Welion’s Wei Jizhou: The Real Battlefield for "Non-Flammable" Batteries Lies in Energy Storage
"The breakthrough for large-scale adoption of solid-state batteries will come from energy storage, not new energy vehicles."
(Shenzhen, February 27, 2025) At the 2025 International New Energy Industry Marketing Summit, Wei Jizhou, Vice President of Welion New Energy, made a bold and disruptive assertion. While some in the industry believe that solid-state batteries should first be deployed in new energy vehicles (NEVs), Wei countered, stating: “The extreme demands for safety and longevity in energy storage make it the ideal testing ground for solid-state technology.”
This assertion is backed by Welion New Energy’s game-changer: the world’s first operational 100MWh-class hybrid solid-liquid energy storage power station. In June 2024, the Zhejiang Longquan 100MW/200MWh project was successfully connected to the grid. Featuring 280Ah batteries that meet three key safety benchmarks—"5mm needle penetration without fire, no thermal runaway propagation at the module level, and over 8,000 cycles at room temperature"—the project passed the State Grid’s stringent inspections with flying colors. Wei Jizhou drew a clear line: “When liquid batteries turn energy storage stations into infernos, energy density becomes meaningless—only the energy storage sector is willing to pay the price for safety.”
Figure:Wei Jizhou, deputy general manager of Welion, delivered a speech at the 2025 International New Energy Industry Marketing Summit
Welion New Energy: A Solid-State Battery Pioneer Incubated by CAS
Founded in 2016, Welion New Energy is one of the few “hard tech” companies in China to achieve mass production of hybrid solid-liquid batteries. It stems from the solid-state battery research team at the Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), boasting a powerhouse founding team—Academician Chen Liquan ("Father of Lithium Batteries in China"), Professor Li Hong (a leading authority on solid-state batteries), and Chairman Yu Huigen, a veteran of the battery industry. Together, they have built a full-chain capability spanning material R&D to commercialization.
Figure: The founder lineup of Welion can be called luxurious
Technological Edge: Bridging the Gap from Lab to Factory
Welion has chosen a unique hybrid solid-liquid technology route—integrating oxide and polymer solid electrolytes into traditional liquid electrolytes, while solving solid-solid interface challenges using in-situ solidification techniques (thermal polymerization + electrochemical curing). This approach not only ensures compatibility with existing lithium battery production lines but also reduces liquid electrolyte content in cells to below 10%, significantly enhancing safety.
Currently, Welion holds over 590 domestic patents (including 400+ invention patents) and 33 international patents, covering core technologies such as solid electrolyte coating and ultra-thin lithium metal preparation, forming a strong “patent moat.”
Production Expansion: Nationwide Presence with Global Ambitions
Welion has established a robust manufacturing footprint, with sites in Beijing (headquarters), Zibo (energy storage base), Huzhou (power battery base), and Zhuhai (joint venture). Its Zibo energy storage base, with a planned capacity of 20GWh, is set to commence production in 2025. Meanwhile, the world’s first 100MWh-class hybrid solid-liquid energy storage station (Zhejiang Longquan project) has been operational since June 2024, generating monthly revenues exceeding RMB 4 million, setting a new benchmark for commercialization.
The Energy Storage Battlefield: Redefining Industry Standards Through Safety
"When LFP batteries exceed 300Ah, their thermal runaway temperatures can soar to 700-900°C, far exceeding the decomposition threshold of cathode materials," Wei Jizhou warned, citing Academician Ouyang Minggao’s concerns over large-capacity liquid batteries. Welion’s solution: high-safety hybrid solid-liquid energy storage batteries.
280Ah Battery: A Breakthrough in Safety and Longevity
World’s first hybrid solid-liquid 280Ah LFP battery:
Over 8,000 cycles at room temperature (70% SOH), with a 15-year calendar life, extending lifespan by 50% compared to liquid batteries.
Extreme safety:
Passed new national thermal runaway tests—1C overcharge and 5mm steel needle penetration without fire or explosion.
A fully immersed liquid cooling system prevents thermal runaway propagation, certified by the Tianjin Fire Research Institute of the Ministry of Emergency Management.
Proven commercial success:
The Zhejiang Longquan 100MW/200MWh grid-side storage station achieved an 86% efficiency rate, surpassing the industry average of 85%, and was one of the few projects to pass the State Grid’s rigorous inspections on the first attempt.
Figure: Welion's SHS165-280Ah high-safety hybrid solid-liquid energy storage battery
314Ah Battery: The Next-Generation "Safety Ceiling"
Responding to Ouyang Minggao’s warning about "300Ah+ liquid batteries being a hazard," Welion unveiled its upgraded 314Ah cell, which in 5mm needle penetration and 1C overcharge tests, recorded a surface temperature of just 95°C—a major safety leap. Its projected cycle life exceeds 6,500 cycles (80% SOH).
Wei Jizhou revealed: “This product has already secured multiple central enterprise orders, with mass production set for 2025.”
Low-Altitude Economy: The Second Growth Curve for Solid-State Batteries
"Drone batteries must withstand 3-5C high-rate discharge, yet traditional liquid batteries often overheat, leading to safety incidents."
Welion’s 310Wh/kg hybrid solid-liquid drone battery offers a stable performance across -20°C to 60°C, over 800 charge cycles, and a thermal runaway trigger temperature raised from 140°C to 190°C.
Expanding Applications: From Sky to Ground
Drones:
Adopted by industry leaders such as NAXEN, supporting long-range logistics, inspections, and emergency rescue.
Construction Machinery:
A 235kW/731kWh electric reach stacker project with Shandong Port Group, replacing diesel-powered equipment.
Telecom Base Stations:
1,000 base station retrofits in Shenzhen, solving efficiency and lifespan issues of traditional lead-acid batteries.
Extreme Environments:
32kWh portable energy storage solutions deployed in mining and power maintenance, replacing fuel generators.
Debate & Future Outlook: Energy Storage vs. NEVs – Who Will Prevail?
Will solid-state batteries first break through in premium EVs? Wei Jizhou disagrees:
"NEVs are extremely cost-sensitive, whereas the energy storage sector prioritizes safety and longevity, making it more willing to pay for technological premiums."
Industry Predictions: A 2025 Turning Point
Policy drivers:
China’s 14th Five-Year Plan explicitly supports long-lifespan battery technologies.
The EU’s New Battery Regulation mandates cycle life and carbon footprint standards, opening new opportunities for hybrid solid-liquid batteries in overseas markets.
Economic calculus:
Welion’s data indicates that its energy storage battery’s total lifecycle cost is now lower than liquid batteries, with a Levelized Cost of Storage (LCOS) reduction of 20% due to extended lifespan advantages.
Conclusion: A Global Race Defined by Technology
"The battery industry is already fiercely competitive, but the solid-state race has just begun."
At the end of his speech, Wei Jizhou issued an open call for industry collaboration. Welion’s ambitions extend beyond product exports—it seeks to co-build a global solid-state battery ecosystem, integrating materials suppliers, equipment manufacturers, energy storage integrators, and international distribution partners into a tightly woven network of technology, capital, and market collaboration.
As the new energy revolution unfolds, Welion New Energy is wielding "safety" as its spear and "supply chain synergy" as its shield, aiming to rewrite the rules of the global battery industry. And energy storage just might be the first domino to fall.
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