XiZang Development and Investment Group wins at Asian Power Awards 2025

The company’s project demonstrates how advanced technology can deliver stable, flexible power in extreme conditions.

XiZang Development and Investment Group won Innovative Power Technology of the Year - China in the Asian Power Awards 2025 for its Dagapu Stand-alone Grid-Forming Energy Storage Project located in Naqu Town, Sèní District, Naqu City, Xi’Zang. The project stands as the highest-altitude and largest-capacity operational independent grid-forming energy storage facility in the world.

Completed and connected to the grid on 10 November 2024, the Dagapu project has a total installed capacity of 100MW/400MWh and delivers an average of 180 million kWh annually. Over its operational lifespan, it will save 1.8688 million tonnes of standard coal and cut 468,600 tonnes of CO₂ emissions, significantly reducing the region’s carbon footprint.

The project applies independent grid-forming energy storage technology optimised for high-altitude conditions. It comprises 80 energy storage battery containers, 40 converter-transformer integrated containers, and a complete grid support system. Its grid-forming control technology allows the storage system to remain stable even under N-1/N-2 fault conditions, offering inertia-like response and short-term overload capability. High-altitude adaptive designs, such as liquid cooling, anti-condensation systems, and enhanced insulation, ensure reliable operation amidst extreme temperature variations and low air pressure.

Beyond its technical merits, the Dagapu facility plays a vital role in strengthening Naqu’s local power grid. It addresses an electricity supply gap of 1 million kWh and contributes to grid stability as Naqu’s maximum load reaches 250MW. The system’s operation generates an estimated annual revenue of RMB43.28m and RMB6.5m in local taxes. By improving local load balancing, it is also expected to reduce grid investment needs by over RMB100m.

Constructed in just 82 days through modular and prefabricated methods, the project overcame unique environmental challenges such as low oxygen levels, cold temperatures, and logistical constraints at a very high altitude. Despite these hurdles, it achieved timely completion and has been operating within expected performance parameters since commissioning.

The Asian Power Awards celebrates the innovative and groundbreaking projects and initiatives in the power sector. Dubbed as the “Oscars” of the power industry, the awards programme honours companies that have taken game-changing steps to meet the growing energy demand.

The Asian Power Awards is presented by Asian Power Magazine. To view the full list of winners, click here. If you want to join the 2026 awards programme and be acclaimed for your company's revolutionary innovations and initiatives, please contact Danica Avila at [email protected]