The world’s first 400 MWh energy storage system using 628 Ah cells has started operation in China

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Chinese battery manufacturer EVE Energy announced the launch of the world’s first large-scale energy storage system using lithium iron phosphate (LFP) cells with 628 Ah capacity. The project has specifications of 200 MW / 400 MWh and represents the first commercial validation of ultra-large-format cells in utility-scale applications. The Ruite New Energy Lingshou installation was commissioned on January 31 in Hebei province, northern China, and is designed to support the stability of the national power grid.

628 Ah in practice

The new storage system includes:

  • 80 containerized Mr. Giant systems with 5 MWh each,
  • 40 integrated power conversion cabins,
  • a total of 400 MWh capacity at 200 MW output.

At the heart of the system is the 628 Ah cell from the Mr. Flagship series, integrated into a 20-foot Mr. Giant container designed for 4+ hour duration applications.

Mass production of >600 Ah cells began in December 2024, making EVE the first manufacturer to commercialize LFP cells of this size for stationary storage. Cumulative production has already exceeded one million units.

Fewer components, greater responsibility

The growing interest in large-format battery cells is deliberate. Using prismatic LFP cells with double the capacity significantly reduces the number of units per container, and consequently lowers connections, wiring, and system components. In theory, this translates into faster installation, reduced risk of assembly errors, and lower maintenance costs. Higher energy density per square meter also supports CAPEX and OPEX optimization in projects at the scale of hundreds of megawatt-hours.

At the same time, larger-format cells increase the impact of a single point of failure. Thermal issues in a 628 Ah cell have greater systemic consequences than in smaller units. Effective temperature management, BMS quality, and fire protection design thus become absolute priorities to maintain the reputation of this class of products.

The race for the largest cell accelerates

Although 628 Ah is currently the most advanced commercially implemented cell in a 400 MWh system, it is not the largest announced on the market:

  • Hithium presented the LFP MIC 1130 Ah cell for 4–8 hour storage applications,
  • BYD introduced the HaoHan storage system with 14.5 MWh per unit, using its proprietary Blade 2 710 Ah cell, considered the world’s largest storage cell.

The key difference is deployment stage. The Lingshou project is the first full-scale 400 MWh system based on 628 Ah cells, operating in a real grid environment.

Alongside the project launch, EVE Energy signed a strategic 10 GWh volume agreement with Beijing Guowang Power Technology. The long-term deal indicates that large-capacity cells will be implemented in future projects in a scalable, systematic way, rather than on an ad hoc basis.

It is noteworthy that the Mr. Giant system with 628 Ah cells is already being exported. Initial deliveries have gone to Australia and Europe. The new format will not remain exclusive to the Chinese market but will become part of the global competition in the 200–500 MWh energy storage segment.

Key question

Which cell format will prove cost-effective, safe, and operationally stable over a 15–20 year grid service horizon? The Lingshou project is the first major test of this hypothesis at the 400 MWh scale.

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