Recently, the domestically (China) developed 105 MW 2-pole high-speed motor — named ‘Chu Long 105’ — was successfully applied at the 300 MW Compressed Air Energy Storage (CAES) National Demonstration Project (NDP) in Feicheng, Shandong. This milestone marks a major breakthrough in China’s R&D and application of high-power synchronous motors, providing critical equipment support for the high-quality development of the long-duration, large-scale compressed air energy storage industry.
The motor was jointly developed by Wolong Electric Nanyang Explosion-proof Group Co., Ltd., Zhongchu Guoneng (Beijing) Technology Co., Ltd., and other partners. It pioneers an integrated design, with a single-unit power of 105 MW and a rotational speed of 3,000 rpm, capable of operating in both motor and generator modes. It is the world’s largest single-unit motor in operation. With a comprehensive efficiency of 98.8%, shaft vibration of 28 μm at the drive end and 19 μm at the non-drive end, its performance reaches internationally leading levels. Compared with multiple conventional motors of equivalent total power, it saves over 40% in floor space and approximately RMB 1.8 million annually in electricity costs, significantly reducing construction and operating expenses.
The project utilizing this motor — the Zhongchu Guoneng Shandong Feicheng 300 MW CAES NDPS — is currently the world’s largest single-unit, most technologically advanced, and lowest unit-cost new-type compressed air energy storage power station in operation.
