Summary of Key Points
After achieving rapid economic growth through the power battery and crystalline silicon photovoltaic industries, Yibin has chosen new energy storage as a point for additional growth in response to the cyclical competitive pressures faced by these two sectors. The city has adopted its successful "attracting large enterprises and creating value chains" approach (first attracting leading companies, then bringing in supporting businesses to form a complete industrial chain). It has successfully secured the presence of CRRC Zhuzhou Institute (a leader in energy storage integration) and Pengcheng Infinite (a leader in energy storage batteries), along with more than 20 supporting enterprises. The goal is to reach an annual output value of 5 billion yuan by 2025 and 30 billion yuan by 2030. Additionally, the city is transforming its urban construction area into an industrial zone to enhance its development resilience.
Detailed Analysis
Why Choose New Energy Storage? — Not a Blind Rush, but Building on a Solid Foundation
Yibin's decision to focus on new energy storage is not arbitrary:
- Positive Industry Prospects: The global energy storage market is experiencing explosive growth, with national shipments expected to double by 2025, and policies clearly support long-duration energy storage.
- Connection to Existing Industries: Materials and components used in power batteries are also applicable in energy storage (such as battery covers). Since crystalline silicon photovoltaic power generation is unstable, energy storage is needed to store electricity (similar to a power bank), making it a natural extension of the existing industrial chain without the need for a complete restart.
- Mitigating Risks from Traditional Industries: The competition in the power battery and photovoltaic sectors is intensifying, so finding new areas of growth is essential. Energy storage serves as a safeguard against these risks.
Reapplying an Effective Method: "Attracting Leaders First, Then Supporting Smaller Enterprises"
Yibin's previous success with the power battery industry (by attracting companies like CATL and its upstream and downstream partners) has guided its approach to energy storage:
- Focusing on Integration Leaders: The city targeted CRRC Zhuzhou Institute, which leads the country in energy storage grid connection installations. Given its prior cooperation in rail transit with CRRC, a 8GWh project was quickly established and later expanded to 13GWh (with a potential capacity of up to 20GWh).
- Adding Core Components: The heart of energy storage is the battery cell, so Pengcheng Infinite was recruited to produce 587Ah large-capacity cells (larger than the current mainstream 314Ah cells, representing a future trend), with an annual output of 27GWh and an annual value of 8 billion yuan upon full production.
- Supporting Enterprises Following: Once the leaders were in place, upstream and downstream companies naturally came forward. For example, Zhongbian Electric Power, located across from CRRC, produces energy storage enclosures, while Times New Materials supplies battery covers, all serving the needs of the leading enterprises.
How Was the Industrial Chain Quickly Established?
Although the energy storage industrial park was only established this year, progress has been rapid:
- Leaders First: CRRC Zhuzhou Institute and Pengcheng Infinite took the lead, filling critical gaps in the industrial chain.
- Supporting Enterprises Following: Times New Materials began production at the beginning of the year, and Zhongbian Electric Power will start production next month. Other companies such as Xi'an Xinai have also moved in, covering areas like enclosures and PCS (energy storage converters).
- Investing in New Technologies: The city is looking ahead by exploring all-vanadium flow batteries as another energy storage technology to avoid reliance on a single approach.
Ambitious Output Goals
Yibin has set clear goals for the energy storage industry:
- 2.5 billion yuan in output value in the year of establishment (2024).
- Doubling to 5 billion yuan by 2025.
- Exceeding 10 billion yuan by 2026.
- Reaching 30 billion yuan by 2030.
These goals are consistent with the growth rates seen in the power battery and photovoltaic industries, indicating Yibin's confidence in this approach.
The City's Long-Term Strategy: Shifting from Land Sales to Industrial Development
Yibin has made a bold decision to convert a 5.35-square-kilometer urban construction area into an industrial zone (which could have been used for housing development). There are two main reasons for this:
- Addressing Industrial Hollowing Out: The central urban area of Xuzhou District previously lacked significant industries, and transforming it into an industrial park can fill this gap.
- Changing the Development Logic: The city's growth has traditionally relied on real estate; now, it focuses on industry. This approach ensures that even if one sector faces challenges, other industries can provide support, creating a more stable economic foundation.
In summary, Yibin's approach to new energy storage is based on a solid foundation, a proven method, and clear goals. It is not a blind pursuit of trends but rather the application of a mature model to expand into new areas of growth, continuing past successes while preparing for the city's future development.