Experts at the 2026 World Energy Storage Conference said that deeper international cooperation is important to get the most benefit from new energy storage technologies.
The Conference ran from Wednesday to Friday in Ningde City, east China's Fujian Province, bringing together participants to discuss cutting-edge technologies, and prospects for the energy storage industry.
As renewables become a major energy source worldwide, storage is evolving from a supporting facility into essential new infrastructure for power systems.
New energy storage covers advanced storage technologies other than traditional pumped hydro. Simply put, it captures intermittent power from wind and solar panels. Then it feeds electricity to the grid on demand. It fills gaps when renewables can't generate enough power. That's why it's so critical for the global shift to low-carbon power and the wider energy revolution.
The experts called for international skills transfers and better policies and regulations.
"In countries that require energy storage like in Africa, for that matter, we need skills transfer to take place as part of the implementation of these projects. And we can see from conferences like this, there is a commitment to transfer the skills from manufacturers over to the users of energy storage systems," said Veer Ramnarain, President of the South African Institute of Electrical Engineers.
"This is a golden opportunity for all countries to enter this new age of energy abundance. And China is a global leader. It's showing what speed and scale are possible to integrate these new technologies into the system. I would definitely be looking into the way policy supports deployment of these new technologies in China. There are a lot of key learnings here that I would love to bring back home," said Kostantsa Rangelova, senior battery analyst with Ember, an energy think tank that aims to accelerate the clean energy transition with data and policy, according to its website.
"All of the countries have natural resources. We don't know what can happen. In Mexico, we have the natural gas pipeline from the United States. In any time, they can close the door of natural gas, but we have a lot of natural resources. So we can create renewable energy and the storage and have that as a back-up," said Natalia Carrera, energy champion with OPITO Mexico.
"Storage becomes essential, apart from the technical side of things. There are a number of policy and regulatory issues that we need to get better at. So, global collaboration is essential on technology and policy and regulation," said Marcello Contestabile, Energy Transition and Technology Policy specialist at Greening the Islands Foundation.
As countries race to cut emissions and reshape their energy security, new energy storage serves two core goals: One is keeping national power grids safe and stable; the other is accelerating the global shift toward cleaner energy.
Yet the industry still faces major headwinds, including uneven development across regions, incompatible technical standards and unequal access to supply chains and resources.
These issues can only be addressed through open dialogue and deeper international cooperation.
International experts call for closer cooperation on energy storage
The 140th edition of the China Import and Export Fair, also known as the Canton Fair, entered its third day on Saturday, with a wave of AI-powered products making their debuts and injecting fresh momentum into China's export growth.
The event opened to visitors in Guangzhou, capital of south China's Guangdong Province on Thursday, and will be held in three phases through Nov 4.
The latest edition of the fair is showcasing 235,000 AI products, while more than 20,000 exhibitors have adopted different kinds of new technologies. Booths featuring the latest AI products have been drawing crowds, with visitors waiting in long queues to try out the exhibits.
"[The Canton Fair] really gets more popular every year. By around 9:30, people were already queuing in two lines. Some buyers did not want to wait to try the products, so they just bought them on the spot," said exhibitor Liang Linchao.
"The enthusiasm of Canton Fair [buyers] has exceeded my expectations. About one-third of customers want to take one home immediately after the fair ends. That gives us great confidence to explore and expand our overseas markets," said another exhibitor Cui Wei.
Beyond creating business opportunities, products showcased at the Canton Fair can also make a difference in the lives of people in need.
Max Young, who was visiting the Canton Fair for the third time, brought his mother along this time. The mother and son had expected to simply soak up the bustling atmosphere, but an exoskeleton robotic device they came across brought them an unexpected surprise.
His mother, who has had difficulty walking since suffering a stroke, was able to stand up and walk with the help of the device.
"It just keeps my legs going. It's good. Yes, it's good," said his mother, Suzanne Elliott, almost bursting into tears.
"Last year she had a stroke, so the left-hand side of her body is a little bit weaker. About one year ago she couldn't walk or stand up at all. We tried this one today. It seems very good. I think it would help her to get better," said Young.
At the 140th Canton Fair, many exhibitors are accelerating the rollout of research achievements into real application scenarios, turning technological strengths into market advantages and making the fair a major showcase for technological innovation.
"Extremely impressive. Just everything about the efficiency and just how vast and large everything is. We saw a lot of production now is gone to robotics production, AI technology, less humans, really advanced and precise, a lot of precision manufacturing. I think innovation is starting here now. I think now the initiation is here, the R and D is here, and the creativity is coming from China. Very, very impressed," said Canadian buyer Yehuda Klein.
Serving as a barometer and wind vane of China's foreign trade, this year's fair, marking its 70th anniversary, features innovation, intelligence, greater specialization and higher quality.
The Canton Fair is one of the world's few one-stop trade platforms offering a complete range of products with convenience and efficiency, while bringing together the latest products and technologies.
AI products take center stage at 140th Canton Fair, showcasing innovation, offering real-world benefits
AI products take center stage at 140th Canton Fair, showcasing innovation, offering real-world benefits
