The socio-political context of energy storage transition: Insights from a media analysis of Chinese newspapers

Abstract

The development of energy storage (ES) technology is essential for a sustainable energy transition; however, the socio-political context of ES tends to make its large-scale development challenging, which requires more attention. Given the role of media discourse in both reflecting and influencing such socio-technical processes, we initially analysed the national media representation of ES in China based on the Socio-Political Evaluation of Energy Deployment (SPEED) framework. We did this by analysing 156 ES-related articles from two Chinese mainstream newspapers, People’s Daily and China Daily. Through investigating the framing and frequency of articles, the particular ES technology mentioned, and the stakeholders involved, we identify (1) a generally promising pathway of ES development due to its transformative role in China’s low-carbon energy transition and its alignments with other national priorities and interests; (2) some uncertainties about ES development regarding local institutional inertia and how people interact with ES technologies, which could hinder an ES transition; and (3) domestic complexity and dynamics underpinning ES technologies, reflecting a supportive attitude of the Chinese government and a top-down governance system. Our findings help to uncover the unique socio-political environment around ES in China, how audiences are informed, and the support provided to stakeholders’ strategies.