Recently, the domestically developed 105 MW two-pole high-speed motor, known as “Storage Dragon No.105,” has been successfully applied in the Feicheng 300 MW Compressed Air Energy Storage National Demonstration Project in Shandong Province. This milestone marks a significant breakthrough in China’s high-power synchronous motor development and application, providing critical equipment support for the high-quality development of long-duration large-scale compressed air energy storage (CAES) systems.
The motor was jointly developed by Wolong Electric Nanyang Explosion Protection Group Co., Ltd. (Wolong Nanyang Explosion-Proof Motor) and CS Energy Storage Technology Co., Ltd. It adopts an integrated design for the first time, featuring a single-unit capacity of 105 MW and a rotational speed of 3,000 rpm. The machine is capable of operating in both motoring and generating modes, making it currently the largest operational single-unit motor of its kind in the world.
Its overall efficiency reaches 98.8%, with shaft vibration levels of 28 μm on the drive end and 19 μm on the non-drive end, achieving internationally advanced performance standards. Compared with multi-motor configurations of equivalent capacity, the system reduces footprint by more than 40% and saves approximately 1.8 million RMB in annual electricity costs, significantly lowering both construction and operational expenses.
This motor features full independent intellectual property rights and successfully overcomes key technical challenges such as high efficiency, low vibration, and high operational reliability. It eliminates the disadvantages of conventional split-type systems that require multiple motors operating in coordination, such as complex working conditions, lower system efficiency, and difficult installation and commissioning. As a result, overall system stability and operational performance are significantly improved.
Moreover, the project breaks the long-standing dependence on imported high-power high-speed motor technology, achieving a domestic breakthrough in “bottleneck” technologies for hundred-megawatt-class electric machines. It also fills the gap in China’s development of large-scale dual-mode motors at the 100 MW level.
The supporting Feicheng 300 MW Compressed Air Energy Storage National Demonstration Power Station is currently one of the largest, most technologically advanced, and lowest-cost operational CAES facilities in the world. The successful deployment of this motor will further accelerate the development of long-duration energy storage systems, supporting the global transition toward cleaner, more efficient, and low-carbon energy infrastructure.
