Key Technologies for Large-Scale Advanced Compressed Air Energy Storage System Developed by the Institute of Engineering Thermophysics Wins the 2025 National Science and Technology Award
On July 8, 2026, the 2025 National Science and Technology Awards Conference was grandly held in Beijing. The achievement titled "Key Technologies for Large-Scale Advanced Compressed Air Energy Storage Systems," with the Institute of Engineering Thermophysics (IET), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) as the sole completing entity, won the Second Prize of the National Technology Invention Award. This achievement was completed by Chen Haisheng, Xu Yujie, Li Wen, Zuo Zhitao, Zhu Yangli, and Wang Liang from the institute.
Energy storage is a key supporting technology for China's "dual carbon" strategy and the energy revolution. Compressed Air Energy Storage (CAES), combining advantages such as large scale, low cost, long lifespan, and high safety, is one of the most promising large-scale energy storage technologies and a strategically competitive field pursued by countries worldwide. However, traditional CAES systems face technical bottlenecks, including reliance on fossil fuels and low efficiency, significantly limiting their large-scale application.
Addressing the main technical bottlenecks of traditional CAES, and supported by the National Basic Research Program of China (973 Program), the National High-Tech Research and Development Program of China (863 Program), and the National Key R&D Program, the research team achieved systematic innovations after 20 years of continuous efforts:
They proposed the "correspondence point" design theory for energy storage systems—"storage-release correspondence and cycle matching"—and invented an advanced CAES system based on the new principle of homologous cycle.
They overcame the fully three-dimensional aerodynamic and structural collaborative design technology for multi-stage compressors and expanders, inventing ultra-high-pressure-ratio compressors and ultra-high-expansion-ratio expanders.
They conquered the design technology for supercritical thermal (cold) energy storage heat exchangers, inventing high-efficiency compact thermal (cold) energy storage heat exchangers.
They built the world's first 1.5 MW, 10 MW, 100 MW, and 300 MW advanced CAES demonstration systems, achieving a maximum efficiency of over 70%, repeatedly setting international records in performance indicators, and establishing China's leading position in the CAES field.
The National Science and Technology Awards are the highest honors in China's science and technology sector, comprising five categories: the State Preeminent Science and Technology Award, the State Natural Science Award, the State Technology Invention Award, the State Scientific and Technological Progress Award, and the International Science and Technology Cooperation Award of the People's Republic of China.
For the 2025 National Science and Technology Awards, a total of 258 projects and 11 scientific and technological experts were selected. Specifically:
2 individuals received the State Preeminent Science and Technology Award;
51 projects received the State Natural Science Award (3 first prizes, 48 second prizes);
58 projects received the State Technology Invention Award (3 first prizes, 55 second prizes);
149 projects received the State Scientific and Technological Progress Award (3 grand prizes, 13 first prizes, 133 second prizes);
9 individuals were awarded the International Science and Technology Cooperation Award of the People's Republic of China.
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Key Technologies for Large-Scale Advanced Compressed Air Energy Storage System Developed by the Institute of Engineering Thermophysics Wins the 2025 National Science and Technology Award
Jul 08, 2026 / Author by Text SizeDBSOn July 8, 2026, the 2025 National Science and Technology Awards Conference was grandly held in Beijing. The achievement titled "Key Technologies for Large-Scale Advanced Compressed Air Energy Storage Systems," with the Institute of Engineering Thermophysics (IET), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) as the sole completing entity, won the Second Prize of the National Technology Invention Award. This achievement was completed by Chen Haisheng, Xu Yujie, Li Wen, Zuo Zhitao, Zhu Yangli, and Wang Liang from the institute.
Energy storage is a key supporting technology for China's "dual carbon" strategy and the energy revolution. Compressed Air Energy Storage (CAES), combining advantages such as large scale, low cost, long lifespan, and high safety, is one of the most promising large-scale energy storage technologies and a strategically competitive field pursued by countries worldwide. However, traditional CAES systems face technical bottlenecks, including reliance on fossil fuels and low efficiency, significantly limiting their large-scale application.