China Huadian announces winners of 12 GWh energy storage tender as bidding prices rise from last year

China Huadian Group’s 2026 lithium iron phosphate (LFP) electrochemical energy storage system framework procurement has entered the candidate-award stage, with seven primary winning candidates and three backup candidates named for a deal sized at an estimated 12 GWh. The result, published on March 3, is one of the largest storage system frame tenders disclosed in China so far this year.

According to the tender documents and market summaries citing Huadian’s e-procurement platform, the framework covers 0.5C and 0.25C LFP storage systems for Huadian renewable projects during calendar 2026, including batteries and installation guidance. Huadian said the actual awarded volume may vary by up to ±20% from the 12 GWh reference volume, implying a possible range of roughly 9.6 GWh to 14.4 GWh, depending on downstream project demand.

The seven primary candidates are Shandong Electric Times Energy Technology Co., Ltd., CRRC Zhuzhou Institute Co., Ltd., TBEA Xinjiang New Energy Co., Ltd., Dongfang Electric Automatic Control Engineering Co., Ltd., Guodian Nanjing Automation Co., Ltd., China Huadian Engineering Co., Ltd., and Sieyuan Qingneng Electric & Electronic Co., Ltd. Their quoted prices span about CNY 0.4999/Wh to CNY 0.5458/Wh ($73/kWh – $79.7/kWh).

The backup list is especially notable because it includes three widely recognized storage suppliers: Sungrow Power Supply Co., Ltd. (Sungrow), Beijing HyperStrong Technology Co., Ltd. (HyperStrong), and Xiamen Hithium Energy Storage Technology Co., Ltd. (Hithium). Their quoted prices were reported between CNY 0.5177/Wh and CNY 0.5414/Wh ($75.6/kWh – $79/kWh) – close to the main-candidate range rather than clear outliers on price.

The tender drew 59 bidders, with reported bid prices ranging from CNY 0.4923/Wh to CNY 0.6207/Wh ($71.9/kWh – $90.6/kWh) and an average around CNY 0.54/Wh ($78.8/kWh). That means the lowest offer did not ultimately secure a place in the announced candidate list, reinforcing the view that Huadian did not evaluate on headline price alone.

Huadian’s qualification bar was also relatively high. Tender summaries say bidders had to offer systems using cells of at least 314 Ah, provide an overall five-year warranty, and supply integrated LFP systems aligned with utility-scale mainstream specifications. Market reports citing the procurement notice also say Huadian tightened participation rules by rejecting agents and consortium bids and required bidders to possess in-house R&D and manufacturing capability in at least one core segment such as battery cells, PCS or EMS.

The tender matters beyond Huadian’s own procurement plan. First, it offers a fresh price marker for China’s utility-scale storage market after a period of aggressive bidding. Second, the shortlist composition shows how large state-owned buyers are concentrating orders among suppliers with stronger balance sheets, manufacturing depth, and delivery records. Third, the 314 Ah-and-above requirements further confirms that large-format LFP cells have become the baseline for central SOE storage procurement in 2026.

According to the statement, final awards and specific order allocations remain subject to Huadian’s formal procurement process.

Last year, Huadian Group, one of the five largest state-owned power generation enterprises in China, procured a cumulative 6 GWh of battery storage. Out of 67 bidders, six companies emerged as winners, including CRRC Zhuzhou Institute, Electric Times, Sungrow Power Supply, TBEA, Easy Power, and State Grid Nanjing Automation. In addition, Huadian Science and Technology, HyperStrong, and BYD were shortlisted as alternative candidates.

The quotation range of 66 valid bids was 0.4563-0.5455 yuan/Wh ($66.6/kWh – $79.6/kWh), with an average quotation of 0.4877 yuan/Wh ($71.2/kWh).