The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology's Industrial Development Promotion Center has issued a notice regarding the upcoming 4th Energy Electronics Industry Innovation Competition and the 5th Advanced Energy Storage Technology Innovation Challenge.

The combined event, referred to as "the Competition," is scheduled to take place from June to December 2026. Key details are outlined below.

Background and Objectives

The Competition is organized to implement the directives of the "Guiding Opinions on the Development of the Energy Electronics Industry" and the "Action Plan for High-Quality Development of the New Energy Storage Manufacturing Industry." Since 2022, the Center has successfully held four editions of the Advanced Energy Storage Technology Innovation Challenge and three editions of the Energy Electronics Industry Innovation Competition. These events have showcased numerous highly innovative projects with significant commercial potential, bringing together global expertise in solar photovoltaic products and technologies, new energy storage products and technologies, and key information technology products for energy electronics and their applications in major end markets. The competitions have facilitated the transformation of outstanding achievements into practical applications, driving the high-quality development of the energy electronics and new energy storage industries.

To further advance technological breakthroughs across various energy electronics sectors, enhance product supply capabilities, and continue promoting the high-quality growth of these industries, the Center will jointly organize the 4th Energy Electronics Industry Innovation Competition and the 5th Advanced Energy Storage Technology Innovation Challenge from June to December 2026.

The Competition aims to support China's "dual carbon" strategic goals, foster the construction of a modern industrial system, accelerate the cultivation and expansion of strategic emerging industries, and promote the deep integration of modern information and energy technologies. It seeks to rapidly enhance the technological innovation capabilities and industrial competitive advantages of the energy electronics and new energy storage sectors, strengthen the foundation for self-reliance in science and technology, and increase the supply of key common technologies, frontier-leading technologies, modern engineering technologies, and disruptive innovations. Focusing on the supply side,发力于制造端, guided by hard technology, and targeting industrialization, the event strives to drive technological breakthroughs and improve product supply capabilities across energy electronics fields, advancing the industries towards high-end, intelligent, green, and integrated development.

Organizational Structure

The organizer is the Industrial Development Promotion Center of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology.

The co-organizers are the Changzhou Municipal Bureau of Industry and Information Technology, the Liyang Municipal People's Government, and the Management Committee of Jiangsu Liyang High-Tech Industrial Development Zone.

Competition Categories and Topics

The Competition addresses solar photovoltaics, new energy storage products and technologies, key end-market applications, and industry pain points and challenges. It is divided into four categories: Innovative Ideas, Innovative Products, Innovative Applications, and Thematic Competitions.

The specific topics for each category are as follows:

Innovative Ideas Category

This category focuses on original technologies based on new concepts, principles, or methods, targeting technologies with a Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of 1-5. Projects must demonstrate strong creativity and technical feasibility, and原则上 should have developed a preliminary product prototype. It seeks solutions to pain points and bottlenecks in solar PV and new energy storage technology development, as well as innovative conceptual ideas for the future.

1. Solar Photovoltaics Direction: Includes, but is not limited to, stability of high-efficiency new materials, innovative cell structures and low-cost processes, improvement of module reliability, intelligent operation and maintenance algorithms, cross-scenario integration and adaptation, and full-lifecycle low-carbon technologies to address pain points related to efficiency, cost, and scenario adaptation.

2. New Energy Storage Direction: Includes, but is not limited to, core energy storage technologies, supporting technologies, and manufacturing technologies, particularly focusing on key scientific and technical issues such as intrinsic safety, calendar life, cycle life, power response, initial purchase cost and levelized cost of storage (LCOS) control, intelligent sensing and monitoring, and carbon footprint accounting.

Evaluation for this category involves peer review and on-site defense. Participants submit an entry application, and an expert committee evaluates and scores the teams independently, objectively, and fairly based on unified criteria, ranking winners by score.

Innovative Products Category

This category targets market applications, focusing on samples or product prototypes involving single or integrated technologies with a TRL of 5-8. Projects must possess a certain degree of product maturity and a foundation for industrialization. It aims to identify advanced R&D samples and technologies in solar PV and new energy storage that are ready for industrialization.

1. Solar Photovoltaics Direction: Includes, but is not limited to, PV equipment (e.g., silicon purification, cell manufacturing, module packaging), PV auxiliary materials/consumables (e.g., silicon cutting, wafer manufacturing, module packaging), PV cells/modules (e.g., PERC, TOPCon, HJT, IBC), and power station components (e.g., inverters, mounting systems, combiner boxes).

2. New Energy Storage Direction: Includes, but is not limited to, lithium-ion batteries, sodium-ion batteries, aqueous batteries, lithium-sulfur batteries, solid-state batteries, supercapacitors, liquid metal batteries, organic batteries, dual-ion batteries, etc.

Evaluation involves peer review, expert deliberation, and third-party testing. Participants submit an entry application, third-party test reports, user reports, and other证明材料. The organizing committee's expert panel evaluates based on submitted materials and on-site defense, ranking winners by score. For the new energy storage direction, participants must submit R&D samples; the committee arranges third-party testing according to standards, with results determining winners. For large equipment that cannot be shipped, an application form and product description can be submitted initially, with potential on-site expert review if necessary. Testing methods follow national or industry standards, or expert committee guidelines if standards are absent.

Innovative Applications Category

This category focuses on various application scenarios within the energy electronics industry, addressing the actual needs of users, enterprises, and local governments. It solicits high-quality solutions and implemented case studies. Directions include core energy digitalization technologies, zero-carbon park and factory construction, innovative energy management applications, and scenario-based applications of various energy products, using advanced technology, products, and business models to empower industrial upgrading.

Evaluation involves peer review and on-site defense. Participants submit a solution or case study application. The expert panel evaluates based on submitted materials and defense, scoring independently and objectively according to criteria, with winners ranked by score.

Thematic Competitions Category

This category addresses industry pain points and difficult challenges. Leading enterprises provide real data and typical application scenarios. Participants must offer advanced technical solutions based on actual field conditions and industry problems. Evaluation methods vary by topic and may include peer review, on-site defense, simulation, third-party testing, and live demonstrations. Participants submit various证明材料 such as entry applications, third-party test reports, user reports, simulation software, or physical products. An expert committee evaluates and scores teams independently, objectively, and fairly based on unified criteria to determine winners for each track.

Specific thematic competitions include:

1. New Energy Storage Life Simulation and Prediction Technology: Focuses on battery life prediction analysis, seeking simulation technologies with high innovation, creative algorithms, and accurate prediction精度. Teams predict cycle counts to different remaining capacities under specified test conditions.

2. New Energy Storage Safety Integration Technology: Addresses safety issues in new energy storage development and new challenges related to future trends like large single-unit capacity, high voltage levels, and grid-forming capabilities. Seeks practical new technologies and methods, including but not limited to system integration topology, electrical monitoring, control protection, insulation, thermal management design, and battery module safety integration.

3. New Energy Storage Intelligent Sensing Technology: Focuses on intelligent monitoring and detection of key battery parameters. Seeks sensing analysis technologies with advanced methods, high measurement accuracy, and strong anti-interference能力. Includes electrical, gas, force, optical, acoustic, and other sensing directions. Participants validate through simulation or provide technical方案加测试报告.

4. Thermal Power-Energy Storage Frequency Regulation Technology: Focuses on innovation in technology routes and operation/maintenance for thermal power-energy storage frequency regulation. Seeks technologies with high innovation, cost-effectiveness, excellent frequency regulation performance, and high storage reliability. Participants provide actual operational data, test reports, and project construction materials from a fixed period for comprehensive evaluation.

5. Virtual Power Plant Technology Innovation and Application Practice: Focuses on aggregating and coordinating massive adjustable loads, distributed generation, and energy storage resources, combined with relevant electricity market mechanisms. Seeks systems, algorithms, or products with independent intellectual property, high technological innovation, and excellent functionality/performance. Solicits innovative technologies, excellent solutions, and replicable application scenarios in five areas: VPP systems/platforms, VPP resources/terminals, VPP information/communication, VPP evaluation/testing, and VPP operation/trading. Participants submit implemented project application schemes.

6. Source-Grid-Load-Storage Application: Focuses on core technology applications, project practices, and business models in source-grid-load-storage integration. Solicits entries in five main directions: Application Scenario Innovation (e.g., large industrial bases, industrial parks, incremental distribution networks, rural areas); Key Equipment & Technology (e.g., intelligent dispatch, long-duration storage, energy conversion, vehicle-to-grid, smart microgrids); Operation Systems & Platforms; Innovative Service Models (exploring innovative business models across testing, operation, trading); and AI Algorithm Applications. Participants submit solutions or implemented project application schemes.

7. Computing-Power Coordination Innovation Application: Focuses on core pain points and application needs for the deep integration of computing power and power systems under new power system construction. Addresses key scenarios like computing-power协同感知, intelligent scheduling, resource adaptation, security management, and energy efficiency optimization. Solicits advanced, highly adaptable, implementable, and energy-saving computing-power协同 innovation technologies, algorithm models, system platforms, and落地 solutions. Aims to solve industry challenges like mismatched computing/power resources, insufficient computing support for grid dispatch, weak management of high-energy computing loads, and difficulty integrating new energy computing loads. Seeks computing-power协同 innovation achievements with independent IP,突出技术创新性, and high practical value to助力 power system digitalization, intelligence, and低碳化升级. Participants can submit technical solutions or implemented project cases based on actual working conditions.

8. Domestic Solver Technology: Focuses on large-scale mixed-integer programming (MIP) problems in the energy and power sector. Seeks optimization solutions for problems involving massive decision variables and high-dimensional coupling constraints in new power systems,推动 the growth of the mathematical programming industrial software industry chain. Divided into Physical and Mathematical sub-tracks. Participants verify the speed and accuracy of their technical solutions by calculating specific MIP instances like unit commitment.

Evaluation Criteria and Methods

The Competition employs various methods—peer review, on-site defense, simulation, third-party testing, and live demonstrations—depending on the category. Participants submit different证明材料 such as entry applications, third-party test reports, user reports, simulation software, or physical products. An expert committee evaluates and scores teams independently, objectively, and fairly based on unified criteria. Through stages of formal review, preliminary rounds, and finals,优胜项目 are selected.

Evaluation Criteria: For创意类, criteria include technological originality and feasibility. For技术类, criteria include innovation,先进性 of indicators, and expected economic benefits. For产品类, criteria include product uniqueness, potential for standardization/batch production,领先性 of production technology/process, and user experience. For方案类, starting from specific application scenarios, criteria include innovation,推广性, and business model.

Evaluation Methods: Employ peer review, expert deliberation, and third-party testing. Participants submit entry documents, third-party test reports, user reports, etc. The organizing committee's expert panel evaluates based on submitted materials and on-site defense, scoring independently and objectively, with winners ranked by score.

Competition Schedule

1. Launch Conference (June 2026): Official notice release,赛题讲解, online Q&A, and detailed interpretation of evaluation criteria and application materials.

2. Submission Period (June - October 2026): Participants register by contacting the respective track联系人. Participants are responsible for the accuracy and authenticity of information. For the Innovative Products category, battery samples must be submitted to the designated unit by September 30, 2026. Schedules for thematic competitions may be adjusted based on实际情况.

3. Formal Review and Preliminary Rounds (November 2026): The committee conducts formal review of报名材料, checking eligibility, material completeness,规范性, and content compliance. Experts review materials, and优质优胜项目 are selected for the finals.

4. Finals (December 2026): Technical and investment experts are invited to evaluate using peer review, expert deliberation, on-site presentation, and third-party testing. Teams compete via现场竞讲 and roadshows for the grand prizes, with certificates awarded.

Participation Scope and Requirements

Eligibility: Researchers, technicians, and试验人员 from domestic research institutes, universities, enterprises, and institutions can participate as individuals or teams. Cross-institutional teams are allowed but must designate a team leader. The same project cannot be entered in multiple categories.

Integrity Requirements: Intellectual property related to the project's创意, products, or technology must belong to the participating unit, team, or individual, with no disputes. All创意, products, and test data must be authentic.

Confidentiality Requirements: Projects involving trade secrets must comply with relevant保密规定. The organizer will maintain confidentiality of submitted方案, products/samples, and test data, signing保密协议 with participants. Application forms and证明材料 must not contain classified information or密级 materials. The organizer承诺不做无损检测 or reverse engineering. The testing process will be documented with photos and全程监控录像. Samples will be returned post-testing; for samples damaged during safety tests, return arrangements will be discussed with participants.

Safety Requirements: Participants must sign an agreement with the testing unit and ensure product safety under specified test conditions. If an accident occurs due to the product's inherent safety issues, the participant bears primary responsibility. If an accident occurs due to the testing unit not adhering to specified conditions/procedures, the testing unit bears primary responsibility.

Rewards and Benefits

1. Certificates and Trophies: Winning teams receive competition certificates and trophies. Winners of专业赛题 like储能寿命预测,储能智能传感, and国产求解器, sponsored by leading enterprises, may also receive enterprise technical需求攻关 support.

2. Promotion: A成果画册 of winning projects will be produced. Winning projects will be promoted and serviced through channels affiliated with the Ministry, local governments, and industry media.

3. 对接与合作: The organizing committee will recommend projects to national investment funds, venture capital institutions, banks, and user enterprises. It will organize online/offline需求对接,产融对接, and large-medium-small enterprise融通 activities, gathering various投融资机构 to provide diversified services.

4. 成果转化: Winning teams will be recommended for entry into the "Manufacturing Innovation Achievements Industrialization Service Platform," receiving various创业扶植 policies and孵化 services like technology and industry maturity assessment to accelerate industrialization. Through the产业化服务中心, they will be优先推荐 for subsequent project对接交流活动 and provided with professional services like technology transfer,成果转化, legal, HR, financial, and IP services.

Additional Information

1. The Competition does not charge any fees to participants.

2. All participating teams are responsible for the accuracy, truthfulness, legality, and validity of the information they provide.

Contact Information

For Innovative Ideas and Innovative Products categories: Yu Qingzhu, 18115797956.

For Innovative Applications category: Ma Mei, 13683543848.

For New Energy Storage Life Simulation and Prediction Technology Thematic Competition: Yu Qingzhu, 18115797956.

For New Energy Storage Safety Integration Technology Thematic Competition: Tan Qipeng, 17796116583.

For New Energy Storage Intelligent Sensing Technology Thematic Competition: Zhou Xichao, 13522353305; Wang Ying, 18896742209.

For Thermal Power-Energy Storage Frequency Regulation Technology Thematic Competition: Kou Shuichao, 17791226355.

For Virtual Power Plant Technology Innovation and Application Practice Thematic Competition: Liu Yaxing, 15010339812.

For Source-Grid-Load-Storage Application Thematic Competition: Zhou Na, 18210377605.

For Computing-Power Coordination Innovation Application Thematic Competition: Shen Jie, 15901419180.

For Domestic Solver Technology Thematic Competition: Li Kexin, 15120029651.