China completes first full-scale underwater pumped storage trial at 65 m depth

Share

From ESS News

The Dongfang Research Institute, a subsidiary of China Dongfang Electric Corporation (DEC) announced the completion of a 10-day full-condition underwater trial of China’s first kilowatt-scale submerged pumped storage energy system, marking a step forward in the country’s development of alternative long-duration storage technologies.

The system, branded “Dongchu No. 1,” was tested in Minhu Lake in Sanming, Fujian province, at a water depth of 65 meters. The institute said the trial ran from Jan. 2 to Jan. 11 and included more than 100 charge and discharge cycles under continuous submerged operation.

According to DEC, the test verified the system’s structural sealing, pressure control, mechanical durability, and bidirectional energy conversion performance in a real underwater environment. The company did not disclose specific roundtrip efficiency figures, power ratings beyond the kilowatt-class designation, or detailed cost data.

To continue reading, please visit our ESS News website.

This content is protected by copyright and may not be reused. If you want to cooperate with us and would like to reuse some of our content, please contact: editors@pv-magazine.com.

Popular content

Pakistan’s installed PV capacity estimated above 27 GW
20 January 2026 Pakistan has imported over 50 GW of solar modules from China, including 18 GW during the country’s last fiscal year. In the absence of official instal...