Media Interview | Dialogue with CEO Li Zhengbin: LISINER’s Approach to Smart Energy Operation

“The core challenge facing the energy storage industry is no longer simple scale expansion, but how to bridge the ‘last mile’ from project commissioning to value leap,” said Li Zhengbin, CEO of LISINER.

In December 2024, the Guidelines on Supporting the Innovative Development of New Market Participants in the Power Sector were issued, clarifying that new market participants including new energy storage enjoy equal market status with other operators.

2025 marks a pivotal turning point for the energy storage industry. In February, the National Development and Reform Commission and the National Energy Administration jointly issued the Circular on Deepening the Market-oriented Reform of On-grid Tariffs for New Energy to Promote High-quality Development of New Energy (hereinafter referred to as Document No.136), driving the industry’s shift from policy-driven to market-driven growth.

In September, the newly released Circular on Improving the Pricing Mechanism to Boost Local Consumption of New Energy Power Generation (Document No.1192) further defines price transmission mechanisms and fills gaps in incentive frameworks. It establishes clear commercial return pathways for flexible regulating resources such as direct green power supply and microgrids.

Li Zhengbin commented, “With pricing mechanisms in place, projects are confronted with more complex system optimization challenges. This not only tests capital strength, but also demands profound technological expertise and outstanding operational capabilities.”

As a representative enterprise that deeply integrates energy storage technology and asset operation, LISINER takes the “Energy Storage +” positioning and builds a dual-drive model of equipment R&D and manufacturing plus energy investment and operation, with nearly 3GWh of self-owned new energy assets. Through a full ecological closed loop and smart operation, the company has established a complete pathway from technology implementation to efficiency improvement.

“We aim to drive the transition of the energy structure toward higher efficiency and cleaner sources via technological innovation and operational optimization,” Li Zhengbin stated.

CONCENTRATE ON MICRO-GRID, SERVE THE POWER GRID: Enhancing Power System Resilience

2025 saw LISINER put forward its strategic positioning: Concentrate on Micro-grid, Serve the Power Grid.

Li Zhengbin stated, “The bulk power grid acts as the main artery supporting energy transmission, while microgrids serve as capillaries extending to end-users and load sides. The two are closely linked and mutually supportive.”

In recent years, the grid connection of a high share of distributed energy resources, electric vehicles and other large-scale loads has exerted certain impacts on the safe and stable operation of power systems. The bulk power grid requires large-scale energy storage as a stabilizer, and also relies on microgrids to deeply connect end-users and load sides.

Generation and grid-side energy storage delivers a stable and reliable foundation for the bulk power grid, provides a stable backbone network environment for the grid connection and operation of downstream microgrids, and constitutes an essential prerequisite for reliable microgrid operation. Decentralized microgrids undertake vital functions including strengthening bulk power grid resilience, optimizing grid operation, and boosting the consumption of new energy.

“Concentrate on Micro-grid” means LISINER creates diversified value for customers through refined operation by exploring end-user scenarios in depth. LISINER not only expands its Fortune 500 partner network across sectors including metallurgy, chemical industry, manufacturing, security and energy, but also delves into the application of microgrid scenarios.

According to Gaogong Energy Storage, LISINER has developed a zero-carbon park smart microgrid project in Poyang, Jiangxi. Integrating photovoltaic, energy storage, charging and power distribution systems, the project adopts direct PV-storage flexible control technology. The park achieves a new energy penetration rate of 99%, and realizes over 90% green power consumption while meeting its own electricity demand.

From technical and economic perspectives, wind-solar-storage microgrid solutions are ready for large-scale rollout. Li Zhengbin emphasized: “At present, the system cost of wind-solar-storage microgrids has fallen below the price of coal-fired power. The integrated wind-solar-storage technology has also become relatively mature and can adapt to electricity demand in diverse scenarios.”

“Serve the Power Grid” means LISINER contributes to the safe and stable operation of the bulk power grid through stable and reliable operation. Up to now, LISINER has built and commissioned independent energy storage power stations in Zhejiang, Hebei and other provinces. Supported by intelligent dispatching and second-level response capability, these energy storage stations can not only enhance the resilience of regional power systems and implement peak shaving and valley filling during critical summer peak periods, but also generate diversified revenue in daily operation.

With the advancement of the Dual Carbon Goals and the in-depth development of the new power system, the future power grid will evolve into a flatter, smarter and more agile system supported by numerous microgrids serving as key nodes.

Direct Green Power Connection + Tariff Mechanism: Opening Up Channels for Value Realization

Document No.650 issued on May 21 explicitly grants equal market status to direct green power connection projects for the first time. Document No.1192 released in September further provides detailed transmission and distribution tariff calculation formulas for local consumption projects including direct green power connection, integrated generation-grid-load-storage systems, microgrids and virtual power plants. It clarifies investment returns and economic incentives in tangible terms. Direct green power connection has become a breakthrough solution for enterprises requiring large-scale new energy power supply.

“Direct green power connection is equivalent to issuing a ‘license’ for green power plus energy storage to directly supply load centers,” said Li Zhengbin. “It is growing more difficult for wind and solar resources to connect to the bulk power grid, while direct green power connection opens up an entirely new track for high-energy-consuming enterprises. Most importantly, it addresses the issue of supply stability.”

Combining direct green power connection with energy storage guarantees both green power consumption and reliable power supply, which carries strong appeal for traditional high-energy-consuming sectors such as non-ferrous metals and chemical industry. Based on this judgment, LISINER has taken early initiative and cooperated with local governments and grid operators across regions to promote direct green power connection projects.

Taking Hubei Province as an example, centered on a high-energy-consuming industrial park, LISINER has taken the lead in developing the province’s first integrated energy project featuring direct green power connection targeting the non-ferrous metal industry. Phase I of the project is expected to be delivered within the year.

In Shanxi, LISINER also targets the transformation of traditional high-energy-consuming industries, investing 3 billion yuan in a direct green power connection project for a non-ferrous metal materials industrial park. Listed on Shanxi’s key construction project roster, the project deploys wind and solar power coupled with energy storage to supply green power directly to manufacturers within the park. It cuts power costs for enterprises and supports Shanxi’s transition into a major new energy province.

“The release of Document No.1192 validates our previous judgment,” said Li Zhengbin. The policy defines expense calculation formulas and eliminates investment uncertainties, ushering in a window period for the large-scale development of direct green power connection.

Full Ecological Closed Loop, Efficient Driving, Building a Solid Operational Foundation

Behind the precise judgments and outstanding achievements lies the complete new energy service ecosystem built by LISINER, covering the whole industrial chain from R&D and manufacturing to investment and operation.

“Manufacturing capacity lies at the core of high-tech manufacturing,” Li Zhengbin stated. Independent R&D ensures technological autonomy. More importantly, the full-chain layout enables overall optimization of quality, cost and efficiency.

At present, LISINER operates three intelligent manufacturing bases nationwide: the green and low-carbon park in Shangrao, Jiangxi, the automation industrial park in Yingtan, Jiangxi, and the multi-scenario integrated park in Yancheng, Jiangsu. The three bases operate on a coordinated large-scale basis with a planned annual production capacity exceeding 20GWh.

Covering battery PACK to integrated energy storage systems, LISINER has built a complete industrial chain for equipment R&D and manufacturing. Its YUANTE series energy storage products cater to refined energy demands across diverse sectors and scenarios and have been widely applied both domestically and overseas.

“Self-developed equipment facilitates standardization and unified interfaces, enables end-to-end data connectivity, and lays a foundation for digital transformation,” he added. Since its establishment, LISINER has adhered to the operational philosophy of “bits driving watts”. “Digitalization and intelligence will undoubtedly become the core moat for future energy operation.”

Different from equipment-focused vendors or third-party asset-light energy storage operators, LISINER builds competitive moats through the self-investment and operation model. Li Zhengbin explained that the adoption of the asset-heavy model stems from two considerations: taking full lifecycle responsibility for projects and accumulating profound operational experience.

“Operation requires solid financial support, while risk control is equally critical.” Energy storage investment requires comprehensive assessment of multiple factors including policy environment, electricity price mechanisms and project returns. As a seasoned industry practitioner with sharp insight into industrial cycles and policy shifts, he shared his views on project investment strategies.

Backed by robust financial strength from Yoening, LISINER enjoys greater autonomy in project selection. “We consistently select projects with clear business models and rational revenue structures, and will not lower investment standards amid capital pressure,” said Li Zhengbin. This prudent investment philosophy guarantees project sustainability.

Alongside maturing market mechanisms and the booming virtual power plant business, power operation and aggregation services have attracted growing attention. By integrating distributed energy storage, adjustable loads, commercial and industrial photovoltaic and other resources, LISINER aggregates scattered energy assets to participate in the power grid ancillary service market, serving as a key engine for boosting operating returns.

Power sales business acts as the traffic entry point for energy operation. LISINER creates unique competitive advantages by combining assets such as energy storage and microgrids with power sales services. “Traditional power retailers can only resolve deviation assessment via financial instruments. Supported by virtual power plants, we are able to adjust load curves through physical means while hedging risks with financial tools, delivering more prominent cost advantages,” said Li Zhengbin. This embodies the core value of the dual-drive model.

From the targeted positioning of Concentrate on Micro-grid, Serve the Power Grid, to building a sound operation system via a full ecological closed loop and dual-drive strategy, and from physical assets to digital management, amid the energy storage industry’s transition from scale expansion to value leap, LISINER has forged a development path integrating technological depth, commercial value and social responsibility.