As global economies push for decarbonization and energy security, industrial models must evolve. This requires greater investment in low-carbon technologies and energy efficiency. In this context, how do you view the rapid growth of solar PV and energy storage solutions (ESS) as a response to this demand?
The solar PV and energy storage sectors are experiencing remarkable growth, driven by several structural trends. In the face of instability in global oil and gas markets, diversifying energy sources has become an imperative. This has strengthened the momentum behind renewables. According to the International Energy Agency, nearly 700 GW of new renewable capacity was installed worldwide in 2024—about 75% of it solar. That represents a nearly 30% increase in solar PV installations from the previous year, bringing total global installed capacity to 2.2 terawatts.
At the same time, the energy storage sector is following a similar trajectory. ESS plays a critical role in integrating intermittent renewables into national grids. In 2024 alone, global shipments of storage cells rose by 60%, reaching 314.7 GWh. This acceleration is fueled by falling technology costs—particularly due to declining metal prices—as well as proactive public policies and financial incentives. Lower technology costs — particularly due to decreasing metal prices — combined with supportive government regulations and financial incentives, are driving this rapid growth.
Together, these developments are accelerating the adoption of so-called PV+ESS systems, which integrate solar power generation with energy storage. These systems smooth out the fluctuations of solar power and help stabilize electricity supply. In just three years, the levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) for PV+ESS solutions has dropped a lot. These technologies are not just cleaner—they’re increasingly competitive.
This dynamic is particularly visible in Africa, even though the continent still accounts for a modest share of global activity. According to the Africa Solar Outlook 2025, 2.5 GW of new solar capacity was added in 2024, bringing the total to 19.2 GW—a record since 2013. South Africa and Egypt account for 78% of these new installations, but other countries such as Senegal, Malawi, Tanzania, and Namibia are accelerating their efforts. It’s a promising trend.
At COP28 and COP29, global leaders committed to ambitious targets: tripling installed renewable capacity and increasing energy storage sixfold by 2030 compared to 2025 levels. That translates into more than 5,400 GW of solar capacity and around 1,500 GWh of energy storage by the end of the decade.
With sustained growth expected—driven by cost reductions and supportive policies—what is Huawei Digital Power’s development strategy to support this energy transition?
We are focusing on two complementary areas of expertise —digital technologies and power electronics technologies— to help drive the energy transition forward. This strategic choice stems from our belief that the future of energy will be clean, intelligent, and highly optimized. In practice, it means applying our know-how in data processing, artificial intelligence, and system management to fine-tune the production and storage of solar energy. At the same time, we develop power electronics—technologies that enable the efficient conversion, control, and distribution of electricity across the entire energy system. A solar inverter, for example, is a typical application: it converts the direct current produced by photovoltaic panels into alternating current that can be used by electrical grids and both domestic and industrial equipment.
However, our strategy goes beyond technological innovation. We are convinced that the success of the energy transition also relies on a collective approach. Huawei does not view its growth as an isolated pursuit, but as the result of an ecosystem built in collaboration with its partners. That’s why we have developed an open approach, based on building skills within the sector, providing technical support tools, and offering dedicated guidance at every stage of a project.
We support installers, developers, and integrators through digital platforms, which facilitates project management, data analysis, and performance monitoring. We also actively contribute to shaping the sector by engaging in industrial partnerships, offering training programs, and participating in the development of shared standards. This open strategy—grounded in collaboration, mutual benefit, and shared success—is at the heart of our vision: accelerating the transformation of the energy sector in a sustainable, structured, and inclusive way.
Our ambition is clear: to make access to reliable, intelligent, and cost-effective solar energy a reality for as many people as possible. By combining innovation with strong partner networks, we aim to make solar PV—coupled with storage—a pillar of large-scale energy transition. This approach is particularly relevant in fast-growing regions like Africa, where access to clean, resilient energy will be critical for long-term economic and social development.
Huawei emphasizes end-to-end safety in its solar and storage systems. How does the company innovate to ensure grid stability in this new energy landscape?
The rapid expansion of renewables is a major step forward—but it also presents new technical challenges. Solar and wind systems don’t operate like coal or gas plants. By themselves, they are not sufficient to guarantee grid stability, especially in terms of maintaining steady frequency and voltage levels.
That’s where energy storage becomes critical. It’s no longer just about producing clean power—it’s about storing it and managing it intelligently to deliver electricity reliably, even after sunset or when the wind dies down. Grid stability increasingly depends on the quality and intelligence of the storage systems supporting these renewable sources.
At Huawei, we’ve developed a complete solution to meet this challenge: the Smart String & Grid-Forming ESS. It is built on a suite of interoperable technologies, engineered for intelligent and seamless integration. At its core are modular batteries, made up of independent units connected in series. Each unit operates autonomously, making the system more flexible, resilient, and easier to maintain. This architecture optimizes charging and discharging, reduces energy loss, and ensures high system availability.
But our solution goes further. It incorporates grid-forming technology, enabling the ESS to act as a voltage source—just like traditional synchronous generators. This is essential for integrating renewables such as solar and wind into the grid while maintaining system stability, especially in the event of disruptions or outages. It’s a major step toward enabling fully renewable microgrids to operate independently in remote or underserved regions.
This comprehensive solution—which also integrates intelligent controllers, an energy management system, and advanced analytics algorithms—transforms the way solar electricity is managed: shifting from a system that passively follows the grid to one that actively contributes to its stability.
Beyond performance and intelligence, safety is also at the core of our solution. This means every aspect has been designed to prevent risks at all levels. Inside the batteries themselves, sensors detect even the slightest thermal or electrical anomaly. If an issue arises, the affected module is isolated immediately to prevent cascading failures. The system is also protected against short circuits, surges, and overheating. This end-to-end safety approach—from individual components to full-scale installations—has earned our technology key industry certifications, including one from TÜV Rheinland. In a sector where reliability is critical, this is a major assurance for both customers and grid operators.
These innovations aren’t just concepts—they’re already powering major projects around the world. In China, we partnered with China Resources Power to build the industry’s first 100 MWh energy storage plant integrating Smart String and Grid-Forming technology. In Saudi Arabia, we contributed to the Red Sea project—the world’s largest off-grid solar and storage microgrid at the gigawatt scale. Huawei Digital Power supplied the full range of equipment and services, including 400 MW of PV inverters, 1.3 GWh of battery storage, and transformer stations. The microgrid system has now been operating stably for over 18 months, delivering more than 1 billion kilowatt-hours of clean electricity.
Huawei is investing heavily in these technologies because we firmly believe that the future of energy lies not only in solar generation, but—above all—in storage. The market is evolving rapidly: use cases are diversifying, demand is growing, and technological value is shifting toward solutions that can ensure continuity and stability. Storage is no longer optional—it’s the backbone of the energy transition.
With storage installations expected to grow by nearly 21% annually through 2030, how is Huawei adapting its solutions to meet diverse needs across markets?
There is no single way to produce and store solar energy—there are as many solutions as there are needs.
There is no single way to produce and store solar energy—needs vary widely from region to region, depending on resources, climate, and economic context. That’s why we developed FusionSolar, a fully integrated, modular system designed to adapt to all usage scenarios—from large-scale solar power plants to industrial facilities and residential homes. This “all-scenario” approach ensures a consistent, effective response—regardless of project scale or complexity.
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For the commercial and industrial sector, we’ve developed FusionSolar OASIS —an intelligent energy ecosystem where every ray of sunlight is optimized to maximize both profitability and sustainability. By integrating optimizers, solar inverters, energy storage systems, and EV charging stations, FusionSolar OASIS enables businesses to fully harness their solar potential while intelligently managing their energy consumption. We’ve recently integrated our latest storage system into the solution: the LUNA2000-215 Series —the industry’s first hybrid system combining liquid cooling with optimized thermal management. It offers enhanced safety, higher efficiency, and reduced maintenance, with proven economic benefits across various industrial use cases. This approach not only reduces energy costs, but also helps strengthen energy independence and competitiveness at a time when energy management is becoming a strategic priority.
For residential households, we’ve designed a solution that brings innovation into everyday life. Our FusionSolar home system is an all-in-one smart system that not only enables solar power generation, but also allows users to store, optimize, and autonomously manage their electricity at home. The LUNA2000-S1 battery is a key component of this ecosystem, with its modular design and high-capacity cells, it delivers to users continuous solar energy —even after sunset. FusionSolar also includes backup power options during outage and an AI-powered energy management assistant that anticipates energy needs and maximizes household autonomy. To date, 3.9 million households and over 30,000 installers have adopted our residential solution worldwide—testament to its reliability and relevance.
Finally, for large-scale solar power plants, we have developed solutions where stability and reliability are top priorities. Our high-capacity inverters and intelligent storage systems ensure optimal performance—even in extreme environments such as high altitudes or desert climates. Active safety is reinforced at every level, from equipment design to grid management, to ensure a reliable, stable energy output that integrates seamlessly with existing infrastructure.”
Through this tailored approach, we aim to address the specific challenges of each use case. Whether it involves large-scale infrastructure, industrial sites, or individual households, our ambition remains the same: to democratize access to clean, intelligent, and sustainable solar energy—building a more balanced and resilient energy future.
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