"The second half of AI is energy!" Energy storage becomes the strongest support. Triple positive factors drive ( related stocks )

On Monday (March 9), energy storage concept stocks reversed the trend during trading, with Pino Technology rising over 22%, and many stocks like Chint Electric and State Grid South Auto hitting the daily limit.

Three Drivers Boost Energy Storage

In terms of news, expanding AI computing power demand has ignited the electricity market, and “the second half of AI is energy” has become a consensus in the investment industry.

Recently, Guojin Securities released a strategy for energy storage and lithium battery industries for 2026, showing that the global energy storage industry is entering a new growth cycle. It is expected that by 2026, global new installed capacity will reach 438 GWh, a 62% year-on-year increase. The growth drivers have shifted from a single focus on renewable energy absorption to a triple drive of “AI computing infrastructure + energy transition needs + grid congestion.” Industry supply and demand have significantly improved, transitioning from a de-stocking cycle to a replenishment boom, with some parts of the industry chain expected to see both volume and price increases.

According to Guojin Securities’ research report, AI computing power is equivalent to electricity, and energy storage becomes the strongest auxiliary. Data centers face serious grid connection bottlenecks, with “power access speed” becoming the top priority. Energy storage has evolved from simple “backup power” to “active power supply,” solving voltage fluctuations through peak shaving, valley filling, and grid-forming technologies, becoming a strategic infrastructure for rapid AI data center deployment.

Regarding installed capacity in major economies, Guojin Securities states that China is expected to reach 250 GWh in 2026, a 67% increase year-on-year, with policies shifting from “mandatory allocation” to “profitability.” The “136 Document” promotes full market entry of new energy, and combined with capacity price mechanisms, energy storage business models are shifting from cost items to profit through spot arbitrage and capacity compensation.

The US is expected to reach 70 GWh in 2026, a 35% increase year-on-year, driven by AI. AI data centers are projected to generate 18-279 GWh of energy storage demand between 2025 and 2028. Despite policy fluctuations, large-scale storage remains a core engine with high certainty.

Europe is expected to reach 51 GWh in 2026, a 55% increase, moving from “expectation” to “lock-in.” Emerging markets are projected to install 67 GWh, a 91% increase, with Australian CIS tenders exceeding expectations, and large storage projects in the Middle East and Chile exploding. Industrial and commercial energy storage in Asia, Africa, and Latin America benefits from the economic advantages of “fuel replacement.”

Leverage Funds: Snatching Up These Stocks

Data from Eastmoney Choice shows that since February this year, leveraged funds have been actively buying a batch of energy storage concept stocks, with Electric Power Science and Blue Sky ranking first, with net financing purchases exceeding 600 million yuan; GCL Integration ranks second, with net financing over 400 million yuan.

Stocks like Chuanrun Co., Yunnan Energy Control, Shiyun Circuit, Shanghai Electric, E-Town Green Energy, Xingyun Co., EVE Energy, Zongshen Power, Zhenyu Technology, Baichuan Co., etc., have net financing ranging from 360 million to 200 million yuan.

Institutions: Favoring Large-Scale and Household Storage Leaders

Dongwu Securities states that at the national level, capacity compensation electricity prices have been introduced, and subsequent provinces will release detailed rules and lists. US data centers continue to promote energy storage, with many projects in Europe and the Middle East, creating strong demand for large storage. Besides Australia’s household storage policies, the UK and Poland are strengthening household storage subsidies, entering a new growth cycle. Commercial storage continues to grow, with global energy storage installed capacity expected to increase by over 60% by 2026, and a compound growth rate of 30%-50% from 2027 to 2029. Continued promotion of energy storage is expected, favoring large-scale and household storage leaders.

Hua’an Securities believes that global large storage tenders remain hot, and domestic energy storage is driven by “anti-involution” to develop high-quality energy storage. The surge in electricity use in US data centers drives large storage demand, European household storage demand is recovering mildly, and large storage is becoming a main growth point. Emerging markets’ household storage demand exceeds expectations, and attention is recommended for large storage and overseas household storage expectations recovery.

Founder Securities suggests that under the EU’s push to phase out Russian natural gas imports and increase dependence on Middle Eastern LNG, if natural gas prices surge again, it will inevitably boost sales of European household storage and heat pump products.

(Source: Eastmoney Research Center)