Energy storage is penetrating the catering industry at an unprecedented pace!
In March 2026, in the underground equipment area of a five-star hotel in Changsha, Hunan, 19 261kWh energy storage cabinets were neatly arranged and quietly operating. This is the 2.375MW/4.959MWh industrial and commercial energy storage system project recently put into operation at the Hunan Rongcheng Garden Hotel, and it is currently the largest operational energy storage project in the hotel industry in Hunan Province.
This "super power bank" adopts a "valley charging, peak releasing" intelligent operation strategy: it automatically charges and stores low-cost electricity during off-peak hours at night, and releases the electricity for the hotel's use during peak hours in the daytime. Preliminary calculations show that it can save the hotel approximately 2 million RMB in electricity costs annually. The entire project took only one month from signing to commissioning.
Small and Medium-Sized Catering: Energy Storage is No Longer a "Luxury"
The well-known Western restaurant "Mr. Black Cow" in Wenzhou, Zhejiang, is famous for providing top-quality black beef comparable to Wagyu beef. From ranch breeding to dry aging workshops, it adheres to the entire "farm-to-table" supply chain standard. However, the restaurant's lighting, cooking, and refrigeration equipment operated 24 hours a day, resulting in monthly electricity bills reaching tens of thousands of yuan.
In 2025, Maitian Energy tailored a green energy solution for the restaurant: installing an 18kW photovoltaic system paired with a 30kWh energy storage battery. The system utilizes a combination of a three-phase hybrid energy storage inverter (H3 PRO) and a stacked battery (EQ6000 Plus), featuring IP65 protection, remote monitoring via a mobile app, 90% depth of discharge, charge/discharge efficiency greater than 95%, and a cycle life of 6000 times.
After introducing the photovoltaic-energy storage system, the restaurant's electricity costs decreased by one-third, while clean energy protected the food storage environment, ensuring quality from farm to table.
During the same period, Jinko Energy Storage delivered eight Dolphin SunGiga 261kWh commercial and industrial energy storage cabinets to Yueqing, Wenzhou, providing energy storage services for local hotels, restaurants, internet cafes, and other commercial establishments.
This energy storage cabinet is equipped with an intelligent battery management system (BMS), enabling real-time monitoring and thermal runaway early warning at the cell level. Its IP55 protection rating withstands the daily dust and moisture interference typical of commercial environments. Its integrated PCS and high-voltage box design reduces the footprint by 17% compared to traditional solutions, achieving an energy density of 80.92% and a cycle life exceeding 8000 cycles.
Meanwhile, the Anhui Shike Food 2 MWh commercial and industrial energy storage power station completed grid connection and commissioning on July 30, 2025, and officially began generating electricity.
The project utilizes long-life, high-safety stacked battery technology, combined with an intelligent energy management system (EMS), advanced thermal management, and multiple fire protection systems. It is expected to provide approximately 1 million kWh of sustainable electricity annually, reducing carbon emissions by approximately 600 tons.
These cases demonstrate that, with improved economic efficiency, energy storage has become an affordable and cost-effective carbon reduction tool for small and medium-sized industrial and commercial enterprises.
New scenarios continue to expand: From chain giants to city landmarks
In fact, global chain restaurant giants have already joined this green revolution.
In March 2024, McDonald's China opened its first integrated photovoltaic and energy storage "zero-carbon restaurant"—Yunshan Tiandi Restaurant—next to Baiyun Mountain Park in Guangzhou. The restaurant's roof is covered with large blue photovoltaic panels, generating approximately 55,000 kWh of green electricity annually, fully meeting all lighting needs; it is also equipped with energy storage equipment to achieve efficient, all-weather utilization of photovoltaic green electricity.
At the entrance on the first floor, a "carbon reduction smart screen" displays real-time data on power generation, storage, and saving. Eco-friendly charging bikes in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows allow customers to wirelessly charge their phones by generating electricity while riding, integrating carbon reduction into the consumer experience.
In fact, this is McDonald's second zero-carbon restaurant in China—the first being the Shougang Park Drive-Thru restaurant in Beijing, which opened in September 2022 and was the world's first restaurant to receive both LEED "zero carbon emissions" and "zero energy consumption" certifications.
The Shougang Park Restaurant installed a photovoltaic power generation system covering over 2,000 square meters, generating 365,000 kWh in its first year, fully covering its electricity needs. Thereafter, it generates an average of approximately 330,000 kWh annually, reducing carbon emissions by over 200 tons per year.
More importantly, the restaurant also utilizes diverse energy storage technologies, including lithium-ion batteries, supercapacitors, and hydrogen energy, flexibly addressing energy demands at different times and for different equipment. Combined with an intelligent energy management system, LED lighting, and solar water heaters, this reduces annual electricity consumption by 35% to 40%.
The demonstration effect of this chain giant has spurred rapid replication in more scenarios. By the end of 2025, the Meishan Minjiang Donghu Hotel installed and put into operation four sets of integrated industrial and commercial energy storage cabinets, each with a capacity of 500 kW/1044 kWh. A full charge can support the stable operation of the hotel's commonly used equipment for two hours, making it Meishan's first "energy storage hotel."
This project achieves efficient energy management through "intelligent control + peak-valley regulation"—automatically storing electricity during off-peak hours at night and releasing it during peak hours during the day, forming a complete closed loop of energy utilization. According to the relevant (person in charge), this system is expected to save the hotel nearly 10% (approximately 400,000 yuan) in annual electricity costs.
Government canteens are also at the forefront. In July 2025, Jiangsu Province's first zero-carbon canteen project for government agencies was officially put into operation and passed acceptance in the west courtyard of the Yangzhou Municipal Government. The project adopts a comprehensive energy use method of "photovoltaics + carbon sinks + digital energy dispatch," with rooftop distributed photovoltaic power generation supplying "green electricity"—by installing 1701 550W high-efficiency photovoltaic modules, the total installed capacity reaches 935.55kW, with an estimated annual power generation of approximately 880,000 kWh, which can meet more than 60% of the canteen's daily electricity needs. The remaining electricity is stored through a supporting energy storage system and released during peak hours, forming an energy recycling system of "self-generation and self-consumption, surplus electricity storage."
Urban landmarks and distinctive spaces are also attracting attention. In Shanghai's Yangpu Riverside, the "One Foot Away" zero-carbon café, transformed from the site of a water purification pool at the former "Far East's First Power Plant" built in 1910, has become a popular spot for social media check-ins. Its cone-shaped arched roof design reduces building materials and carbon emissions, while naturally irrigated trees within the café complement the riverside greenery.
The entire building's electricity comes from a solar energy storage system in a gray silo energy station located 100 meters away—the rooftop platforms of the three gray silos are covered with solar photovoltaic panels, absorbing sunlight and converting it into electricity. The café's coffee machines, lighting, and air conditioning are all zero-carbon emission equipment.
This former coal-fired power plant landmark has been revitalized a century later through photovoltaics and energy storage, becoming a prime example of the green regeneration of industrial heritage.
In Xiadang Township, Shouning County, Ningde, Fujian, there is also a unique "Ningde Tea" zero-carbon teahouse. This pure white building, with a total area of approximately 300 square meters, features a roof inspired by a Möbius strip design. The teahouse has deployed BIPV (Building Integrated Photovoltaics) materials and technologies in its skylights, roof, and ground areas.
The teahouse's intelligent microgrid system integrates residential energy storage, mobile energy storage, and V2B vehicle-to-grid (V2B) interaction technologies, flexibly coordinating various types of energy storage for microgrid energy dispatch.
During the day, the building prioritizes consuming green electricity generated by BIPV (Building Integrated Photovoltaics) and the photovoltaic power generated by the smart charging station. Surplus electricity is stored in the energy storage system for use at night or during peak hours. This project also marks the first application of CATL's independently developed "Intelligent Microgrid Management System."
Looking Overseas: More Diverse Applications
While the integration of photovoltaics and energy storage is booming domestically, overseas explorations are equally impressive, and in more diverse forms.
In July 2025, Tesla's first global Supercharger restaurant officially opened in Hollywood, Los Angeles. The restaurant's roof is covered with approximately 2,000 square meters of Tesla photovoltaic tiles, forming a microgrid with Megapack energy storage walls. It achieves 90% daytime power self-sufficiency and can operate independently for 72 hours even during power outages.
This energy system saves over $7,000 in electricity costs per month and is expected to reduce carbon emissions by over 200 tons annually. The restaurant features 80 V4 supercharging stations with a peak power of 500kW. The entry of tech giants has opened up entirely new possibilities for energy storage in the catering industry.
Beyond large-scale projects, small restaurants are also finding practical value in energy storage overseas. Bethells Beanz, a coffee roastery in Auckland, New Zealand, faces challenges due to its remote location, unstable power grid, and high electricity prices. Coffee roasting is extremely temperature-sensitive, and power outages can damage the quality of the beans.
Fortunately, the area has abundant sunshine. The coffee shop owner installed a solar-energy storage system: 20 670W solar panels paired with a 5.7kWh SMILE5 residential energy storage system, achieving self-sufficiency. During the day, solar power powers roasting and daily operations; excess power is stored in batteries for nighttime use; and any unused electricity is fed back into the grid to generate additional revenue. Since then, the coffee shop is no longer dependent on the fragile power grid, the roasting process is stable and controllable, and profits have increased significantly.
Real-time monitoring of temperature and environmental changes during coffee bean roasting on a small screen makes the process more worry-free. In Rutzenham, Austria, Gasthausbrauerei Zum Alfons, a multi-functional restaurant integrating brewing, catering, and visitor services, deployed a 983kWh integrated solar-storage-charging microgrid solution in April 2026.
During the day, the system prioritizes solar power to meet the restaurant and brewing load, storing surplus energy in the energy storage system. At night and during peak dining hours, the energy storage system releases power to smooth load fluctuations. In the future, it will also provide charging services for visitors' electric vehicles. Through efficient synergy between generation, storage, and consumption, this traditional beer restaurant has established a self-sufficient energy cycle.
In early 2026, the Sorriso House Resort in Buriram Province, Thailand, deployed a distributed integrated solar-storage solution, consisting of LONGi solar modules, Solis hybrid inverters, and energy storage batteries.
The system adopts a "self-consumption with surplus power fed into the grid" model, providing uninterrupted and stable power to the hotel's coffee shop's coffee machines, refrigeration equipment, lighting, and POS system. During grid fluctuations or unexpected power outages, energy storage systems can instantly power critical equipment, minimizing operational disruptions.
In Kikori, Papua New Guinea, the Kikori Hotel photovoltaic-storage project, developed by SunnyTech, officially commenced operation in February 2026. Local electricity supply has long relied on diesel generators, which are costly and highly polluting. The project boasts a 240kWp photovoltaic capacity and a 960kWh energy storage capacity. After commissioning, it will generate approximately 400,000kWh of electricity annually, reducing carbon emissions by 389 tons per year. It provides stable power support for the hotel's 52 guest rooms, reception area, gym, conference rooms, restaurant, and all supporting facilities.
Conclusion
The accelerated penetration of energy storage into the catering and hotel industries brings not only a sharp reduction in carbon emissions but also tangible savings in electricity costs and guaranteed power supply. Especially under the guidance of the "dual carbon" goals, green and low-carbon development has become a national consensus. These restaurants, cafes, and hotels that dared to be pioneers not only put their environmental responsibilities into practice, but also allowed consumers to experience the power of a sustainable lifestyle in their daily consumption!
