Additional installed storage capacity in China surged 25% to 18.9MW

10 projects came online in 4Q16.

In Q4 of this year 10 energy storage projects came online representing a total capacity of 18.9 MW, according to China Energy Storage Alliance (CNESA). This marks a 25% increase over same period last year, and a 233% increase compared to Q3 of 2016. China's five-year installed storage capacity CAGR from 2012-2016 is 78%.

"Q4 storage projects were largely in the distributed generation and microgrids sector, this sector has a five-year capacity CAGR of 92%, Distributed generation and microgrid capacity increased by 147% compared to Q4 last year and 116% compared to Q3 of this year," CNESA said.

This quarter, 85% of of operating capacity came online in China’s southwestern region, 9% in the East China, and 6% in South China. Projects along the coastlines of Southern and Eastern China focused on price arbitrage helping commercial users looking to save on energy bills. "Projects in Western China aimed at increasing renewables consumption," CNESA added.