State Grid expert: 4-hour energy storage is a good balance point between replacement effect and economy.

On July 24th, during the "PV Industry Development Review and Prospects Seminar for the First Half of 2026 and the Second Half" hosted by the China Photovoltaic Industry Association, Dai Hongcai, the director of the New Energy Research Institute of State Grid Energy Research Institute Co., Ltd., analyzed the trend of new energy grid connection from the perspective of the power grid. He stated that in the first half of this year, the new energy installed capacity in State Grid's operating areas decreased by 57.7% year-on-year, but solar photovoltaic still remains the main force of new energy development, accounting for 64% of the newly installed capacity. In terms of power generation, the proportion of solar power generation has reached 13%. Dai Hongcai emphasized that towards the "14th Five-Year Plan", energy development is shifting from quantity growth to quality growth, and the combination of photovoltaic and energy storage is an important direction for the future, with 4-hour energy storage being a good balance point between substitution effect and economy.