Notice of the National Energy Administration on the issuance of the "New Energy Storage Project Management Specifications (Interim)"

National Energy Technology Regulation [2021] No. 47

Energy Bureaus of all provinces (autonomous regions, and municipalities directly under the Central Government), Development and Reform Commissions of relevant provinces (autonomous regions, and municipalities directly under the Central Government) and the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, all dispatched agencies, State Grid Corporation of China, China Southern Power Grid Co., Ltd., and Inner Mongolia Electric Power (Group) Co., Ltd.:

In order to standardize the management of new energy storage projects, promote the active, steady, healthy and orderly development of new energy storage, promote the construction of a new power system with new energy as the main body, and support the realization of carbon peak and carbon neutrality goals, we have organized the compilation of the "New Energy Storage Project Management Specifications (Interim)", which are now issued to you. Please implement them conscientiously.

Please inform our bureau (Science and Technology Department) of any progress and suggestions during implementation in a timely manner.

National Energy Administration
September 24, 2021

New Energy Storage Project Management Specifications (Interim)

Chapter I General Provisions

Article 1 These specifications are formulated in accordance with the Electricity Law of the People's Republic of China, the Administrative Licensing Law of the People's Republic of China, the Electricity Supervision Regulations, the Regulations on the Approval and Filing Management of Enterprise Investment Projects, and the Guiding Opinions on Accelerating the Development of New Energy Storage in order to standardize the management of new energy storage projects, promote the orderly, safe and healthy development of new energy storage, and support the construction of a new power system with new energy as the main body.

Article 2 This specification applies to energy storage projects that, in addition to pumped storage, output electricity as the main form and provide services to the outside world.

Article 3 The management of new energy storage projects adheres to the principles of safety first, standardized management, and active and prudent management, including planning and layout, filing requirements, project construction, grid connection, dispatching and operation, monitoring and supervision, and other links.

Article 4 The energy department of the State Council is responsible for the planning, guidance and supervision and management of new energy storage projects nationwide; under the guidance of the energy department of the State Council, local energy departments shall establish and improve the new energy storage project management system in their regions and be responsible for the development and supervision and management of new energy storage projects in their regions; the dispatched agencies of the National Energy Administration are responsible for supervising the implementation of new energy storage policies, grid-connected dispatching, market transactions and operation management in their regions.

Chapter II Planning and Guidance

Article 5 The energy department of the State Council is responsible for formulating the national new energy storage development plan. Based on the national energy development plan, power development plan, renewable energy development plan, energy technology innovation plan and other relevant documents, and on the basis of demonstrating the development foundation, development needs and economic feasibility of new energy storage technology, the national new energy storage development goals and overall layout shall be actively and steadily determined.

Article 6 The provincial energy authorities shall study the key tasks of their regions and guide the development of new energy storage in their regions in accordance with the national new energy storage development plan, in accordance with the principles of overall planning, adapting measures to local conditions, innovation-driven, demonstration-first, market-oriented, orderly development, and based on safety and standardized management.

Article 7 The provincial energy authorities shall organize research on the development scale and layout of new energy storage that is related to the safe and efficient operation of the power system in the region, and guide the construction of new energy storage projects in a scientific and rational manner.

Chapter III Record-filing Construction

Article 8 Local energy authorities shall implement filing management for new energy storage projects in their regions in accordance with relevant investment laws, regulations and supporting systems, and copy the project filing information to the dispatched agencies of the National Energy Administration.

Article 9 The filing contents of new energy storage projects should include: basic information of the project unit, project name, construction location, construction scale, construction content (including technical route, application scenarios, main functions, technical standards, environmental protection and safety, etc.), total project investment amount, and statement of the project's compliance with industrial policies.

Article 10 After the new energy storage project is registered, various construction conditions should be implemented as soon as possible, and construction should be started in a timely manner after completing other relevant construction procedures required by laws and regulations.

Article 11 If there is a change in the legal person of a registered new energy storage project, or if there is a major change in the project construction location, scale, or content, or if the project construction is abandoned, the project unit shall promptly inform the project registration authority and modify the relevant information.

Article 12 The construction of new energy storage projects shall comply with relevant management regulations and standard specifications, and the units responsible for project design, consulting, construction and supervision shall have the corresponding qualifications prescribed by the state.

Article 13 The main equipment of new energy storage projects should meet the requirements of relevant standards and specifications and pass the inspection and certification by institutions with corresponding qualifications. The network-related equipment should comply with the relevant technical requirements for the safe operation of the power grid.

Article 14 Relevant units of new energy storage projects shall strictly implement project safety, fire protection, environmental protection and other management procedures and fulfill safety responsibilities in accordance with relevant laws, regulations and technical specifications.

Article 15 New power battery recycling energy storage projects must follow the concept of the entire life cycle, establish a battery consistency management and traceability system, and obtain a safety assessment report issued by a qualified institution for recycling batteries. Existing and new power battery recycling energy storage projects must establish an online monitoring platform, monitor battery performance parameters in real time, conduct regular maintenance and safety assessments, and prepare emergency plans.

Chapter 4 Grid-connected Operation

Article 16 Grid companies should coordinate the planning and construction of supporting grids based on the new energy storage development plan. Supporting grid projects should be coordinated with the construction of new energy storage projects. Energy authorities at all levels are responsible for coordination.

Article 17 Grid companies should provide grid access services to new energy storage projects fairly and without discrimination. Grid companies should establish and improve the grid connection procedures for new energy storage projects in accordance with the principles of active service, simplicity and efficiency, and provide grid connection services to new energy storage projects that have been registered.

Article 18 Before grid connection and commissioning, new energy storage projects should complete relevant procedures in accordance with national quality, environmental and fire protection regulations. Grid companies should clarify the grid connection commissioning and acceptance process in accordance with relevant standards and specifications, and actively cooperate in the grid connection commissioning and acceptance of new energy storage projects.

Article 19 Grid companies should take systematic measures in accordance with laws, regulations and technical specifications, optimize dispatching and operation mechanisms, prioritize deployment in a scientific manner, ensure the utilization rate of new energy storage, and give full play to the role of new energy storage systems.

Article 20 New energy storage project units should be equipped with necessary communication information systems in accordance with relevant standards and specifications, and upload operating information to the power grid dispatching department and accept dispatching instructions according to procedures.

Article 21 Project units should monitor the operation status of new energy storage projects, monitor the operation conditions of energy storage systems in real time, and organize demonstration, evaluation and rectification work in a timely manner when the project reaches its design life or the safe operation status does not meet the relevant technical requirements. If the relevant requirements are still not met after rectification, the project unit should take measures to decommission the project in a timely manner and report to the original filing authority and other relevant units in a timely manner.

Chapter V Monitoring and Supervision

Article 22 The energy department of the State Council is responsible for building a national new energy storage management platform, realizing the information management of new energy storage projects across the country, and using the actual construction and operation of new energy storage projects as an important basis for formulating industrial policies and improving industry norms and standards systems.