(Yicai) June 15 -- Chinese energy storage companies are moving away from selling hardware products such as energy-storage cabinets and battery cells toward becoming providers of integrated energy services, according to industry insiders.

"The overall competition logic in the energy storage sector has changed," Li Cheng, research and development director for commercial and industrial energy storage at Daqin Digital Energy, told media, including Yicai, at the Shanghai New Energy Conference & Exhibition held earlier this month. The industry is shifting from simply competing in cost and scale to focusing on technological strength, scenario-based solution capabilities, and global service capabilities, Li pointed out.

"Most exhibitors this year are transitioning into integrated energy services providers," said Lan Tianshi, co-chief executive of GCL Technology. "Future competition in the energy storage industry will no longer center on standalone products, but on whether companies can provide customers with full-fledged energy solutions."

New energy vehicles and computing power centers are major power consumers, Li noted. The growing load from these sectors has posed risks to the stable operation of the power grid, creating opportunities for energy storage firms to help grid operators make targeted adjustments to address possible imbalances, Li pointed out.

The products shown at this year's Shanghai New Energy Conference & Exhibition are no longer limited to single items like energy-storage cabinets, with exhibitors presenting comprehensive solutions tailored for charging stations, data centers, power grid peak shaving, and other application scenarios, Li stressed.

Companies lacking core technologies, comprehensive service systems, and the ability to generate steady returns for clients will face mounting operational pressure, an energy storage systems supplier said to Yicai. Leading firms with integrated strengths in products, tech, and services will likely take a larger market share, the person noted.

Editors: Tang Shihua, Martin Kadiev