On August 6, 2023, the Standardization Administration of China (SAC) officially released GB/T 36276-2023 Lithium-ion Batteries for Electrical Energy Storage, which officially came into force on March 1, 2024, replacing the old version GB/T 36276-2018. As one of the core fundamental standards in the energy storage industry, it sets more comprehensive and stringent requirements for the performance, safety and reliability of energy storage lithium batteries.

With the vigorous expansion of the energy storage industry, as well as the rapid iteration of new battery technologies such as sodium-ion batteries and solid-state batteries, the demand for energy storage battery testing and certification continues to rise. This article systematically interprets the core test items, technical specifications and implementation key points of GB/T 36276-2023, providing technical references for battery manufacturers, system integrations and third-party testing institutions.

1. Standard Overview & Scope

1.1 Standard Positioning

GB/T 36276-2023 is a foundational national recommended standard for China’s electrochemical energy storage industry. It applies to the design, manufacturing, testing and acceptance of lithium-ion batteries used in power storage scenarios, covering cells, modules and battery clusters for peak regulation, frequency modulation, renewable energy integration and commercial & industrial energy storage.

Different from GB 38031-2020 (road vehicle power batteries), this standard fully adapts to long-cycle operation, high-temperature environments and large-scale cluster application characteristics of energy storage systems.

1.2 Major Revisions vs the 2018 Version

表格

2. Core Testing Items

2.1 Performance Testing

2.1.1 Capacity & Energy Efficiency

Tests are conducted at 25∘C±2∘C: fully charge under standard current, stand for 30 minutes, then discharge to the cut-off voltage.

• Measured capacity ≥ 100% of rated capacity
• Overall charge-discharge energy efficiency ≥ 90%

2.1.2 Cycle Life Test

Continuous charge and discharge cycling under specified conditions;Test termination standard: capacity decays to 80% of the initial value.Accelerated aging testing is permitted with valid data correlation verification.

2.1.3 High & Low Temperature Performance

• High-temperature adaptability: charge and discharge verification at 55°C or above
• Low-temperature resistance: discharge performance from −10∘C to −20∘C
• Thermal cycle test: verify structural stability under drastic temperature changes

2.2 Safety Performance Testing

2.2.1 Battery Abuse Tests

表格

2.2.2 Thermal Runaway Propagation

A mandatory new item in the 2023 version. Trigger thermal runaway on a single cell inside the module to observe chain reaction on adjacent units.Requirement: Prevent large-scale thermal spread or reserve sufficient evacuation time for personnel, which is critical for energy storage power station safety design.

2.2.3 Flame Retardant Requirements

• Enclosure flame retardancy: meet V-0 grade per GB/T 2408
• Key insulating materials must pass standardized flame retardant evaluation

3. Testing Process & Cycle

3.1 General Testing Procedure

1. Application & document submission (specifications, technical drawings)
2. Sample inspection and acceptance
3. Item-by-item laboratory testing
4. Data analysis and result judgment
5. Official test report issuance

3.2 Test Cycle Reference

表格

4. Correlation with Other Standards

表格

5. FAQ

Q1: What are the key differences between GB/T 36276-2023 and the 2018 edition?A: It optimizes test conditions, improves energy efficiency and cycle life indicators, adds thermal runaway propagation and combined abuse tests, and unifies judgment criteria. All newly produced energy storage batteries must comply with the 2023 version after March 1, 2024.

Q2: What standards are required for energy storage batteries exported to Europe and the United States?A: European markets require IEC 62619 and CE certification; the North American market complies with UL 1973 / UL 9540. All cross-border lithium batteries need to pass UN 38.3 transportation safety testing.

Q3: Is GB/T 36276-2023 a mandatory standard?A: It is a recommended national standard (GB/T). However, it is clearly specified in bidding documents and industry access requirements by domestic power grid and energy storage investors. Supporting mandatory standard GB 44240-2024 has rigid binding force for energy storage power stations.

Q4: How long does the full cycle life test take?A: Complete long-term cycling may last more than half a year. Enterprises are advised to reserve testing cycles in the early product development phase.

Q5: What certifications are required for energy storage grid connection?A: Cell and module testing per GB/T 36276-2023, system integration inspection, BMS functional verification, and safety acceptance in accordance with mandatory standard GB 44240-2024, together with fire fighting and emergency assessment.