Driven by the global energy structure transformation and the "dual carbon" goal, the energy storage industry is undergoing unprecedented technological iteration and market reconstruction. As the core component of the energy storage system, the upgrade of battery cell technology directly determines the boundaries of industry cost, efficiency and safety.
From 280Ah to 314Ah, and now to the intensive appearance of 500Ah+ ultra-large capacity batteries, the "capacity war" of energy storage batteries has entered a white-hot stage.
At present, the third-generation energy storage batteries represented by 500Ah+ ultra-large capacity batteries have entered the mass production and delivery stage. Leading companies such as CATL, Sungrow Power Supply, and EVE Energy are competing fiercely. The differentiation of technology routes, production capacity layout and market strategies is reshaping the industry's competitive landscape. According to industry data, global energy storage battery shipments will reach 301GWh in 2024, a year-on-year increase of 62.7%, of which the penetration rate of 500Ah+ batteries will exceed 15%, and it is expected to enter the peak of mass production in the second half of 2025.
This battery cell revolution, characterized by "large capacity, high integration, and long life", is not only about the choice of technical routes, but also involves the ecological reconstruction of the upstream and downstream of the industrial chain and the competition for market discourse power. From the "firm foothold" of the second-generation 314Ah battery cell to the "competition of the heroes" of the third-generation 500Ah+ battery cell, the energy storage industry is undergoing a deep evolution from technical parameters to system value.
From 314Ah to 500Ah+
The second-generation 314Ah battery cell once occupied 40% of the energy storage market due to its production line advantage compatible with the 280Ah battery cell. However, with the surge in demand for long-term energy storage and the pressure to reduce system costs, 500Ah+ batteries have become the core direction of industry upgrading.
According to industry data, global energy storage battery cell shipments will reach 301GWh in 2024, a year-on-year increase of 62.7%, of which the penetration rate of 500Ah+ batteries will exceed 15%, and it is expected to enter the peak of mass production in the second half of 2025.
In terms of technology, CATL's 587Ah battery cell leads the industry with an energy density of 434Wh/L, a cycle life of 12,000 times, and an initial energy efficiency (RTE) of 96.5%. Its three-dimensional safety protection system of "self-healing anion electrolyte + non-diffusion anode + heat-resistant isolation membrane" has passed the rigorous national standard thermal runaway test. Sungrow Power Supply has launched a 684Ah large battery cell with an energy density of 440Wh/L+ and a cycle life of over 15,000 times. It has pioneered thermoelectric separation technology and fully liquid-cooled silicon carbide PCS, and the system efficiency has been increased to 99.3%. EVE Energy has become the first company in the industry to mass-produce 600Ah+ batteries. Its 628Ah battery cell uses intelligent high-precision source sensing technology to achieve real-time capture of key signals throughout the life cycle.
The differentiation of technical routes is also significant. The winding process is the mainstream in 280Ah and 314Ah batteries, but 500Ah+ batteries generally turn to the stacking process to solve the problems of pole piece wrinkles, black spots, lithium precipitation, etc. in the winding process, and improve space utilization and energy density. However, the large investment in stacking process equipment, low production efficiency, and difficult yield control still restrict its large-scale application.
EVE 628AH LiFePO4 Battery (Stock in Warehouse)
280AH / 314AH / 628AH battery cells coexist
At present, the energy storage market presents a situation where three generations of batteries coexist: the first generation 280Ah battery cells are gradually withdrawing from the mainstream market, the second generation 314Ah battery cells still occupy 40% of the market share, and the third generation 500Ah+ battery cells have a rapid penetration rate. According to industry forecasts, the proportion of 500Ah+ batteries in new installations is expected to exceed 30% in 2025, and may become mainstream in 2027.
The market differentiation is also significant. The demand for long-term energy storage (more than 4 hours) has promoted the penetration rate of 500Ah+ batteries, while small and medium-sized energy storage projects and specific overseas markets still rely on the mature supply chain system of 314Ah batteries. For example, Envision Energy Storage launched an 8MWh+ energy storage system with a 700Ah battery cell, with an energy density of more than 440Wh/L, to meet the peak load demand on the grid side; while BYD outputs through the "DC side + AC side" system, avoiding the disclosure of battery cell models and focusing on scene customization.
In terms of cost competition, the cost advantage of 500Ah+ batteries is gradually emerging. Although the theoretical cost of 314Ah cells has dropped to 0.31 yuan/Wh, the theoretical cost of 500Ah+ cells has been reduced to below 0.28 yuan/Wh through large-scale production and structural optimization. CATL's 587Ah cells reduce the number of system components by 40% and the cost by 15%, while EVE Energy's 628Ah cells reduce the integrated application cost of energy storage systems by 10%.