China's energy storage companies have significantly accelerated their overseas expansion at the beginning of 2026, with international orders continuing to surge. According to incomplete statistics, from January to February, domestic energy storage enterprises secured close to 50 orders and collaborative projects worldwide. These projects span key markets including Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, the Americas, and Australia, with a total capacity exceeding 33.5 GWh. This strong start to the year not only reflects growth in the number of orders but also signifies a profound transformation in the global expansion model of Chinese energy storage firms. The focus is shifting from pure scale expansion to quality enhancement, and from simple product exports to building collaborative ecosystems, with leading companies playing an increasingly prominent role.
On one hand, the scale and value of corporate collaborations are repeatedly reaching new highs, with industry leaders making continuous breakthroughs. For instance, Chuneng New Energy signed a three-year agreement to supply 5.5 GWh of energy storage products to Saudi Arabia's Al Rajhi Electrical, while also securing a 6 GWh product cooperation deal with Egypt's WeaCan and Kemet. CATL signed contracts with companies in Chile and Australia, accumulating orders totaling over 11 GWh. Trina Storage won a 250 MW/1,000 MWh project in Italy and entered into a $56.61 million procurement agreement for energy storage batteries and core components with CECEP Wind-Power Solar. These examples demonstrate a multi-point global market layout by various companies.
On the other hand, there is a clear upgrade in cooperation models, evolving from early-stage simple product exports to the joint development of industrial ecosystems. CATL is collaborating with partners like Greencoat and Lochpine Capital to develop and invest in a 10 GWh energy storage project in Europe, integrating technology with capital. Trina Storage has established a fund with European capital, upgrading from mere equipment supply to an integrated "capital + technology + operation" ecosystem model. Canadian Solar is providing its SolBank 3.0 energy storage system and long-term operation and maintenance services for a U.S. project, fulfilling its commitment to "full lifecycle services."
From a regional perspective, the recent overseas布局 of Chinese companies shows a trend of "deepening presence in Europe and accelerating pace in the Middle East." Europe remains the core stronghold for Chinese companies expanding abroad. Leveraging its high-end market positioning and product premium, Europe has become a key focus area for leading enterprises. Examples include Chuneng New Energy collaborating with a Romanian company to build a 135 MW/270 MWh independent energy storage project, HiTHIUM securing 2 GWh and 120 MWh cooperation agreements with Ukraine's KNESS Group and Poland's Infinity Power respectively, and CATL partnering with European capital to develop a 10 GWh energy storage project while also providing a 500 MW/2,400 MWh storage solution for Australia.
In the Middle East and Asia-Pacific regions, localized production is gradually accelerating, making these areas important for Chinese companies to achieve local presence, alongside frequent large orders in emerging markets. China Energy Engineering Group International won a 1 GWh energy storage EPC project in Egypt. Canadian Solar secured a 503 MWh energy storage project order in the United States. Trina Storage won the bid for a 1 GWh AIDC photovoltaic energy storage power station project in Malaysia, continuously expanding its market share in emerging regions.
Chinese energy storage companies, leveraging their technological advantages, are progressively transitioning from exporting products to exporting integrated solutions. They are also establishing local service teams to strengthen their operation and maintenance capabilities. From a technological development standpoint, liquid cooling technology is becoming standard. Companies like Desay Battery, Tianneng Energy Storage, and Shenzhen Clou Electronics have launched liquid-cooled energy storage systems to capture market share with higher safety and efficiency. Concurrently, the ability to provide full-scenario solutions has become a core competitive advantage. Shanghai Electric implemented a 50 MW/150 MWh energy storage project in the UK, Canadian Solar supplied grid-connected battery energy storage systems for the Japanese market, and Borelton delivered a full set of equipment—including battery cabinets, PCS, and photovoltaic inverters—along with integrated services to the Democratic Republic of Congo. Products like CATL's EnerC containerized lithium iron phosphate energy storage system and Canadian Solar's SolBank 3.0 have become benchmark products in the global energy storage market.
Currently, the accelerated global energy transition is driving high growth in energy storage demand, providing vast opportunities for Chinese companies expanding overseas. However, the industry still needs to confront challenges such as geopolitical fluctuations, intensifying trade barriers, and increasingly stringent localization requirements. For future success abroad, Chinese energy storage enterprises must achieve comprehensive upgrades in technological innovation, capital operation, and overseas management, transforming from being mere equipment or product suppliers into global ecosystem co-builders.