largest Energy Storage Testing Platform Launches in Xiamen

A landmark moment for the global energy storage industry unfolded on May 28, 2025, as the Xiamen Empirical Energy Storage Technology Research Institute officially opened its doors. Co-developed by the Xiamen Municipal Government and CATL (Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited), the facility covers 150 mu (roughly 100,000 square meters) of land and represents a planned total investment of approximately RMB 3 billion. Industry leaders, government officials from China's National Development and Reform Commission and the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, and two Chinese Academy of Engineering members attended the inauguration ceremony.

The institute is being positioned as the world's largest, most comprehensive, one-stop testing and empirical verification platform for energy storage systems across all application scenarios — a claim backed by a series of record-breaking laboratory capabilities detailed below.

Five World-Class Laboratories — Multiple Global Firsts

The research institute is structured around five specialized innovation laboratories, each targeting a distinct aspect of energy storage system validation. Together, they are said to establish multiple global firsts in testing scale and technical scope.

1. Grid Connection Adaptability Laboratory

Described as the world's largest station-level grid connection testing and empirical platform, this laboratory provides full-scenario simulation capability spanning from individual battery cells all the way to grid-level integration. It can simulate up to 1,000 grid nodes simultaneously, using a real-time simulator connected to a 35 kV, 100 MVA controllable grid interface. The laboratory covers all standard grid-connection test items, as well as advanced empirical tests such as impedance scanning and grid-forming adaptability verification.

2. High-Voltage Safety Laboratory

With a test range spanning 1 kV to 500 kV, this laboratory is designed to investigate the root causes of equipment ignition and explosion under extreme high-voltage conditions. The stated goal is to use empirical findings to guide equipment design toward achieving zero-fire, zero-explosion performance standards.

3. Thermal Safety and Combustion Laboratory

This facility holds the distinction of being the world's first large-scale indoor combustion facility equipped with a 20 MW calorimeter. Its indoor combustion space of 100,000 cubic meters allows simultaneous burning tests on up to nine large-scale energy storage containers — enabling realistic large-scale fire behavior analysis that smaller facilities cannot replicate.

4. Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) Laboratory

The EMC laboratory offers what is described as the world's only anechoic chamber capable of accommodating a full 40-foot shipping container. Equipped with a 65-ton turntable and a 5 MW power supply, it can conduct electromagnetic compatibility testing under actual high-power charge and discharge operating conditions — a critical gap that existing EMC facilities globally have been unable to address for large-format energy storage units.

5. Environmental Adaptability Laboratory

Rounding out the five laboratories, this facility houses five dedicated testing environments: a climate chamber, an environmental chamber, a salt-spray chamber, a rain chamber, and a dust chamber. The laboratory can subject complete energy storage container systems to extreme conditions including temperatures from -50°C to 100°C, high-altitude low-pressure environments simulating elevations up to 7,200 meters, and full-grade ingress protection (dust and water resistance) verification.

Industry Collaboration and Open-Platform Model

The institute has already secured cooperation agreements with several of the world's leading certification bodies, including TÜV SÜD, TÜV Rheinland, CSA Group, and CGC (China General Certification Center). According to the organizers, the platform will be fully open to the broader energy storage industry, continuously producing whole-station-level empirical standards to help the sector transition into what they describe as a trustworthy, sustainable, evidence-based era.

The involvement of Chinese Academy of Engineering members — including the director of the State Grid Hunan Electric Power's national key laboratory for power grid disaster prevention, and CATL's Chief Scientist — signals the scientific ambition behind the project. Their presence at the launch underscores the facility's positioning not merely as a commercial testing hub, but as a research institution intended to shape international energy storage standards.

FAQ

What makes the Xiamen energy storage research institute the world's largest?

The Xiamen Empirical Energy Storage Technology Research Institute is considered the world's largest because of its combined scale across five specialized laboratories, its 150-mu site area, its RMB 3 billion investment, and its unique ability to test full energy storage systems — from individual cells to grid-level integration — under a single roof.

Who co-built the Xiamen energy storage institute?

The institute was co-built by the Xiamen Municipal Government and CATL (Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited), the world's largest battery manufacturer by installed capacity.

Which global certification bodies have partnered with the institute?

The institute has established partnerships with TÜV SÜD, TÜV Rheinland, CSA Group, and CGC, among the most recognized testing and certification organizations globally for electrical and energy systems.

What extreme environments can the institute's laboratories simulate?

The Environmental Adaptability Laboratory can simulate temperatures from -50°C to 100°C, altitudes up to 7,200 meters above sea level, salt-spray corrosion, heavy rain, and dust ingress — covering the full range of real-world deployment conditions for energy storage systems worldwide.

Conclusion

The launch of the Xiamen Empirical Energy Storage Technology Research Institute marks a significant infrastructure milestone for the global energy storage sector. With multiple world-first laboratory capabilities, a billion-dollar investment, and an open collaboration model with top-tier certification bodies, the facility is poised to become a key reference point for how grid-scale energy storage systems are designed, validated, and standardized worldwide.

As the energy transition accelerates and storage deployments scale rapidly across markets, industry stakeholders will be watching closely to see whether the empirical standards emerging from Xiamen gain traction internationally — and whether this model of government-industry co-investment in testing infrastructure becomes a template others seek to replicate.

Edit by paco

Last Update:2026-05-29 09:18:22