New energy storage policies introduced in Inner Mongolia mark the end of the industry's wild growth

The Energy Bureau of Inner Mongolia has issued a notice clarifying that the discharge compensation standard for independent new - type energy storage power stations in 2026 will be 0.28 yuan per kilowatt - hour. It also stipulates that the investment entity cannot be changed within two years after the project is completed, and sets an upper limit on the number of daily charging times. This move aims to curb speculative behavior, drive the energy storage industry from policy - dependence to market - driven development, and guide the healthy development of the industry.

A notice from the Energy Bureau of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region has set clear boundaries for the overheated new - type energy storage investment market, marking the end of the era of wild growth in the energy storage industry.

On November 10th, the Energy Bureau of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region issued the "Notice on Issues Concerning the Standardization of the Management of Independent New - Type Energy Storage Power Stations", clarifying that the compensation standard for the power discharged by independent new - type energy storage power stations to the public power grid in 2026 will be 0.28 yuan per kilowatt - hour, starting from the month of substantial commissioning after completion.

This notice also strictly stipulates that the number of full - capacity daily charging times of energy storage power stations on the list shall not exceed 1.5 times. Moreover, within the construction period and two years after completion, the shareholding ratio of project shareholders shall not be changed through means such as equity holding on behalf of others, hidden shareholders, or cross - shareholding. The investment entity shall not be substantially changed in any way, such as selling shares, leasing assets, subcontracting, or assigning contracts.

These regulations directly target the recent chaos of reselling energy storage project indicators in Inner Mongolia, providing a "timely rain" for the overheated market.

The Energy Storage Industry Returns to Rational Development

The energy storage compensation standard in Inner Mongolia has been reduced from 0.35 yuan per kilowatt - hour in 2025 to 0.28 yuan per kilowatt - hour in 2026, a decrease of 20%. This adjustment clearly signals that the energy storage industry must shift from policy - dependence to market - driven development.

Looking back at the development of the energy storage industry in Inner Mongolia, the compensation policy has indeed played a crucial catalytic role. In 2024, the installed capacity of new - type energy storage in Inner Mongolia increased by 246% year - on - year, with the cumulative installed capacity exceeding 10 million kilowatts. It became the first provincial - level region in the country with new - type energy storage installed capacity exceeding 10 million kilowatts.

The high - compensation policy was necessary in the initial stage of industrial development, but it also brought problems. Some investors only focused on policy subsidies rather than the actual application value of energy storage technologies. The new standard of 0.28 yuan per kilowatt - hour not only maintains policy continuity and gives investors clear expectations but also forces enterprises to improve operational efficiency.

Behind the adjustment of the compensation standard is Inner Mongolia's re - thinking of the positioning of the energy storage industry. Energy storage should not just be a tool for obtaining subsidies but an important part of the new - type power system. This transformation prompts enterprises to shift from "seizing territory" to "intensive cultivation".

The Energy Storage Market Undergoes a Thorough Shuffle

The regulation that "the shareholding ratio of project shareholders shall not be changed within the construction period and two years after completion" precisely targets the speculative behavior of reselling energy storage project indicators.

Previously, stimulated by the high - compensation policy, there was a phenomenon of speculating on energy storage project indicators in Inner Mongolia. Some investors, after obtaining project filing documents, did not actually invest in construction but resold the projects through various means to make huge profits. This speculative behavior not only distorted the market order but also might lead to a large number of "paper projects" failing to materialize. This means that only enterprises with real willingness and ability to build and operate energy storage projects will enter the market.

Meanwhile, the regulation that the number of full - capacity daily charging times shall not exceed 1.5 times also curbs speculative behavior from a technical perspective. This requirement ensures that energy storage power stations charge and discharge according to system needs rather than simply pursuing the number of charge - discharge cycles to obtain more subsidies.

These measures together form a protective net, which will drive the energy storage market in Inner Mongolia from "speculation - driven" to value - driven development and guide the healthy development of the industry.

The Energy Storage Industry Moves Towards High - Quality Development

The impact of the new energy storage policy in Inner Mongolia goes far beyond the present. It will profoundly change the future direction and development logic of the energy storage industry.

With the reduction of the compensation standard and the improvement of regulatory requirements, the profit model of energy storage enterprises will undergo a fundamental transformation. The era of single - dependence on policy compensation is over, and a diversified revenue structure is taking shape. In western Inner Mongolia, independent new - type energy storage power stations can participate in the electricity spot market and ancillary service market to obtain revenue. The electricity prices for charging and discharging and ancillary service fees shall be implemented in accordance with relevant market prices and rules. In eastern Inner Mongolia, independent energy storage power stations implement time - of - use electricity price policies such as peak - valley and peak - shaving.

The new policy will also accelerate energy storage technology innovation. Against the backdrop of the reduced compensation standard, only energy storage technologies with higher cycle efficiency, longer lifespan, and lower cost can make a profit. This will drive the entire industry to focus on technological innovation and enhance product competitiveness.

From a broader perspective, the adjustment of the energy storage policy in Inner Mongolia provides important reference for the management of the energy storage industry across the country. As a frontier area for new energy development in China, Inner Mongolia's exploration and practice will provide valuable experience for other regions and lead the Chinese energy storage industry towards maturity.

The change in policy orientation may accelerate the competition in technological innovation. With the reduction of the compensation standard, only energy storage technologies with higher cycle efficiency, longer lifespan, and lower cost can gain a foothold in the market.

Inner Mongolia has also made early arrangements for technological innovation. The special project of the science and technology "breakthrough" project supports the research and development of "energy storage and new - type power systems". Technologies such as the "process package for a 100 - megawatt - hour long - duration, high - efficiency, high - temperature fluidized industrial thermal energy storage demonstration device" at the Ordos Laboratory have met the conditions for industrial demonstration and popularization.

The introduction of the new energy storage policy in Inner Mongolia marks a new stage of development for the Chinese energy storage industry. From pursuing installed capacity to emphasizing actual value, and from relying on subsidies to participating in market competition, the energy storage industry is undergoing a profound transformation.

This article is from the WeChat official account "Foreseeing Energy". The author is Foreseeing Energy. It is published by 36Kr with authorization.