Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited (CATL) has officially launched the world’s largest and most comprehensive energy storage testing and validation platform, a move the company says will accelerate the industry’s transition toward real-world performance verification and higher reliability standards.
The new Xiamen Energy Storage Validation Research Institute (ESVL), inaugurated on May 28 in Xiamen, China, spans 10 hectares and represents an investment of approximately RMB 3 billion (US$440 million). Designed as an open-access facility, the institute aims to serve energy storage developers, manufacturers, regulators, insurers, and certification bodies across the global industry.
CATL said the launch comes at a critical time for the energy storage sector, which continues to expand rapidly as a cornerstone of the global energy transition. Despite growing installations, industry performance challenges remain significant. According to CATL, nearly 20 percent of large-scale energy storage power stations worldwide fail to meet expected performance levels, while almost half experience grid-connection delays exceeding two months.
“Scientific rigor is more critical than ever as energy storage enters the gigawatt era,” said Dr. Wu Kai, Chief Scientist at CATL. He emphasized the need for transparent performance evaluation, rigorous testing standards, and station-level validation before systems are deployed in the field.
The institute is built around five specialized laboratories designed to evaluate energy storage systems under real-world operating conditions.
A key highlight is the world’s first station-level grid integration laboratory, equipped with a 35kV/100MVA grid simulator and real-time simulation capabilities. CATL says the facility can simultaneously test more than ten large-scale energy storage containers, simulate up to 1,000-node grid topologies, and evaluate system performance across frequencies ranging from 15 Hz to 60 Hz.
The High-Voltage Safety Laboratory provides testing capabilities from 1kV to 500kV, allowing researchers to investigate fire and explosion risks under extreme electrical conditions, including lightning strikes, DC withstand voltage, and partial discharge scenarios.
Another major facility, the Thermal Safety and Combustion Laboratory, is described as the world’s first large indoor combustion testing center equipped with a 20MW calorimeter. The laboratory can conduct explosion and combustion tests on up to nine large-scale energy storage containers simultaneously, generating data critical for safety planning and system design.
The Environment Reliability Laboratory enables testing in extreme environmental conditions, including temperatures from -50°C to 100°C and simulated altitudes up to 7,200 meters. Researchers can assess system performance under desert heat, coastal salt exposure, heavy rain, sandstorms, and low-pressure environments.
Completing the platform is the Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) Laboratory, which CATL says is the world’s only EMC facility capable of accommodating a full 40-foot energy storage container under real high-power charging and discharging conditions. The laboratory is intended to identify electromagnetic interference risks and improve communication and control system reliability before deployment.
CATL’s Head of ESVL, Dr. Chen Xiaobo, noted that the institute will collaborate with major international certification organizations, including TÜV SÜD, TÜV Rheinland, CGC, and CSA. The facility will offer “one-test, multi-witness” validation services, allowing results to gain broader international recognition.
Beyond technology validation, CATL believes the institute can support regulators, insurers, and financial institutions by providing independent and traceable performance data. Such information could help improve risk assessment, insurance pricing, and project financing decisions for large-scale energy storage projects.
The launch builds on CATL’s growing presence in the global energy storage market. The company reported energy storage battery sales of 121 GWh in 2025 and a global market share of 30.4 percent, maintaining the industry’s top position for the fifth consecutive year. CATL has also expanded its footprint through major projects in China, Australia, and North America.
With the opening of ESVL, CATL aims to establish a new industry framework centered on real-world validation, long-term reliability, and greater trust in energy storage systems as they become increasingly critical to global power infrastructure.
