Amid the global wave of energy transition, energy storage has become a key enabling technology to address the intermittency and volatility of renewable energy and to enhance the flexibility of power systems. According to data released by the National Energy Administration, by the end of 2024 China had commissioned over 70 GW of new-type energy storage projects, an increase of more than 130 % compared with the end of 2023, marking a period of rapid growth for the domestic sector.
Leveraging 21 years of expertise in industrial network communications, Yuan Tuo Optoelectronics successfully supported the full-capacity grid connection of a 300 MW / 1.2 GWh energy-storage power station in Hebei. Serving as the project’s critical communication backbone, Yuan Tuo industrial switches—renowned for high reliability, low latency, and strong environmental resilience—ensure real-time data transmission and precise control, providing a solid foundation for efficient plant operation.
The Hebei 300 MW / 1.2 GWh energy-storage station occupies 120 mu (≈8 hectares) with a total investment of RMB 3.05 billion. As one of the first grid-side independent energy-storage demonstration projects in Hebei and a key provincial construction project, it ranks among the largest grid-side standalone energy-storage stations in China, showcasing the nation’s technical strength and scale advantages in new-type energy storage.
The plant deploys 240 advanced lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) battery units, forming a high-safety, long-life, high-energy-density storage matrix. This configuration effectively smooths fluctuations in renewable generation and significantly enhances the flexibility and reliability of grid operations, further consolidating Zhangjiakou’s status as a national-level renewable-energy demonstration zone.
Industrial Switch Requirements in the Project
1. Environmental Adaptability
Extreme climate resistance: The Chabei region experiences harsh winters, summer heat, and sandstorms. Switches must feature wide-temperature operation and dust-/water-proofing to ensure stable performance.
Electromagnetic protection: Dense electrical equipment creates complex electromagnetic conditions. Strong anti-interference capability is essential for stable data transmission.
2. Communication Stability & Real-Time Performance
High-reliability transmission: The energy-storage system demands real-time data acquisition, monitoring, and control. Switches must deliver zero packet loss and low latency.
Network redundancy: Support for ring redundancy, link aggregation, and other failover mechanisms prevents single-point failures.
3. Security
Cybersecurity: As critical grid infrastructure, the system requires integrated firewall, VLAN isolation, and port security to guard against cyberattacks and data breaches.
Physical protection: Switches must resist tampering and unauthorized access.
4. Scalability & Compatibility
System expansion: Modular design and scalable ports accommodate future upgrades.
Multi-protocol support: Compatibility with diverse communication protocols ensures seamless interconnection of multi-vendor devices.
Yuan Tuo Solutions in the Hebei Project EMS System – The YT-CM6028-Z-E24G4 industrial switch serves as the core communication hub, linking the supervisory hosts, data servers, HMI, engineer stations, and the interval-level protection (IED) and control units. It supports multiple protocols for real-time, accurate data acquisition, monitoring, and control, with robust data-processing and cybersecurity capabilities.
Control Network – The YT-CM6020-G-F16G4-GZK and RS6000-4F4T industrial switches connect the Battery Management System (BMS), Power Conversion System (PCS), SCADA, RTU, PMU, fire-protection systems, step-up transformers, data-acquisition devices, and intelligent breakers. Their reliable transmission and network-redundancy design ensure precise command execution and stable equipment operation.
Data Network – The CM8000-4GF16GF16GT (aggregation layer) and RS6000-4F4T (edge layer) switches handle high-speed, large-volume data exchanges between BMS/PCS and the EMS processing layer. Their flexible expansion and multi-protocol compatibility support future system upgrades and scalability.
Through this comprehensive deployment, Yuan Tuo Optoelectronics has enabled the Hebei 300 MW / 1.2 GWh energy-storage power station to achieve high-efficiency, stable operation, enhancing project management and operational efficiency and setting a new benchmark for large-scale energy-storage projects in China.