As the world continues on its path toward carbon neutrality, PV and energy storage industries have ushered in unprecedented opportunities. Technological innovations in areas such as PV modules, energy storage systems (ESSs), grid forming, and digitalization, are converging to accelerate new power systems that rely on renewable energy such as PV, wind power, and ESS. By integrating digital, power electronics, thermal management, and energy storage management technologies (collectively known as 4T: bit, watt, heat, and battery), Huawei Digital Power builds a Smart Renewable Energy Generator to continuously create values for customers and various industries.
Steven Zheng, President of Utility Smart ESS Business, Huawei Digital Power, launched the world's first Cell-to-Grid Smart String & Grid-Forming ESS Platform. Since 2013, Huawei has chosen string inverter technology. In 2020, Huawei launched the industry's first string ESS, which uses controllable power electronics technologies to resolve the inconsistency and uncertainty of lithium batteries. After years of application and verification, Huawei has updated its energy storage products and developed key capabilities in safety, grid forming, intelligence, and efficiency. The world's first Smart String & Grid-Forming ESS Platform features full-architecture safety, all-scenario grid forming, full-lifecycle cost-effectiveness, and full-link digitalization. Moreover, the platform is built upon an open ecosystem and designed to foster the high-quality and healthy development of power plants throughout the lifecycle with partners.
It is worth mentioning that one of the unique advantages of the Smart String & Grid-Forming ESS Platform lies in its grid forming capability, which is essential to improving the grid integration and consumption of renewable energy. As predicted for a project in Qinghai, China, when the short circuit ratio (SCR) is 1.5, the Smart String & Grid-Forming ESS can increase the renewable energy output by 40%. In addition to the upfront investment in energy storage equipment, CNY150 million can be saved for every 100 MWh throughout the lifecycle, which is equivalent to a cost reduction of CNY1.5/Wh.
Steven Zhou, President of Utility Smart PV Business, Huawei Digital Power, launched the Smart Renewable Energy Generator Solution. According to Mr. Zhou, the construction of utility plants is in uncharted waters, and multiple challenges such as complex application scenarios, grid connection and integration, operations, and safety still exist in developing PV as a main energy source. Huawei has developed the Smart Renewable Energy Generator Solution that features PV, ESS, load, grid, and management system to drive PV power generation from grid following to grid forming. The solution aims to clear major obstacles in renewable energy development and solve the global challenge of increasing the grid integration of renewables. Innovative technologies are used to redefine the voltage, frequency, and power angle, achieving higher yields, full integration, and stable control. The solution has been strictly tested in both strong and weak grids, and its adaptability is fully proved in all power grid environments.
- In Ganzi, Sichuan, Huawei Digital Power helped Yalong Hydro build the 1 GW Kela PV Project, which is the world's largest and highest-altitude hydro-solar hybrid power plant. The project leverages digital and intelligent technologies to improve quality and efficiency, setting a benchmark for intelligent power plants.
- In the Red Sea Project in Saudi Arabia, the world's largest microgrid has been running stably for eight months. It supplies 100% renewable energy based on PV+ESS synergy to a new city and sets a benchmark for GW-level microgrids.
- In Golmud, Qinghai and other areas of China, Huawei worked with customers to build the world's first batch of 100 MW-level smart string grid-forming energy storage plants.
By widely applying the Smart Renewable Energy Generator and digital technologies, Huawei Digital Power aims to build high-quality, all-digital, and autonomous utility-scale power plants.
In terms of operation and maintenance (O&M), Huawei provides full-link diagnosis capabilities to improve the safety and performance ratio (PR) of power plants. Furthermore, Huawei provides intelligent AC and DC safety protection for PV, ensuring personal and asset safety across various scenarios. During the event, Huawei Digital Power and China General Certification Center (CGC) jointly released the White Paper on System and Grid Connection Safety Technologies for PV Plants, aiming to promote the safe and healthy development of the industry.
Eric Zhong, President of Commercial and Industrial Smart PV Business, Huawei Digital Power, launched the C&I Smart PV Solution 2.0. Mr. Zhong interpreted the vision of “Ubiquitous Solar” and ” Ubiquitous ESS” in C&I scenarios. Huawei provides a one-fits-all solution that integrates optimizers, PV, ESS, chargers, loads, grid, and management system to help various industries go green and low-carbon by providing system-level active safety and stronger capabilities for green power supply and power grid support.
Safety is especially critical in C&I ESS scenarios. Therefore, Huawei has proposed the innovative C2C dual-link safety architecture that covers ESS electrical and thermal safety from cell, pack, system, to consumption. Such a comprehensive design ensures safety from products to system applications.
Sun Power, President of Residential Smart PV Business, Huawei Digital Power, launched the Residential Solution 5.0. Huawei Digital Power has upgraded its one-fits-all solution that integrates optimizers, PV, ESS, chargers, load, grid, and management system. The solution covers efficient power generation, long-lasting energy storage, whole home backup, intelligent management, and active safety. It empowers home energy management throughout the process from green power generation to intelligent power consumption, from zero-carbon homes to zero-carbon communities, from energy independence to Energy Internet.
Safety was a top priority throughout the upgrade of this solution. To safeguard households in an all-round way, the solution integrates three-layer protection on the roof and five-layer protection under the roof.
- On the roof, the industry's highest L4 intelligent arc protection technology accurately identifies arcs and automatically disconnects them within 0.5 seconds. The module-level rapid shutdown technology can reduce the voltage to a safe value within 30 seconds. And the connector overtemperature detection function ensures the safety of the entire system from PV modules to inverters.
- Under the roof, protective measures include the use of high-quality cells, electrical protection against overcharge, overcurrent, and overvoltage, IP66-rated waterproofing performance, high-strength structural protection against an impact of up to 5 tons, active protection for cells and connectors, and emergency pressure relief and combustion prevention. All of the above helps build an industry benchmark for reliable residential ESSs.
By the end of 2023, 3.3 million households around the world chosen Huawei's residential solutions to fulfil their green future.
Carbon neutrality not only means technological transformation, but also extensive and profound social transformation. Huawei Digital Power continuously innovates its lines of technologies and products, and unswervingly works with customers, solution partners, and industry partners to build a thriving digital energy industry ecosystem. Looking ahead, Huawei Digital Power will collaborate with more industry players to embrace digitalization, intelligence, and active and safe grid forming to accelerate PV+ESS as the main energy source with its Smart Renewable Energy Generator Solution.