CAS Institute of Engineering Thermophysics Honored with 2025 National Science and Technology Award for Large-Scale Advanced Compressed Air Energy Storage
Founding technical team of Joulong Energy has been recognized with one of China’s highest scientific honors — the first National Science and Technology Award ever granted in the country’s compressed air energy storage (CAES) sector.
On July 8, 2026, the 2025 National Science and Technology Award Conference was held in Beijing. The project “Key Technologies for Large-Scale Advanced Compressed Air Energy Storage Systems,” developed by the Institute of Engineering Thermophysics (IET) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), was awarded the Second Prize of the National Technological Invention Award. The award-winning project was carried out by the founding technical team of Joulong Energy. This represents the first National Science and Technology Award ever granted in China’s compressed air energy storage (CAES) sector.
Background: A Strategic Technology for the Energy Transition
Energy storage is a critical enabling technology for China’s dual-carbon strategy (peaking carbon emissions by 2030 and achieving carbon neutrality by 2060) and the broader energy transition. Compressed Air Energy Storage (CAES) — with its inherent advantages of large scale, low cost, long service life, and a high level of safety — is one of the most promising large-scale energy storage technologies, and a strategic scientific frontier actively pursued by nations worldwide. However, conventional CAES systems have long been constrained by technical bottlenecks — including dependence on fossil fuels and limited round-trip efficiency — that have hindered large-scale deployment.
Systematic Innovations After Two Decades of R&D
Targeting the fundamental bottlenecks of conventional CAES, and supported by China’s National Basic Research Program (973), National High-Tech R&D Program (863), and National Key R&D Program, the research team — which includes Joulong Energy’s founding technical team — achieved systematic breakthroughs through 20 years of sustained research:
- Theoretical innovation: Proposed the “corresponding-point” design theory of “charge–discharge correspondence and cycle matching” for energy storage systems, and invented an advanced CAES system based on a novel same-trace thermodynamic cycle principle.
- Compressor & expander technology: Pioneered full three-dimensional (3D) aerodynamic–structural coordinated design technology for multi-stage compressors and expanders, and invented ultra-high-pressure-ratio compressors and ultra-high-expansion-ratio expanders.
- Thermal storage: Mastered the design technology for supercritical thermal/cold storage heat exchangers, and invented high-efficiency compact thermal/cold storage heat exchangers.
- World-first demonstrations: Delivered a series of world-first advanced CAES demonstration systems at 1.5 MW, 10 MW, 100 MW, and 300 MW capacity scales — each a global first at its respective scale — achieving round-trip efficiency above 70% and repeatedly setting international performance records. Established China’s leading position in the global CAES field.
Through two decades of sustained research, the project has amassed 162 invention patents (including 9 international) — the largest CAES patent portfolio held by any institution globally — published 267 SCI-indexed papers with over 13,700 non-self citations, generated over RMB 7 billion in direct economic benefits, and established a recurring international performance benchmark with round-trip system efficiency exceeding 70%.
About the National Science and Technology Award
The National Science and Technology Award is the highest honor in China’s science and technology sector, comprising five categories: the National Supreme Science and Technology Award, the National Natural Science Award, the National Technological Invention Award, the National Science and Technology Progress Award, and the People’s Republic of China International Science and Technology Cooperation Award.
The 2025 National Science and Technology Awards recognized 258 projects and 11 distinguished scientists and engineers, including: 2 recipients of the National Supreme Science and Technology Award; 51 National Natural Science Awards (3 First Prizes, 48 Second Prizes); 58 National Technological Invention Awards (3 First Prizes, 55 Second Prizes); 149 National Science and Technology Progress Awards (3 Special Prizes, 13 First Prizes, 133 Second Prizes); and 9 recipients of the PRC International Science and Technology Cooperation Award.
About Joulong Energy’s Connection
Joulong Energy Technology Co., Ltd. traces its core technical lineage to the Institute of Engineering Thermophysics, CAS. The company’s founding technical team — the same team behind this award-winning CAES program — applies the institute’s radial-inflow turbo-expander and integrated energy-system expertise to natural gas pressure-differential power generation and cooling solutions. This award further validates the depth and originality of the technology platform underlying Joulong’s product portfolio.
