On May 28, 2025, the Xiamen Empirical Energy Storage Technology Research Institute commenced operations, establishing a new benchmark for energy storage testing infrastructure worldwide. Jointly developed by the Xiamen Municipal Government and CATL, the facility represents a strategic investment of approximately RMB 3 billion across 150 mu of land. The inauguration ceremony gathered industry leaders, senior government officials, and distinguished members of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, signaling the project's significance in advancing energy storage technology and safety standards.
1. Grid Connection Adaptability Laboratory
Hailed as the world's largest station-level grid connection testing and empirical platform, this lab offers full-scenario simulation from individual battery cells to grid-level integration. It can simultaneously simulate up to 1,000 grid nodes using a real-time simulator connected to a 35 kV, 100 MVA controllable grid interface. Covering all standard grid-connection tests, it also conducts 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 investigates the root causes of equipment ignition and explosion under extreme high-voltage conditions. Its 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 is distinguished as the world's first large-scale indoor combustion facility equipped with a 20 MW calorimeter. Its 100,000 cubic meter indoor combustion space 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 features 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 conducts electromagnetic compatibility testing under actual high-power charge and discharge operating conditions—a critical gap that existing global EMC facilities have been unable to address for large-format energy storage units.
5. Environmental Adaptability Laboratory
This facility houses five dedicated testing environments: a climate chamber, an environmental chamber, a salt-spray chamber, a rain chamber, and a dust chamber. It subjects 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). Organizers state that 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.
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 due to 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.
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.
Welcome to contact us:
Inquiry more product details from the : Lithium Ion Battery Manufacturers
WhatsApp/Wechat/Mobile: +86 14704451321
Email: support@szxhbattery.com
Website: www.szxhbattery.com
Ready to power your energy systems with the best in the industry?
Contact us today to get the latest pricing and discuss your needs with our team!
