At the start of 2026, Chinese energy storage enterprises have significantly accelerated their global expansion, with overseas orders continuing to surge. According to incomplete statistics from EnergyTrend, between January and February, domestic energy storage companies secured nearly 50 orders and cooperation projects globally. Spanning core markets in Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, the Americas, and Australia, the total order volume has exceeded 33.5GWh.
This "opening report card" reflects more than just numerical growth; it marks a profound transformation in the export model—shifting from scale expansion to quality enhancement, and from product export to ecosystem co-creation. The leadership of industry giants is becoming increasingly prominent.
On one hand, the scale and value of corporate cooperation have repeatedly hit record highs, with leading players continuing to make breakthroughs, as shown in the following orders:
- CORNEX: Signed a three-year, 5.5GWh supply agreement with Saudi Arabia’s Al Rajhi Electrical, alongside a 6GWh cooperation deal with Egypt’s WeaCan and Kemet.
- CATL: Secured contracts in Chile, Australia, and other regions, with cumulative orders exceeding 11GWh.
- Trina Storage: Won a bid for a 250MW/1000MWh project in Italy and reached a $56.61 million procurement agreement for battery cells and core components with Concord New Energy.
On the other hand, cooperation models have been upgraded from simple product exports in the early stage to industrial ecosystem collaboration.
- CATL partnered with Greencoat, Lochpine Capital and other institutions to develop and invest in 10 GWh energy storage projects in Europe, realizing the integration of technology and capital.
- Trina Storage established a fund with European capital, upgrading from pure equipment supply to an integrated ecosystem model of “capital + technology + operation”.
- Canadian Solar Energy Storage provided its SolBank 3.0 energy storage system and long-term O&M services for U.S. projects, fulfilling its commitment to “full lifecycle service”.
In terms of regional layout, the recent global expansion of Chinese enterprises features deep cultivation in Europe and accelerated development in the Middle East.
Europe remains the core market for Chinese enterprises going global. With its high-end market positioning and product premium, Europe has become a key focus for leading enterprises, as seen in the following orders:
- CORNEX cooperated with a Romanian enterprise to build a 135 MW/270 MWh independent energy storage project.
- Hithium Energy Storage reached 2 GWh and 120 MWh cooperation agreements with Ukraine’s KNESS Group and Poland’s Infinity Power respectively.
- CATL partnered with European capital to develop 10 GWh energy storage projects, and provided a 500 MW/2400 MWh energy storage solution for Australia.
In the Middle East and Asia-Pacific regions, localized production is gradually accelerating, becoming important areas for Chinese enterprises to implement local deployment. Meanwhile, large orders frequently emerge in emerging markets.
- Energy China International Group won the bid for a 1 GWh energy storage EPC project in Egypt.
- Canadian Solar Energy Storage secured a 503 MWh energy storage project order in the United States.
- Trina Storage won the bid for the 1 GWh AIDC photovoltaic energy storage power station project in Malaysia, continuously expanding its share in emerging markets.
Relying on technological advantages, Chinese energy storage enterprises have gradually achieved the leap from product exports to solution exports, while establishing local service teams to strengthen operation and maintenance control.
In terms of technological development, liquid cooling technology has become a standard configuration. Desay Battery, Tianneng Energy Storage, CLOU Electronics and other companies have successively launched liquid-cooled energy storage systems to seize the market with higher safety and efficiency.
Meanwhile, the ability to deliver full-scenario solutions has become a core competitiveness. Shanghai Electric implemented a 50 MW/150 MWh energy storage project in the UK; Canadian Solar provided grid-connected battery energy storage systems for the Japanese market; and Brilliance Power delivered a full set of equipment and integrated services including battery cabinets, PCS and photovoltaic inverters to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Products such as CATL’s EnerC containerized LFP energy storage system and Canadian Solar’s SolBank 3.0 energy storage system have become benchmarks in the global energy storage market.
Currently, the accelerated global energy transition is driving surging demand for energy storage, providing broad space for Chinese enterprises to go global. However, the industry still faces challenges including geopolitical fluctuations, intensifying trade barriers, and increasingly stringent localization requirements. In the future, for Chinese energy storage enterprises to expand globally, they need comprehensive upgrades in technological innovation, capital operation, overseas operation and other aspects, transforming from equipment and product suppliers into global ecosystem builders.
Source：EnergyTrend
