Application prospects of stretch film in the new energy sector

1. Introduction

The energy structure of the 21st century is undergoing drastic changes, with a global consensus shifting from traditional fossil fuels to renewable new energy. Emerging energy forms such as wind power, solar energy, hydrogen energy, and energy storage batteries are gradually becoming key focuses of national energy strategies. Meanwhile, the rapid development of the new energy industry also places higher demands on materials, equipment, and packaging within its industrial chain.

Stretch film, as a high-performance, flexible, and highly tough plastic film material, is widely used in logistics transportation, industrial protection, and product packaging, especially showing significant advantages in heavy industrial packaging. With the development of the new energy industry, stretch film is gradually penetrating from traditional packaging into high-tech value-added application fields, demonstrating broad prospects in the transportation, protection, and environmentally adaptive packaging of new energy materials, equipment, and products.

This article will systematically explain the basic characteristics and development trends of stretch film, deeply explore its application potential in various new energy scenarios such as photovoltaics, wind power, lithium batteries, hydrogen energy, and energy storage systems, analyze current challenges and technical bottlenecks, and propose future development directions.

2. Overview of Stretch Film and Its Material Development

2.1 Basic Definition of Stretch Film

Stretch film, also known as Stretch Wrap Film, is a packaging material with high stretchability, high transparency, and high puncture resistance, usually made from linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) or its modified materials (such as PE, EVA, metallocene polyethylene, etc.) through blown or cast film processes. Its main function is to wrap and secure products through tension, achieving stable transportation, dust and moisture protection, and reducing packaging costs.

2.2 Core Performance Indicators of Stretch Film

• Tensile Strength and Elongation at Break : Determine the tension effect and tear resistance of the stretch film during application;
• Puncture Strength and Tear Strength : Ensure no damage during transportation of new energy components with protruding angles;
• Adhesion and Elastic Recovery : Ensure tight wrapping and good stability of the film;
• UV Resistance and Aging Resistance : Suitable for long-term outdoor storage and transportation;
• Environmental Protection and Biodegradability : Meet the high requirements of new energy companies for green packaging.

2.3 Evolution of Material Systems

In recent years, the material systems of stretch film have shown diversified development trends:

• Metallocene Polyethylene (mPE) Stretch Film : Has higher mechanical properties, suitable for packaging heavy new energy equipment;
• Environmentally Friendly Recyclable Stretch Film : Meets carbon footprint management and green certification requirements;
• Pre-stretched Stretch Film : Improves film usage efficiency per unit, reducing packaging costs;
• Multilayer Co-extruded Functional Film : Enhances moisture barrier, anti-static, UV resistance, and other properties, expanding new energy application space.

3. Overview of New Energy Industry Development and Packaging Demand Trends

3.1 Structure and Growth Trends of the New Energy Industry

According to statistics from the International Energy Agency (IEA) and China's National Energy Administration:

• Global new energy investment in 2024 exceeds traditional energy for the first time, accounting for over 52%;
• China leads the world in wind power and photovoltaic installed capacity, with continuous growth in power battery and energy storage system exports;
• New business models such as hydrogen energy, fuel cell vehicles, and distributed energy storage are gradually emerging.

The new energy industry also shows the following new trends in packaging material demand:

• Long-distance transportation packaging demand driven by large-scale exports ；
• Larger product sizes and more complex shapes increase requirements for packaging flexibility and adaptability ；
• High precision and high value in the industrial chain require safe and reliable packaging processes with dust and moisture protection ；
• Green certification requires corporate packaging systems to have environmental attributes 。

3.2 Advantages of Stretch Film Compared to Other Packaging Materials

With its good adaptability, scalability, and economy, stretch film is becoming the ideal intermediate and external packaging material for the new energy industry.

4. Analysis of Stretch Film Application Scenarios in Typical New Energy Fields

4.1 Application of Stretch Film in the Photovoltaic Industry

4.1.1 Transportation and Storage of Photovoltaic Modules

Photovoltaic modules are usually composed of glass + solar cells + encapsulation film, which are fragile and sensitive to water and dust. In export transportation or temporary outdoor stacking, stretch film plays the following roles:

• Prevents moisture and dust intrusion, avoiding PID effect ；
• Enhances overall packaging firmness, reducing transportation damage rate ；
• Forms a composite packaging system with cushioning pads and corner protectors 。

Some manufacturers use a combination of "pre-stretched stretch film + wooden frame" to achieve both efficiency and protection.

4.1.2 Photovoltaic Bracket and Inverter Packaging

Brackets are mostly made of metal materials, prone to scratches and corrosion; inverters are precision electronic control devices, sensitive to moisture and impact. Stretch film has the following advantages:

• Tight wrapping, scratch and rust prevention, prevention of secondary pollution ；
• Adapt to irregular structures, reduce the use of tape/straps ；
• Batch and tracking QR code labels can be printed during storage 。

4.2 Potential Applications of Stretch Film in the Wind Power Field

Wind power equipment is large in size but has many types of components (blades, main shafts, gearboxes, generators, etc.). Some small and medium parts are especially suitable for stretch film packaging:

• Gear and bearing components Oil-proof and dust-proof packaging, storage protection;
• Cable harness components Wrapping to prevent entanglement, application of anti-static materials;
• Customized workstation tools Wrapping with stretch film on transport carts to isolate oil stains and external contact.

As wind power develops offshore and at high altitudes, higher requirements for climate adaptability during transportation arise; UV-resistant and moisture-proof stretch films will become essential.

4.3 Applications of Stretch Film in Energy Storage and Power Battery Industries

4.3.1 Power Battery Cells and PACK Packaging

Lithium batteries are highly sensitive to transportation conditions:

• Explosive and heat-prone, requiring stable packaging and no static electricity;
• Precision structure, surface should avoid friction and impact;
• Convenient identification and uniform shape required during batch transportation.

Stretch film can achieve "flexible full wrapping + impact resistance layer," making it an ideal component of the neutral packaging system for lithium batteries.

4.3.2 Energy Storage System Module Protection

Large energy storage cabinets and container systems require long-term outdoor deployment; stretch film combined with moisture-proof cloth can achieve:

• Long-term waterproof sealing to protect internal electrical modules ；
• Transparent film facilitates visual inspection of equipment ；
• Facilitates quick unsealing and subsequent operation and maintenance tasks 。

Additionally, companies have explored using stretch film to reinforce and densify channels in indirect connection structures between BESS containers.

4.4 Hydrogen Energy and Fuel Cell Applications

Hydrogen fuel cells involve high-pressure hydrogen storage tanks, stacks, control systems, and other equipment, facing risks such as vibration, moisture, and static electricity during production and transportation:

• Use Anti-static stretch film to wrap core components;
• Protective packaging for the outer layer of carbon fiber-wound hydrogen storage tanks to avoid scratches; ，避免划痕；
• Combined with foam gaskets for packaging to reduce stress concentration during transportation.

Since the hydrogen energy industry is still in its early stages, its packaging adaptability and innovation needs are more flexible; stretch film perfectly meets this "customized + economical + environmentally friendly" trinity demand.

5. Future Development Potential and Technical Trends

5.1 Integration Direction of Functional Stretch Film

The new energy field demands higher technical thresholds for stretch film, which may integrate the following functions in the future:

• Barrier stretch film to improve airtightness, waterproof and oxygen-proof;
• UV-resistant stretch film suitable for long-term outdoor storage and transportation;
• Anti-static stretch film suitable for lithium batteries and electronic control equipment;
• Flame-retardant stretch film used for energy storage and photovoltaic inverter modules;
• Smart stretch film can embed NFC chips to achieve packaging traceability and logistics tracking.

5.2 Innovation in Environmentally Friendly Stretch Film Materials

Under the "dual carbon" background, new energy companies themselves impose environmental requirements on upstream material suppliers, promoting stretch film development in the following directions:

• Bio-based stretch film (PLA, PBS modified) ；
• Recyclable/degradable films ；
• Carbon footprint certified packaging films ；
• "Recycled material + performance additives" composite material system 。

At the same time, the industry also needs to unify testing standards for environmentally friendly films and packaging carbon emission accounting systems.

5.3 Integration of Smart Packaging and Industrial Internet

Combining Industry 4.0 and smart logistics concepts, stretch film will demonstrate value in the following scenarios:

• Packaging smart devices automatically sense and adjust stretch parameters;
• Use AI to model and predict packaging tension and center of gravity stability;
• Integration of smart tags and stretch film supports remote identification and dynamic tracking;
• MES system automatically records packaging film batches to achieve full-process quality traceability.

6. Development Challenges and Solution Suggestions

7. Conclusion

The development of the new energy industry not only reshapes the global energy landscape but also profoundly affects material selection and packaging systems in related industries. As a flexible, efficient, and green packaging material, stretch film is transitioning from a traditional logistics consumable to a high-tech, high value-added functional application product.

In diverse new energy scenarios such as wind power, photovoltaics, energy storage, lithium batteries, and hydrogen energy, stretch film demonstrates strong adaptability and scalability. In the future, whoever first launches customized, high-performance, and eco-friendly stretch film solutions will gain the "packaging dividend" in the green transformation of the new energy industry chain.

This is both a challenge and an opportunity. The green revolution of packaging materials is underway, and stretch film will play an indispensable role in it.