China releases New-type Energy Storage Technology Development Roadmap (2025-2035)

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) released the New-type Energy Storage Technology Development Roadmap (2025-2035) on Wednesday at the main forum of the World Energy Storage Conference 2025, providing guidance and reference for further promoting high-quality industrial development and high-level industrial security.

This roadmap focuses on five key subfields: electrochemical energy storage, mechanical energy storage, electromagnetic energy storage, cold thermal energy storage, and hydrogen storage. It outlines key products, essential materials and components, as well as development goals for various fields leading up to 2035.

"From a national perspective, the roadmap systematically evaluates the development status of different technology industrial chains. On the enterprise level, it also presents specific indicators for product development and outlines future development direction," said Zhang Yanli, associate researcher at the Equipment Industry Development Center of the MIIT.

Currently, the country's new-type energy storage technologies are developing rapidly, with a surge of innovative achievements emerging.

A newly released energy storage system in China is the world's first to achieve zero degradation over five years and can be mass-produced on a large scale. It boasts a storage capacity of 6.25 megawatt-hours (MWh) of high energy within a single 20-foot container, with energy density increased by 30 percent.

Meanwhile, the application scenarios for new technologies are also continuously expanding. At present, Shanghai's Mingdong Container Terminal, a key hub for global trade, is undergoing new energy transformation of fuel equipment.

"Custom battery packs have been specifically developed, featuring an electrophoretic powder coating and painting process on the battery housing, making them fully capable of withstanding the high-salinity and high-humidity environment of the port," said Zhou Gong, product engineer at China's CATL, the world's largest battery maker.

In the first half of this year, the country's installed capacity of new-type energy storage had reached 94.91 million kilowatts, representing an increase of approximately 29 percent compared to the end of 2024.

China releases New-type Energy Storage Technology Development Roadmap (2025-2035)

Malaysia has been grappling with sustained cross-border haze for weeks -- despite repeated rainfall, the polluted air shrouding Kuala Lumpur shows little sign of dispersing, with the national weather agency cautioning that a clear timeline for relief remains elusive.

In the capital, air quality readings have held at unhealthy levels for a fortnight, with neighboring districts faring no better as passing showers leave the smog largely intact.

"The rain that is occurring in Malaysia is not going to help in total to reduce the haze because the source is still there so the wind keeps on coming from that direction to our country," said Ambun Dindang, the deputy director general of the Malaysian Meteorological Department (MET Malaysia).

That assessment from the country's weather agency points across the border, where forest and land fires have been burning in multiple parts of Indonesia in recent weeks, sending smoke drifting into neighboring countries. The persistent haze has since taken a toll on a range of industries in Kuala Lumpur.

Open-air food stalls are a hallmark of the city, but the hazy weather has kept diners indoors, leaving many such businesses noticeably quiet.

"Because we're outdoors, some customers and tourists don't want to sit outside. [Due to the haze] our customer traffic also decreases," said a local restaurant operator.

Daily life is bearing the strain beyond the food business as well, from school scheduling to commutes. Local governments and schools must adjust class arrangements based on official forecasts, and whether classes will be suspended has become parents' top concern, with some schools already closed as the pollution persists.

Authorities have reminded the public to monitor official air quality bulletins and weather updates, and to adjust their outdoor plans accordingly.

As to when the haze might finally lift, MET Malaysia says no definitive timeline can yet be offered, with any improvement contingent on a shift in wind direction.

Cross-border haze lingers over Malaysia as clearing timeline remains uncertain