BYD unveils the world’s largest DC energy storage system
Chinese EV giant BYD unveils breakthrough 14.5 MWh energy storage system “Haohan”
Chinese electric mobility giant BYD has announced the launch of a groundbreaking energy storage system, Haohan, featuring a record 14.5 MWh capacity in a single module. Experts say the new solution is redefining standards in the large-scale energy storage segment. Its unique energy density and significant reduction in lifecycle costs could drive success not only in Asian markets but globally.
Unit-scale revolution – 14.5 MWh in a single block
At the International Digital Energy Expo in Shenzhen, BYD presented the Haohan system, which more than doubles current market standards. The minimum unit capacity is 14.5 MWh, compared to 6–7 MWh typical in existing systems.
The entire system fits in a standard 20-foot container. It delivers 10 MWh, achieving an energy density of 233 kWh/m³—51% higher than the market average. For a 1 GWh plant, this translates to more than a 50% reduction in the number of units, 33% less land requirement, and 76% fewer cells.
Blade Battery 2,710 Ah – the heart of the system
The new BYD system is based on its proprietary Blade Battery with a capacity of 2,710 Ah—the largest energy storage cell in the world. Key features include:
- Three times the capacity of traditional cells
- Lifespan of over 10,000 cycles
- Full lifecycle cost below 0.1 CNY/kWh (0.014 USD)
Thanks to cell-to-system (C2S) integration, a record VCTS (Volumetric Cell-to-System) ratio of 52% was achieved, reducing component redundancy and significantly simplifying the design.
The system comes with IP66 protection, ensuring full resistance to dust and water and enabling operation in extreme environments—from deserts to coastal areas. According to BYD, Haohan reduces failure rates and maintenance costs by 70%.
Integration with BYD’s own PCS and EMS software enables:
- Millisecond-level response
- Gigawatt-scale grid-forming capabilities
- Dynamic grid interaction for balancing and renewable energy integration
Economics and decarbonization at the core
BYD emphasizes that Haohan can reduce project-level LCOE by 21.7%. For a 1 GWh plant, procurement, transport, and installation costs drop by about 30%.
The system also features a blockchain-based carbon tracking mechanism, allowing monitoring of emissions across the product lifecycle. BYD reports that Haohan’s carbon footprint is 18% lower than the market average, which could be crucial under regulations like the EU CBAM.
Competition in the race for dominance
The Haohan launch comes amid intense competition to set the next-generation energy storage standards:
- CATL introduced the 9 MWh TENER Stack this year
- Tesla unveiled the 20 MWh Megablock, integrating four Megapack 3 units with a medium-voltage transformer
- Sungrow presented PowerTitan 3.0 (6.9 MWh), optimized for high temperatures
Each player focuses on different priorities, showing that the market is still searching for the “gold standard” in this segment.
BYD plans to deploy Haohan in gigawatt-scale projects as early as 2025, including a 12.5 GWh investment in Saudi Arabia. The company also aims to expand into Europe, Latin America, Africa, and Southeast Asia.
Future technological developments include liquid cooling, predictive maintenance, and integrated solar-hydrogen storage systems, with a goal of exceeding 95% efficiency by 2026.