2026 China Energy Storage Conference (BMS Battery Management System Exhibition), covering new energy storage technologies and key equipment.

In 2026, China’s energy storage industry will host a globally acclaimed event—the China Energy Storage Conference. As a core component of the conference, the BMS Battery Management System Exhibition has drawn top global companies, research institutions, and industry experts in the energy storage sector to gather under one roof. This event not only provides a comprehensive showcase of the latest breakthroughs in emerging energy storage technologies but also delves into the pivotal role of critical equipment such as BMS within energy storage systems, thereby charting the course for the future development of the energy storage industry.

A diverse array of new energy storage technologies is flourishing, driving transformation across the industry.

At this Energy Storage Conference, next-generation energy storage technologies emerged as the star attractions. As the global energy transition accelerates, energy storage—key to enabling the large-scale deployment of renewable energy and enhancing grid flexibility—has grown in importance. The conference showcased cutting-edge technologies such as solid-state batteries, sodium-ion batteries, and flow batteries, highlighting the vibrant pace of innovation in the energy storage sector.

Solid-state batteries, with their high energy density and intrinsic safety, have become a key focus of research for numerous academic institutions and start-ups. Several companies have showcased their latest solid-state battery prototypes, achieving an energy density exceeding 500 Wh/kg and a cycle life of more than 10,000 cycles, thereby opening up new possibilities for electric vehicles and large-scale energy storage applications. Meanwhile, sodium-ion batteries, benefiting from abundant resources and low cost, are forging a new path in the energy-storage sector. A number of firms have announced that their sodium-ion battery products have entered the commercialization phase, with strong potential to replace lithium-ion batteries on a large scale in areas such as residential energy storage and low-speed electric vehicles.

The long-duration energy storage potential of flow batteries has also attracted considerable attention. Among them, all-vanadium redox flow batteries, as the most mature flow battery technology, have already been deployed in several large-scale energy storage projects. At the conference, numerous companies showcased their next-generation flow battery products, which, through optimized electrolyte formulations and stack designs, have significantly enhanced energy density and charge–discharge efficiency, thereby providing robust support for renewable energy integration and grid peak-shaving.

BMS Battery Management System: the “Nervous Center” of Energy Storage Systems

In energy storage systems, the Battery Management System (BMS) plays a critical role. Acting as the “nerve center” of the system, it monitors battery state-of-health, manages charging and discharging processes, and ensures safe operation. At this conference, BMS technology was one of the main highlights, with numerous companies showcasing their latest BMS products and solutions.

The new-generation BMS not only delivers highly accurate state-of-charge (SOC) and state-of-health (SOH) estimation, but also integrates critical technologies such as thermal-runaway early warning and multi-cell balancing control. By incorporating AI algorithms, the BMS enables full-lifecycle battery health management and carbon-footprint traceability, significantly enhancing the safety and cost-effectiveness of energy-storage systems. For example, a BMS demonstrated by one company continuously monitors key parameters such as battery temperature, voltage, and current, and leverages big-data analytics to proactively predict potential failure risks, allowing for timely preventive measures that effectively mitigate safety incidents like thermal runaway.

In addition, the BMS is deeply integrated with key components such as the PCS (energy storage inverter) and EMS (energy management system), creating a synergistic architecture in which the “brain” and “heart” of the energy storage system work in tandem. This integrated design not only enhances the overall efficiency of the energy storage system but also reduces operation and maintenance costs, thereby laying a solid foundation for the large-scale deployment of energy storage technologies.

Continuous innovation in key equipment is driving high-quality development of the energy storage industry.

In addition to BMS systems, this conference also showcased numerous innovative breakthroughs in key equipment for the energy storage sector. As the “heart” of an energy storage system, the performance of the PCS directly impacts the system’s charge–discharge efficiency and operational stability. During the event, several companies unveiled their next-generation PCS products, which, through technologies such as wide-voltage adaptation and low-loss design, have significantly enhanced conversion efficiency and power density. Meanwhile, the demonstration of the engineering implementation of grid-forming PCS technology provides robust support for enabling coordinated interaction among generation, grid, load, and storage resources, as well as for virtual power plant dispatch.

In the realm of thermal management equipment, liquid cooling is increasingly becoming the standard configuration for large-capacity energy storage systems. From cold-plate liquid cooling to immersion liquid cooling, the technological roadmap continues to expand, offering a broader range of options for thermal management in energy storage systems. Meanwhile, safety technologies have evolved from standalone fire-suppression equipment to system-level safety solutions, with measures such as battery-level thermal-runaway early warning, module-level physical isolation, and system-level fire-fighting interlock, collectively establishing a multi-layered safety protection framework.

Looking ahead, the energy storage industry boasts a promising future.

With continuous technological advancements and ongoing policy refinement, China’s energy storage industry is poised for unprecedented growth opportunities. This conference not only showcases the latest technological breakthroughs and innovative key equipment in the field but also serves as a vital platform for industry-wide collaboration and knowledge exchange. Looking ahead, as low-cost, long-duration energy storage technologies achieve major breakthroughs and capacity-based electricity pricing mechanisms are further refined, energy storage will transition from a “nice-to-have” to an “essential” component, becoming deeply integrated into the new power system and contributing to the energy revolution and the realization of the “dual carbon” goals.