Special | 2023 | 78538

A deep dive into Green road in

leading solar markets a sea of sand

Paving the way to Moving beyond

a clean power future legacy systems

SPECIAL EDITION DEVELOPED

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH HUAWEI solar.huawei.com
 editorial

Huawei: Leading the charge

to create a new energy system
Photo: pv magazine/Thomas Beetz
This is the seventh special edition pv magazine has produced in
partnership with Huawei. The Shenzhen-based multinational has
been one of the leading companies in the transition to an energy
system built on clean energy. Photovoltaics will be the bedrock
of such a system, at least in countries with plenty of sun. This
includes most of Africa, which is blessed with high irradiation
and electricity grids that can be complemented by minigrids and
microgrids to provide reliable electricity to large swaths of the
continent’s population that still lack such energy access.

Huawei is actively collaborating with grid operators and

other partners to provide safe and reliable energy solutions. If
the world wants to keep global warming to 1.5 C compared to
pre-industrial levels, then clean energy has to accelerate even
faster. This fall’s COP28 summit in Abu Dhabi will be a critical
step in this process. The toolkit of technologies is there to make
this transition: In the field of solar PV, Huawei offers a complete
solution at every level, be it residential, community, corporate,
or utility scale. On the residential front, the combination of PV and bat-
tery storage is providing resiliency in the face of more extreme
This special edition provides details on these complete solu- weather events and the desire of homeowners to be self-suffi-
tions for each segment. When it comes to utility-scale PV, Hua- cient in the face of grid constraints and outages. Key features
wei is showing the way to 100% renewable energy. The objective is include off-grid backup, intelligent home energy scheduling by
no longer just “grid-following” and “grid-supporting,” but rather the Energy Management Assistant (EMMA), and virtual power
“grid-forming,” enabling reinforcement of the grid with a high plants (VPPs).
proportion of renewable energy.
This summer I was fortunate to visit Huawei’s headquarters
In this journey to 100% renewable energy penetration, Hua- in Shenzhen, China. Shenzhen is a leading technology and tele-
wei has always placed its focus on the long-term performance communications hub in China and globally and is fast emerg-
of the PV power plant. The clear focus is on the levelized cost of ing as the leading city when it comes to the transition to elec-
energy (LCOE) and the levelized cost of storage (LCOS). At the tric vehicles (EVs). Decarbonization of the transport sector is as
heart of Huawei’s FusionSolar is a very smart approach to build- important as the decarbonization of electricity grids, and Hua-
ing and operating a PV system, which relies on Huawei’s mastery wei is also at the forefront of this transition. Naturally, these
of digital technologies, power electronics, solar, and batteries to EVs need to be powered by renewable energy. Huawei’s know-
boost the overall intelligence of the system and drive down costs. how in both sectors will surely provide important synergies.
Similarly, smart string ESS in combined PV and battery stor-
Zooming in on utility-scale plants and the FusionSolar Grid- age power plants can generate valuable data and signals to pro-
forming solution, this addresses voltage, frequency, and power vide an analogous margin of safety to PV power plant opera-
angle challenges to enhance the future “built on renewables” grid. tors and their investors.
It integrates smart PV inverters, smart string energy storage sys-
tems (ESS), and smart power control systems (PCS) with algo- These are important and exciting times for the global transi-
rithms, creating a platform that can drive PV to be the founda- tion to clean energy systems, be it in building grids with a higher
tion of the new energy system. percentage of renewables or transportation markets with a grow-
ing share of EVs. Huawei is leading the charge in both markets,
On the C&I side, Huawei’s upgraded solution includes smart and the company’s quest to achieve a world powered by renew-
PV inverters plus optimizers plus ESS plus chargers plus smart ables will continue to be a critical contribution to stem global
PV management systems. It is a flexible solution that can be tai- climate change and build a better world for our children.
lored to meet the diverse requirements in the C&I market.  Eckhart K. Gouras, Publisher, pv magazine

www.pv-magazine.com | Huawei Special 2023

1
contents

Photo: Huawei
6

Moving beyond legacy systems

How FusionSolar is overcoming challenges to achieve Huawei’s
vision of a 100% clean energy world, with solar-generated
electricity as its core driver.

Imprint Contents
Special publication
A special publication produced by
pv magazine group GmbH & Co. KG
highlights ≥
in partnership with
Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.
4  aking the most of every ray: Guoguang Chen, presi-
M
Publisher
pv magazine group GmbH & Co. KG
dent of the Smart PV and ESS business at Huawei Digital
Kurfürstendamm 64, 10707 Berlin, Germany Power, speaks with pv magazine about FusionSolar and
Managing Director: Eckhart K. Gouras
the fast-moving global markets for PV technology.
Partner and Sponsored Content Manager
Bernadette Geyer

Editors/Contributors
6  oving beyond legacy systems: FusionSolar is overcom-
M
Proofreader: Brian Publicover ing challenges to achieve Huawei’s vision of a 100% clean
Translators: Tim Hanes, Veritas Europa
energy world, with solar electricity as its core driver.
Photo editor: Tom Baerwald
Graphics: Harald Schütt
Cover: Image provided by iStock

Layout & typesetting

Alexx Schulz, mADVICE | Berlin
market & trends ≥
Copyright
The magazine and all of the texts and images contained therein
8  deep dive into leading solar markets: Chile, Germany,
A
are protected by copyright. When a manuscript is approved for and the United Arab Emirates are home to three of the
publication, the right to publish, translate, reprint, electroni-
cally store in databases, print special editions, photocopies, world’s most dynamic solar markets.
and microcopies is transferred to the publisher. The publisher
requires the author to be the holder of copyrights and com-
mercialization rights for all submissions. Any commercial use
outside the limits specified by copyright is inadmissible with-
12  rom strength to strength in Europe’s PV market:
F
out the publisher’s consent. Solar has grown rapidly in Europe in recent years. But to
Huawei contributors achieve ambitious EU targets, progress is still needed.
Yifan Shan, Chenjie He, Zhe Wang, Meifang Li, Sinan Peng,
Jie Hu
14  ENA means business: With plenty of sunshine and big
M
grid-interconnection plans taking shape, the Middle East
paints an encouraging picture for PV development.

Huawei Special 2023 | www.pv-magazine.com

2
 contents

38

Photo: Huawei

Photo: Huawei

Photo: Huawei
22 36
Green road in a sea of sand A shiny home with a smart Safety for utility-scale solar
In China’s Kubuqi Desert, PV projects can approach to sustainability Smart inverters are adding new features
reduce the impact of dust storms. A case study from Germany illustrates for enhanced fault detection and
the many advantages that FusionSolar automatic rapid shutdown when safety
technology brings to smart homes issues emerge.
powered by residential PV.

applications & 26  ipe for entrepreneurial spirit:

R 34  iving a boost to commercial sys-
G
Thailand is now “ready for next-gen tems: Huawei’s smart energy sys-
installations ≥ technologies,” says inverter distrib- tems and PV optimizers bring
utor Polytechnology Thailand. broad benefits to commercial and
16  e sunny side of solar in Bra-
Th industrial PV.
zil: The 1.2 GW Janaúba project has 28  roject highlights gallery:
P
created thousands of jobs in Brazil. We look at some of the leading 36  shiny home with a smart
A
solar projects featuring Huawei’s approach to sustainability: A case
18  ackling load shedding, one home
T technologies. study from Germany shows the
at a time: PV installer Metrowatt, advantages that FusionSolar tech-
a Huawei partner, is focused on nology brings to smart homes pow-
South Africa’s residential market. technology ≥ ered by residential PV.

20  grivoltaic framework for France:

A 30  aving the way to a clean power
P 38  afety evolution for utility-scale
S
Dual land use brings opportuni- future: FusionSolar technologies PV: Smart inverters are adding new
ties and challenges as solar meets come with sophisticated grid-form- features for enhanced fault detec-
agriculture. ing abilities for higher penetration tion and automatic rapid shutdown
of intermittent renewables, without when safety issues emerge.
22  reen road in a sea of sand: In
G stability concerns.
China’s Kubuqi Desert, PV projects
also promise to dampen the impact 32  ptimizing BESS through string
O final thought ≥
of dust storms. structure: String architecture for
battery systems offer improvements 40  ptimizing for the future: Guo-
O
24  owering rural Nigeria: Abba
P in efficiency, safety, and cost. guang Chen, president of the Smart
Aliyu, an official from Nigeria’s PV and ESS business at Huawei
Rural Electrification Agency, dis- Digital Power, shares his vision for
cusses the challenge of bringing FusionSolar solutions and a 100%
power to remote regions. clean energy future.

www.pv-magazine.com | Huawei Special 2023

3
highlights

Making the most

of every ray
The transition from “grid-following, Could you please introduce FusionSolar’s new three-pronged strategy and explain
grid-supporting” to “grid-forming” its impact?
technology will enable the As a technology-driven company, our focus is on core technology and product solu-
reinforcement of the grid with tions. Our strategy revolves around increasing our R&D capabilities, with core tech-
a high proportion of renewable nologies including digital technologies, power electronics, solar technology, and bat-
energy. Guoguang Chen, president tery technology. Moving forward, our strategy converges on three defined scenarios
of the Smart PV and ESS business for the next five years.
at Huawei Digital Power, discusses The first prong of our strategy aims to bring our advanced solutions and technology to
the company’s strategy around more places in the solar market. We want to create more value for our customers by inte-
FusionSolar and his outlook for the grating our “4T” (WatT, HeaT, BatTery, and BiT) technologies into various applications.
solar and energy storage markets. The second prong acknowledges the rapid growth of PV across utility, commercial &
industrial (C&I), and residential sectors, accompanied by the adoption of batteries. We
strongly believe that the future grid will be powered by renewable energy and supported
by power electronics, from generation to distribution and consumption.
Lastly, we view PV as a business based on an ecosystem. We have established partner
schematics encompassing industry partners, financial partners, service partners, solu-
tion partners, and more. Working together, we aim to further build and expand our
ecosystem, fostering collective growth.

Can you please provide more details about the new products Huawei has launched
for all scenarios?
We have aligned our product offering with three defined scenarios. For utility applica-
tions, our most important solution is the FusionSolar Grid-forming solution. In coun-
tries with high renewable penetration, grid instability becomes a concern. This solution
addresses voltage, frequency, and power angle challenges, enhancing the future grid as
conventional grid generation phases out. It’s the transition from “grid-following, grid-
supporting” to “grid-forming” technology, enabling reinforcement of the grid with a
high proportion of renewable energy.
By integrating smart PV inverters, smart string ESS (energy storage systems), and smart
PCS (power control systems) with algorithms, the solution can accelerate PV to be the
primary energy source in the future. It is designed to support up to 100% renewable
energy penetration with grid-forming technology. This innovation is our most signifi-
cant contribution to the utility sector.
We also cater to a wide range of C&I applications. Our upgraded solution for this sector
includes the inverter plus optimizer plus ESS plus charger plus smart PV management
system solution. This comprehensive solution is tailored to suit the diverse require-
ments of C&I applications.
In the residential scenario, Huawei aims to advance the evolution of household energy
through component innovation and technological upgrades. Through off-grid power
backup, intelligent home energy scheduling by the AI Energy Management Assistant
(EMMA), and future virtual power plants (VPPs), interconnection will enable power
independence and self-sufficiency for homes.

What is your outlook for the PV and storage market this year?
We anticipate significant growth in the PV and energy storage market this year. Last
year, solar installations reached around 280 GW to 300 GW globally, and storage
installations reached approximately 40 GWh. This year, we expect solar installations
to increase by another 100 GW, reaching around 450 GW. We also anticipate storage
installations to grow to about 60 GWh, a 50% increase from the previous year.

Huawei Special 2023 | www.pv-magazine.com

4
 highlights

Photo: Huawei

As more renewable energy sources are integrated into the grid, batteries are being
deployed to provide grid support and stability. We have already seen successful deploy-
ments of storage systems alongside wind farms in the Netherlands and we expect this
“a business
We view PV as
based

”
trend to continue in more locations.
There is also potential for retrofitting older plants with storage to enhance grid stabil-
ity and support. To achieve this, grid-forming technology is crucial. We believe it is
on an ecosystem
essential to work with distribution system operators to develop policies that support Guoguang Chen,
the deployment of grid-forming technology. This will enable the storage of more renew- president of the
able energy and help countries achieve their carbon targets without the need for exten- Smart PV and ESS business
sive grid reconstruction. at Huawei Digital Power

What can we expect from Huawei in the future? How do you balance your vision
with customer demands?
At Huawei, we have a comprehensive product roadmap and have unveiled several new
products this year. For the utility sector, our focus is on grid-forming technology, which
can play a crucial role in achieving a global renewable energy mix of 60%.
In the commercial and industrial sector, we aim to enhance our products and provide
a one-stop-shop solution, including hardware, software, and energy management solu-
tions. Each industry has its unique requirements and we strive to meet those demands
through continuous improvement and innovation.
For the residential sector, our target is to offer complete solutions that enable consum-
ers to achieve near-100% self-consumption. We have already implemented successful
projects, such as one in Spain where a combination of PV and battery systems achieved
close to 100% self-consumption.
Overall, we balance our vision for the future with customer demands by closely lis-
tening to our customers’ needs and aligning our product development and innovation
strategies accordingly.

www.pv-magazine.com | Huawei Special 2023

5
highlights

Moving beyond
legacy systems
Solar power is the key to a 100%
clean energy future, whether
this means helping businesses to
R ecent numbers from the Interna-
tional Energy Agency show that over-
all greenhouse gas emissions from energy
FusionSolar vision
Huawei envisions a future in which the
power system is digitalized and renew-
achieve long-term profitability, rose to their highest level in 2021, confirm- able energy sources supply all the world’s
enabling rural communities ing the need for the energy sector to move needs, and the company’s FusionSolar
to succeed in their economic away from fossil fuels. The transition to solutions are the building blocks on the
development, or providing cleaner energy sources cannot happen all road to that future.
homeowners with control over their at once, however. At Intersolar Europe 2023, Huawei
own energy use. After decades of refining the networks unveiled the brand-new FusionSolar logo
that are currently in place for the elec- and image for its smart PV and ESS solu-
tric grid, there is an inertia in the current tions. The new brand represents the inte-
power system that will be difficult to over- gration (Fusion) of technological innova-
come. It will be a sensitive balancing act tion, as well as joining forces with partners
to connect renewable energy generation to deliver new possibilities to the indus-
facilities to a grid that has had years to try and calling on more people to join the
establish itself for centralized, fossil fuel- movement and benefit the ecosystem with
The ecological environment has been significantly based generation. While the complexity of the goal of maximizing possibilities (solar).
improved after the completion of a 2.2 GW PV plant a global switchover may be a stumbling The sun is so much more than a light
in Qinghai, China. Power is generated via the panels
as sheep graze happily underneath. An oasis has block, it should not be seen as a brick wall. source. That’s why FusionSolar’s aim is
reappeared in what was once a desert.

Photo: Huawei

Huawei Special 2023 | www.pv-magazine.com

6
 highlights

“ FusionSolar’s aim is to allow every single ray to shine

further, longer, brighter, and warmer
”
to allow every single ray to shine further, legacy systems that people are familiar With smarter homes and buildings,
longer, brighter, and warmer, in addition with and to improve upon these systems Huawei is putting consumers in charge of
to generating infinite power and helping to ensure the stability of the grid during their power supply in a way that was not
the world achieve unlimited development this transition. possible before the internet of things and
potential. Huawei has integrated its 4T technol- cloud computing.
The question in many minds is, “how ogies (Bit, Watt, Heat, and Battery), dig- Additionally, when businesses have
can we move to a 100% clean energy sys- ital and power electronics technologies, better control of their energy use, cou-
tem?” There is no single answer to this as information, and energy flows to build pled with the ability to generate their
every country and every community has the FusionSolar Smart PV Solution to help own power, they improve their long-term
its own mix of challenges and opportuni- utilities increase their power generation profitability – becoming more sustainable
ties to consider. One thing is certain: Solar yields while providing high system avail- not only environmentally, but also finan-
power can be the bedrock of this new ability. By optimizing the performance cially. Homeowners, too, can profit from
energy system Huawei hopes to achieve. of each solar module, Huawei also opti- this access to intelligent power manage-
It will take a whole host of technol- mizes electricity costs for its commercial ment devices.
ogies to meet the varied needs of cities and industrial customers. Smart PV solutions with access to mas-
and rural areas alike, as well as light and Huawei sees the combination of PV sive amounts of critical information also
heavy industrial and commercial facili- with energy storage as the enabling force translate to improvements in safety. For
ties around the world. Huawei is mak- to drive the adoption of green power example, Huawei launched the world’s
ing a competitive push to replicate the across all sectors – from utility scale to first PV inverter that supports smart
commercial and industrial, as well as for string-level disconnection, which can
the residential and microgrid market seg- accurately detect the current signals of
ments. For rural communities and devel- each string. When a fault is detected, the
oping nations, these advanced solutions software transmits the switch-off signal
will be key to boosting both economic to the DC switch, immediately triggering
recovery and future self-sufficiency. the disconnection and an alarm, which
can significantly reduce the risk of fire or
Building successes other severe problems, which is partic-
To achieve its vision of smarter energy ularly important given the trend toward
choices offering more sustainable living high-power modules at PV plants.
options, Huawei has leveraged digital and
power electronics technology, integrating Solar future
its established solutions with PV, energy A green and carbon-neutral life is not just
storage, and grid-forming solutions. The achievable, it’s vital to the future of the
company has embraced the best of what planet. The world has already progressed
digitalization has to offer the power indus- far beyond its ability to meet the energy
try and recognizes its importance for the needs of more than eight billion people
development of smart renewable energy through fossil fuels alone. Everyone on
technologies. the planet can ultimately benefit from the
Huawei’s intelligent FusionSolar PV- advances made in harnessing the power of
plus-storage line of products offers solu- data and digitalization.
tions for applications from small-scale Instead of continuing to prop up the
residential power to large-scale utility and legacy energy systems of the past with
commercial projects. These solutions not a patchwork of refinements that offer
only reduce the levelized cost of energy decreasing rates of return, individuals,
(LCOE) from PV plants, they also har- communities, and nations need to move
ness the power of better sensors, data, full speed ahead to embrace the solar-
and machine learning to optimize perfor- enhanced future that is already establish-
mance, improve management, and provide ing itself. The health of the planet cannot
quick troubleshooting to avoid downtime. wait.

www.pv-magazine.com | Huawei Special 2023

7
market & trends

A deep dive into

leading solar markets
As solar pushes further into the world’s energy mix, the approaches favored
by different regions highlight the technology’s adaptability to fit into a wide
range of climate conditions, business models, and political backgrounds. Here
we take a look at three regions leading the world for solar installations, and
what makes them tick.

Photo: Huawei

25.8 MW distributed rooftop project in Dubai.

Huawei Special 2023 | www.pv-magazine.com

8
 market & trends

Photo: Huawei

Nestlé Middle East launched the ground-mounted

private solar plant at its food factory in Dubai in 2019.

The Middle East

Top solar market segments: Large-scale installations connected to the grid

Hotspot: United Arab Emirates nomic incentive for other sources to be

With its abundant solar resource, the Mid- connected to the grid. Many countries are
dle East is a natural fit for generating elec- looking to remove electricity subsidies,
tricity through large-scale PV plants. Solar however, which will likely increase inter-
panels produce a lot of midday power, just est in solar for residential and commer- IRENA forecasts the UAE’s
installed PV capacity to reach

44 GW
as there is high demand for air condition- cial consumers. Given this background,
ing in this region. The United Arab Emir- the UAE government has already imple-
ates (UAE) is one of the strongest coun- mented a scheme solely focused on roof-
tries in the region when it comes to solar, top solar installations. The scheme has
and has the largest installed capacity. The proven to be fairly popular, especially for
country is leading the way in the Middle commercial rooftop arrays.
East due to the government’s ambition to The pairing of energy storage solutions
drive electricity prices as low as possible, with PV installations is not really hap- by 2050
with significant offers of tenders, particu- pening on a large scale as solar plants are
larly for large-scale projects in the giga- mostly grid connected. That said, as coun-
watt range. tries in this region continue to build very
Rooftop solar is not currently a hot large PV plants, at some point they will
market segment in the Middle East, as need to incorporate storage to balance
electricity prices are subsidized for end the grid load and reinforce the electric-
consumers and there’s not really an eco- ity network.

www.pv-magazine.com | Huawei Special 2023

9
market & trends

Photo: Wattkraft

One of the largest bifacial agrivoltaic projects in Germany.

Europe
Top solar market segments: Residential and commercial solar

Hotspot: Germany In the small commercial segment in

Europe is experiencing growth in all solar Europe, one of the primary drivers has
power market segments, from residential been corporate environmental, social,
to the utility scale. The past year’s surge and governance initiatives and company
in installations throughout the continent targets to decarbonize, leading many to
is a direct result of the continuing energy search for ways to use more renewables.
crisis, and has been driven further by In Germany, an evaluation by the
Europe-wide targets and directives such country’s solar industry association,
The share of renewables in as the REPowerEU plan. On a country BSW-Solar, found that one-third of the
Germany’s energy mix reached

57.7 %
level, electricity prices themselves have country’s PV capacity is installed on com-
prompted a lot of installations. mercial and private buildings, as well as
Germany is one of the fastest accelerat- on open lands.
ing markets in this region, deploying 6.26 Energy storage systems are used pri-
GW of solar just in the first half of 2023. marily in conjunction with large, grid-
Following the shutdown of the country’s connected or “behind-the-meter” home
last three nuclear power plants, the share residential systems. Behind-the-meter
in the first half of 2023 of electricity being generated by renew- storage has grown in several regions.
able energy technologies has grown to Germany in particular is a leading mar-
57.7% of net electricity generation. To ket, since it offers support for pairing res-
ease and speed up the adoption of resi- idential PV systems with batteries. In the
dential solar, Germany has created new rest of Europe, energy storage has primar-
legislation – set to go into effect in Jan- ily been profitable to use for ancillary ser-
uary 2024 – that will increase the power vices for the electricity grid. We’re now
generation capacity permitted for balcony seeing more PV plants being built either
PV. The legislation will also remove the with batteries from the start, or already
requirement for balcony PV system own- prepared to add energy storage when its
ers to register with local grid operators. costs fall.

Huawei Special 2023 | www.pv-magazine.com

10
 market & trends

Latin America
Top solar market segments: Smaller utility-scale systems (1 MW to 9 MW)

Hotspot: Chile The solid growth of solar power in

Traditionally, Latin America has been very Chile has resulted in too much power
much a utility-scale PV region, particu- being generated by PV in certain regions.
larly in Mexico, Chile, and Brazil. In Chile, Some areas are at risk of having too much
the country’s Pequeños Medios de Gener- electricity generated in one location and
As of June 2023, Chile had

6.95 GW
acion Distribuida (PMGD) program sup- this needs to be balanced out with the
ports grid-connected installations in the use of storage. To counter this problem,
1 MW to 9 MW segment, which targets Chile’s government has announced plans
smaller utility-scale systems. to establish a tender mechanism for large-
Chile is one of the top spots for solar scale energy storage facilities. The goal is
in Latin America, and the country’s to tender the storage systems in 2024 to
renewables association, Acera, says that have them online for 2026. of renewables and energy
as of June 2023, there were 6.95 GW of While energy storage systems are not storage under construction
renewable energy and storage projects big yet in Latin America as a whole, as
under construction, with about 68% more renewables are integrated into the
of those being solar. In July 2023, a 180 grid system, storage will also need to
MW solar plant went online in the Ata- be connected to support electricity net-
cama Desert, connected with 112 MWh works, as with the example in Chile. Ana-
of storage, and it is now Latin America’s lysts expect upcoming tenders in all coun-
largest solar plant to be linked with bat- tries of the region to specify that proposed
tery storage. projects should include storage.
Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport
distributed project in Santiago, Chile.

Photo: Huawei

www.pv-magazine.com | Huawei Special 2023

11
market & trends

From strength to strength

in Europe’s PV market
The European solar market shows no sign of slowing. In 2022, annual additions grew by almost 50%, far outpacing
all expectations, but much faster deployment is needed if Europe is to meet its 2030 decarbonization targets.

I n a bid to increase its energy inde-

pendence, Europe is setting clear pol-
icy lines. The EU Solar Strategy outlined
quickly built. In Germany, for instance,
new measures were introduced to accel-
erate rooftop PV deployment, including
under the REPowerEU plan sets a target higher feed-in tariffs (FITs). In addition,
of 320 GW of PV generation capacity by the falling trajectory of FIT rates was fro-
2025, and almost 600 GW by 2030. “This zen until 2024 and the limit to feed to the
is ambitious but realistic,” European Com- grid only 70% of output from old PV sys-
mission President Ursula von der Leyen tems – up to 7 kW in size – was scrapped.
said at a news conference on May 18, 2022.
Last year, solar deployment reached a Big solar
record 41 GW, SolarPower Europe (SPE) Simultaneously, several governments
said in its EU Market Outlook for Solar across Europe are increasingly looking
Power 2022-2026 report. This was more into solar to reach their climate ambi-
than double what was installed in 2020 tions, creating demand for large volumes
and up 47% from 28.1 GW in 2021. Ger- of utility-scale PV via auctions and ten-
many led the pack with 7.9 GW installed, ders. Some of the most successful pro-
followed by Spain with 7.5 GW, and curement exercises have been conducted
Poland with 4.9 GW. For the first time, the in Greece and the Netherlands.
top 10 European solar markets all added However, in some more mature mar-
at least 1 GW. kets, auction results have been under-
Traditionally, the rooftop segment is whelming. For instance, there was no
the largest source of solar installations capacity awarded to solar in the Spanish
in the EU. Rooftop PV added 25 GW in auction held last November despite 1.8
2022, 8 GW more than in 2021, accord- GW initially allocated to PV.
ing to SPE. There was a strong increase Such results are not necessarily an ill
in the residential and small commercial omen for the sector but rather a general
segment, as such investment decisions can trend toward subsidy-free solar amid
be quickly made, and such small systems current energy market conditions, high
wholesale power prices, and increasing
demand from businesses looking into
procurement from both on-site and off-
site PV power plants via power purchase
agreements (PPAs). For instance, in Den-
mark and Spain, corporate solar sourc-
ing has become a key force behind their
strong solar deployment figures.

High hurdles
However, Europe is still far from reach-
ing its full potential and there are numer-
ous hurdles on the way. These include
labor shortage, specifically certified solar
installers, regulatory instability, grid sta-
bility issues, as well as burdensome per-
mitting procedures.
Photo: Huawei

Huawei Special 2023 | www.pv-magazine.com

12
 market & trends

Photo: Thijs Ter Haar

“It’s more than high time to take solar

seriously. That means tackling barriers
head on,” Dries Acke, policy director at
SPE, said in December 2022. “We need
more electricians and stable electric-
ity market regulation. A solar-powered
Europe can only be based on smoother
administrative processes, speedier grid The European Union has set itself the ambitious target of 600 GW installed PV capacity by 2030.
connections, and resilient supply chains.”
To face up to the double challenge of
producing and deploying solar energy Outside of such areas, procedures
across the EU, member states are urged should not take more than 18 months.
to analyze the skills gap in the sector and In addition, permits should be granted
develop training programs, which can within six months for capacity upgrades
attract more women to clean energy jobs. to existing plants.
At the EU level, a large-scale skills partner-
ship was set up in March to ensure quality
job creation and skills development in the
renewables industrial ecosystem.

Full force
To pave the way to the 600 GW target by
2030, the EU has turned to palpable mea-

“
sures, such as making rooftop solar pan-
els mandatory. “By then, solar energy will
also be the largest electricity source in the
A solar-powered Europe can only
EU, with more than half coming from roof-
tops,” EU Energy Commissioner Kadri be based on smoother administrative
processes, speedier grid connections, and
Simson said at a news conference in May.
It is estimated that EU rooftops could

”
provide almost 25% of the bloc’s electric-
ity consumption. To unlock this poten-
tial, permitting for all rooftop PV instal-
resilient supply chains
lations will be limited to a maximum of
three months, according to the EU Solar
Strategy. On top of that, installation of
rooftop PV will be made compulsory for
all new public and commercial buildings
by 2026, all existing public and commer-
cial buildings by 2027, and all new resi-
dential buildings by 2029.
Widescale permitting reform was also “Faster permitting in areas that can
launched with a view to establishing faster yield the best results without harming
and simpler procedures. Whereas permit- the environment will allow us to deploy
ting can take even years in some regions renewable energy in our grids faster,”
today, new EU legislation is in the mak- Jozef Síkela, Czech minister of industry
ing to shorten the approval period from and trade, said in December. “It will also
12 months to nine for projects located in contribute considerably to our climate
renewable acceleration areas. goals.”

www.pv-magazine.com | Huawei Special 2023

13
market & trends

MENA means business

The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region boasts some of the world’s “ample space for solar,” means renewable
highest levels of solar irradiance, making it ripe with PV potential on every energy development has strong support.
scale. According to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), “The MENA region’s renewables mar-
the MENA region’s transition to renewables is well under way. “Ambitions ket maturity is closer than many people
differ among countries, as do market size and readiness,” notes IRENA. “But think,” says Ignaciuk. “Algeria and Tuni-
the overall picture is one of dynamism.” sia are beginning to make moves and oth-
ers will follow. With the shortages... and
potential further shortages – in gas, I

T he Middle East Solar Industry Asso-

ciation (MESIA), which covers the
entire MENA region, published its “Solar
think that renewables are a great oppor-
tunity for the region.”
But Morocco is not the only MENA
Outlook Report 2023” in January. MESIA nation looking to export its solar
Secretary-General Denisa Fainis says the resources. Ahmed Zahran, CEO and co-
region has set ambitious goals, but the founder of Egypt’s KarmSolar, says Egypt
pace of transition needs to accelerate if is on its way to becoming an energy hub
said goals are to be achieved. and solar is set to play a key role. “Our
“The solar industry continues to be power grid is already connected to Libya
financially viable,” notes Fainis in the and Saudi Arabia, and there’s a big con-
report. However, she says more support nection in development with Cyprus and
is needed for distributed solar in the resi- Greece. We see ourselves as a main player
dential and commercial sectors. “Financ- in those connected grids, going forward,”
ing will need to be made available through says Zahran.
subsidies, grants, and private financing.” And there is more interconnection
where that came from. Jordan, which cur-
Interconnection issues rently has 1.5 GW of commercial PV proj-
According to Apricum MENA Director ects under power purchase agreements
Plentiful land, much of it desert with very high solar Krzysztof Ignaciuk, the MENA region’s (PPAs) and 1.03 GW of small-scale instal-
irradiation and few other potential uses, means that
solar is often an extremely cost-effective solution for proximity to Europe, combined with its lations under net-metering and wheel-
the MENA region.

Huawei Special 2023 | www.pv-magazine.com

14
 market & trends

Photos: KarmSolar
ing schemes, will start operating a min-
imum 150 MW transmission connection
this year.

Greening the region

Egypt has a bumpy history when it comes
to solar technology, after a small boom
in low-quality solar water heaters in the
mid-1990s left a sour taste. “People had
the idea that solar was unreliable,” says
Zahran, noting that public opinion has
now returned to the positive. “Solar is
helping agriculture expand in Egypt. We
have a lot of available land but it’s desert,
which makes it cheap to install solar on
your farm, and a lot of people are taking
up the opportunity.”
The combination of solar with agri-
cultural pursuits (agrivoltaics) is a grow-
ing trend in the MENA region. After all,
due to the scarcity of water in desert areas
far from grid infrastructure, water must
be pumped from deep wells or over long
distances. Often this water requires desali-
nation. Solar solutions for water pumping
and irrigation are growing increasingly
popular, thanks in part to government-
funded initiatives encouraging the adop-
tion of new technologies to improve
food security – agrivoltaics is one such
beneficiary.

Cooling industry
One of the MENA region’s most demand-
ing energy consumers is the cooling
industry. And, as temperatures rise, this

“is already
demand is only going to increase. Accord-
ing to the International Energy Agency
(IEA), extrapolating from today’s policies, Emirates all have plans in place to build
Egypt’s power grid
connected
the average global temperature is likely to green hydrogen production plants.
rise by approximately 2 C by 2050. “But
this would probably result in a median MENA leadership
temperature rise of 2.7 C in North Africa,”
the organization has stated.
Not only is the transition to renewables
accelerating in the MENA region, but
to Libya and Saudi
Not only does such increased demand
for cooling mean increased demand for
nations including Egypt and the United
Arab Emirates are taking a leadership role.
Arabia, and there’s
a big connection in
energy generators but said generation The COP27 UN climate change summit
needs to be as efficient and well-managed took place in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, in
as possible. November 2022. COP28 will take place in
Dubai, in the UAE, starting on Nov. 30. development with

”
Green hydrogen Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, UAE minister of
Green hydrogen sourced from solar
energy could transform the MENA region
industry and advanced technology and the
country’s special envoy for climate change
Cyprus and Greece
into the energy hub of the 21st century. (who is also head of Masdar), has been
According to Rystad Energy analyst Aash- appointed COP28 president-designate. Ahmed Zahran,
ish Mallik, approximately 155 GW of elec- “COP27, in Egypt, was a great event CEO and co-founder, KarmSolar
trolyzer capacity will be installed globally and certainly a move in the right direc-
by the end of the decade, 19% of which will tion but I think COP28 is really going to
be in the MENA region. Egypt, Morocco, be a groundbreaking event,” says Apri-
Oman, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab cum’s Ignaciuk.

www.pv-magazine.com | Huawei Special 2023

15
applications & installations

Job creation: the sunny   

The 1.2 GW Janaúba solar project has created around 11,000 jobs in the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais. The 20 solar
parks will generate enough power to supply the needs of 1.8 million Brazilian households.

I n Brazil, Elera Renováveis, a subsidiary

of Brookfield Renewables, has selected
Huawei to supply inverters for the two
largest operational solar generation assets
in Latin America.
The Janaúba project consists of 20
phases of the 1.2 GW Janaúba solar proj- plants, each with 50 MW of generating
ect in the city of the same name in the Bra- capacity. Grid connection was carried
Manufacturers supplied 2.2 million bifacial PV
modules, with rated capacities of 535 W, 540 W, and zilian state of Minas Gerais. It is one of the out gradually as each plant was completed.
545 W, for the first and second phases.

Huawei Special 2023 | www.pv-magazine.com

16
 applications & installations

   side of solar in Brazil

The 20 solar parks – which are spread SUN2000-185KTL-H1 for the first phase,

Photos: Elera Renováveis

over an area of 3,069 hectares – will gen- with 4,116 units, and 1,512 SUN2000-
erate enough electricity to power 1.8 mil- 215KTL units for the second phase. In
lion Brazilian households and will elim- this regard, Alberto Lopes, vice presi-
inate more than 4.3 million tons of CO2 dent of engineering and construction
emissions. It is important to note that all at Elera Renováveis, explains that “the
of the plants have power purchase agree- Huawei string inverter was chosen by
ments (PPAs). considering the benefit of distributed
The inverters chosen for the proj- architecture, compared to other market
ect were Huawei’s smart string inverter options.”
“The main advantage is that should an
inverter fail, the power loss is not so big,
and Huawei inverters have extremely high
availability,” adds Lopes.
In addition to this, he points out other
particularities of the inverters.
“In the Huawei smart string solution,
the technology of the equipment, and its
information management facilities are a
huge benefit for the quality and reliability
of the energy’s commercialization.”
The project is located in the city of

“of The
Janaúba, 553 km from the city of Belo
Horizonte, the capital of Minas Gerais,
and 879 km from Salvador, the port and
technology
the equipment
capital of Bahia state. Lopes says there
were no major logistical problems. “The
main difficulty was the lack of specialized
local labor for electrical and mechanical
activities,” he says. “Elera faced this issue
and its information
by promoting training for the local labor
force in partnership with EPC [engineer-
management facilities
are a huge benefit
ing, procurement, and construction ser-
vices] providers.”
Referring to the workforce employed,
Lopes puts the figure at 3,689 employ- for the quality and

”
ees during the construction of the first
phase, while the second phase required
2,245 people. “Seventy percent of the
reliability
workforce was local, from Janaúba and
the nearby community of Quem Quem,” Alberto Lopes,
he adds. All in all, if indirect jobs are also vice president of engineering and
added, this means the creation of around construction for Elera Renováveis
11,000 jobs.
Finally, it should be added that the
company has invested $10 million into
the neighboring community for envi-
ronmental and social projects, vocational
training, and the rehabilitation of public
spaces, among other actions.

www.pv-magazine.com | Huawei Special 2023

17
applications & installations

Tackling load shedding in South

Africa, one home at a time
Load shedding has been an ongoing challenge for South Africans since 2007. The country currently experiences
regular planned power outages, forcing citizens to seek alternate sources of energy. While many solar solution
providers in the region focus on commercial & industrial (C&I) installations, Huawei partner Metrowatt
concentrates on the residential sector. CEO David Neale discusses his company’s partnership, the challenges and
opportunities for residential solar in South Africa, and how Metrowatt is helping to ease load shedding.

Could you please tell us about the current state of energy production and supply in
South Africa?
Load shedding to reduce the total load on the national energy grid has been a reality in
South Africa since 2007. Much of the capacity constraint is due to old and failing infra-
structure. Recently South Africa had less than 50% of its traditional coal power produc-
tion available, which equates to about 20 GW. South Africa’s peak electricity demand
exceeds 30 GW of electricity.
In addition to insufficient production capacity, infrastructure failures and distribution
challenges have become prevalent at the local municipal level, resulting in a significant
number of unplanned outages.
Initially load shedding occurred once every few weeks. Today it is much more seri-
ous, with power outages occurring as often as three to four times a day, for between
2.5 and 4.5 hours at a time. In the event of an area outage, the electricity can be off for
a few days at a time. These challenges have led customers, specifically homeowners,
to seek alternative backup solutions, that include solar, battery and inverters, to pro-
vide power security.

How does Metrowatt help to resolve load shedding in South Africa?

We see a need for residential customers to have access to backup solutions. However,
this can come with a significant capital cost investment. An entry-level solar and bat-
tery system for a family home can cost from ZAR 100,000 ($5,170) to ZAR 130,000.
Understandably, customers may be hesitant to make such a commitment due to con-
cerns about the system’s suitability, quality, and the potential for incorrect installation
The Metrowatt team is expanding, as the
company aims to install 2.5 MW of residential and configuration.
solar systems per month by the end of 2023. Recognizing these concerns, Metrowatt
has partnered with Huawei to deliver
rental solar solutions for our customers.
This removes the initial capital outlay risk
for customers, and smooths the path to an
integrated solar, inverter and battery sys-
tem for the homeowner, which includes
support and regular monthly payments.

What is the installation process?

Customers can purchase the system out-
right or rent it. For rental, we charge an
up-front installation fee of ZAR 10,000, as
standard for Huawei products with solar
panels. After that, the homeowner pays a
fixed monthly rental from as little as ZAR
1,650. Customers renting a system from
Metrowatt receive full technical support.

Huawei Special 2023 | www.pv-magazine.com

18
 applications & installations

Photos: Metrowatt

We also help manage and optimize the system so that clients get maximum savings
and output.
The FusionSolar system is an integrated system. Batteries, inverters, and panels with
optimizers can all communicate with each other. This enables us to manage and sup-
port the entire installation. We also advise clients about battery and inverter settings,
as well as panel usage so that they can get optimal performance from the system dur-
ing different seasons.

What challenges does Metrowatt face while installing systems?

“forWeresidential
The main challenge is that every house is unique in its design and its energy usage. This
is why FusionSolar products are great products for Metrowatt. The slimline, sleek, cos-
metic design, and built-in safety mechanisms make it possible to install a complete solar
see a need
system within the customer’s living space. When space is confined, you can put these
systems into places no other systems can go.

In which locations have you currently installed FusionSolar products?

Most Metrowatt customers are based in Johannesburg, Gauteng, with the second larg-
customers to have
est market being in Cape Town, Western Cape province. We see growing demand in
Cape Town and other coastal cities for the installation of solar and batteries in high-
access to backup
solutions
”
density buildings. We have noticed, especially in apartment buildings with multi-
dwelling units, that the Huawei iSitePower-M is a great solution for customers given
its compact size. The Power-M can easily power apartments and three- or four-bed-
room homes. David Neale,
CEO, Metrowatt
What is your current installation capacity?
We can install 100 homes per month. A typical home gets installed with about 4-5 kW
of solar panels. That’s about 500 kW per month that we are adding to the system. We
aim to add 500 homes (2.5 MW) a month by the end of 2023.

What is the cost of renting a solar solution for backup power?

A typical household in South Africa spends between ZAR 1,500 and ZAR 3,000 per
month, depending on the household size. We pay around ZAR 2.50 to ZAR 3 per kilo-
watt-hour for electricity.

Will you be looking into the commercial solar segment as well?

We want to focus on residential homes because there isn’t enough attention paid to
this market. There is a big gap in the load management side in homes and because of
the distribution challenges in South Africa, there will be a lot more opportunities in
the long term.

What is the future for Metrowatt and FusionSolar?

We have been working closely with Huawei in the research and development of
backup solutions. Going forward, we see a huge opportunity to assist customers
with load management. As South Africa’s new minister responsible for electricity,
Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, recently said, “South Africa’s challenge is not just power
production, it’s power distribution that is a big bottleneck.” There is a lot of oppor-
tunity to have greater coverage from our systems if we can balance loads better for
individual households. In the long run, we see further opportunities to create vir-
tual power plants and grids.

www.pv-magazine.com | Huawei Special 2023

19
applications & installations

An agrivoltaic framework   
In March 2023, France passed a law to accelerate the production of renewable energy, with a framework for the
dual use of land for agriculture and solar energy. Bertrand Drouot L’Hermine, deputy general manager of business
development for project developer TSE, discusses the important role that agrivoltaics will play in weaning the
country off fossil fuels and providing benefits to France’s farmers.

What is the potential for the development of agrivoltaic projects in France?

We are at the end of a first cycle of ground-mounted solar development in France. For
the past 15 years, the government has been favoring large-scale solar power plants on
degraded land. Now these sites are becoming increasingly rare with more and more
challenges, particularly with regard to environmental issues. To accelerate the devel-
opment of solar energy, several interests must coexist on the same project, whether
on ecological or agricultural matters. Agrivoltaics is an important element for the
development of photovoltaics in France. But it must be well conceived, meaning the
PV installation is beneficial for the activity with which it coexists, beyond simple
remuneration.

How can the combination with solar be beneficial for agricultural land and activities?
The combination of solar energy source with cultivated land or a livestock farm pro-
vides different benefits. First of all, it offers the crop a protection against climatic haz-
ards such as hail or extreme temperatures by creating a rotating shade. This allows the
With wide spacing between poles, TSE’s systems allow
access for almost all types of agricultural machinery – regulation of temperature and watering to better manage heat stress on the plants. It
a key concern for farmers considering agrivoltaics.

Huawei Special 2023 | www.pv-magazine.com

20
 applications & installations

Photos: TSE
   for France
also reduces evapotranspiration and, as a result, water consumption. For example, on
the first soybean harvest of our project in Amance, we reported a 75% reduction in
water stress under the system compared to the reference plot. Each developer has a
specific set of requirements. TSE has developed a range of products that meet specific
needs and field constraints to provide agri-PV solutions for crops, livestock sites, fal-
low land, and so on.

What are the technological features to be considered?

The main constraints are related to the orientation of the plots, their typology, their
topography, and of course, to the traditional requirements of solar power plants. What
makes TSE’s solutions specific is that they are designed based on the needs of the agri-
cultural activity. The challenge for us is to provide the farmer with a service that adapts

“toWedeveloping
to their farming practices, whether in terms of cultivation or mechanization. Our can-
opy allows the passage of almost all agricultural machinery thanks to an inter-pole space
of 27 meters in the direction of cultivation with a low point at five meters.
are committed
Who are your different partners and how do you work with them? more
We are developing large volumes of projects in line with the incredible challenge fac-
ing the country. We rely on partners who are both well established locally and capable
of industrializing large volumes, like Huawei for our inverters.
pilot projects with
How can agrivoltaics help to achieve the objectives of energy transition in France?
the best technical
partners
”
The energy crisis in which France has been immersed for the past two years is more
related to a capacity crisis than anything else. France needs to develop its electricity
production capacity exponentially over the next 10 to 15 years for three reasons: first,
we need to decarbonize our energy mix, which is still 61% fossil fuel. This will involve Bertrand Drouot L’Hermine,
the electrification of uses and the development of decarbonized energy sources such as deputy general manager
hydrogen; secondly, we need to replace the huge nuclear capacity that will be phased business development, TSE
out between 2030 and 2035 – in the hope that these plants will operate until then under
acceptable conditions in terms of cost and availability; and finally, because we want
to reindustrialize the country, solar energy – as the cheapest, quickest to deploy, and
most accepted source of energy – will be the best possible answer to complement our
historic nuclear fleet.

In France, the law on the acceleration of renewable energy production of March 10,
2023, provides a framework for photovoltaic installations on agricultural land. What
does this change for the industry?
Although imperfect, this law has a double value. It is the first law dedicated to renew-
able energies, showing the will to accelerate. It also provides a clear and binding frame-
work for what agrivoltaics is and should be: the coexistence of two activities, with solar
energy production providing a benefit to agriculture that is not only financial.

What are the milestones you aim to achieve in the coming years?
We are committed to developing more pilot projects with the best technical partners,
chambers of agriculture, cooperatives such as Dijon Céréales, INRAE (the National
Institute for Agricultural Research), the Purpan agronomy school, or the Institut de
l’Elevage, to demonstrate the services our solutions provide. On the other hand, we
are developing our solutions more widely throughout the country. TSE is the solar
energy producer with the strongest territorial granularity. We develop projects every-
where in France.

www.pv-magazine.com | Huawei Special 2023

21
applications & installations

Green road
in a sea of sand
In October 2021, the Kubuqi PV sand-control project – with a total invested in the Dalat PV Power Top-Run-
generation capacity of 2 GW in China’s Inner Mongolia region – officially ner Base No. 1 and No. 4 projects and built
announced the start of construction. The project is one of the first large- a 300 MW desert PV power plant in 133
scale, wind/solar power bases to be built. It is also the largest PV sand- days. The developer made full use of the
control project to be installed thus far in China. These wind and solar color difference between the surround-
power bases, planned in China’s different desert regions, will add up to 100 ing low vegetation and yellow sand, using
GW of generation capacity. more than 196,000 PV modules to form
a picture of a galloping horse in the des-
ert. The “Horse” power station became

T he Kubuqi Desert is the seventh larg-

est in China, located on the south-
ern bank of the Yellow River in the Loop
the largest desert PV plant in China at
the time and was also certified by Guin-
ness World Records as the world’s largest
Plain. The region suffers from severe soil photovoltaic panel-graphic power station.
erosion and is one of three major sources
of sand and wind, whose effects can reach Ground control
Beijing. For more than a hundred years, The Kubuqi project will adopt the proven
locals have continued to explore various five-in-one cyclic industrial development
ideas and methods to co-exist with the model, which was explained as “power
sand and wind. The emergence of PV as generation on the board, planting under
a combined measure of sand control has the board, breeding between the boards,
improved the lives of local people. sand control and soil conversion by the
boards, and revitalization of the coun-
tryside with PV,” to balance resource uti-
lization and ecological restoration and
improvement of the desert, and to even-

“measure
The emergence of PV as a combined
tually form a comprehensive, cyclic devel-
opment pattern of “light, electricity, veg-
etables, grass, medicine, livestock, and
of sand control has improved poultry.”

”
Various factors have to be taken into

the lives of local people account in designing this kind of PV sand

control project. Higher laying density of
PV modules will effectively lower wind
speed and arrest the movement of sand
and dust. Meanwhile, the PV panels can
absorb sunshine, reduce land tempera-
Although the total investment amount ture, reduce evaporation, and increase the
has not been finalized, the Kubuqi project accumulation of soil moisture. This shade
is expected to cover a total area of nearly on the ground will improve the environ-
70 km², including 52 km² for the core area mental conditions for plant growth and
of PV power generation and 15 km² for promote the recovery and growth of des-
the adjacent desert sand restoration area. ert vegetation. In addition, the runoff
After the project is completed, desert veg- from washing the photovoltaic panels
etation coverage in this area is expected to during operation and maintenance can
soar from less than 3% to more than 60%. irrigate the surrounding grass and foster
This will not be the first PV sand-con- plant growth.
trol project built in the Kubuqi Desert. The developer will plant low shrubs
Back in 2018, a local provincial branch under the PV panels and between the rows
of China’s state-owned power enterprise – including dwarf date palm and astraga-

Huawei Special 2023 | www.pv-magazine.com

22
 applications & installations

Photo: Huawei

The “Horse” project was among the first to be

developed in China’s Kubuqi Desert region. Now,
plans are moving ahead for larger PV projects with
lus, as well as some herbal plants such as million tons of standard coal while reduc- measures to control sand and wind.
licorice and Cistanche deserticola – with a ing carbon dioxide emissions by around
spacing of 2 meters by 3 meters. The plant- 3.21 million tons per year, compared with
ing of vegetation can fix and reduce the coal-fired power plants of the same scale.
amount of sand and restore the ecological As the world’s leading PV inverter
benefits of vegetation. At the same time, manufacturer, Huawei has provided the
the combination of desert management Kubuqi PV sand control project with a
with forestry and agricultural economic complete set of intelligent PV solutions
industry can provide additional economic including intelligent string inverters,
income for local people. power line communication, Smart I-V
The Kubuqi Desert is in Inner Mongo- Curve Diagnostics, Smart PV Manage-
lia, which is a Tier 1 resource area for solar ment System, and other advanced tech-
radiation in China, with more than 3,000 nologies and products. Huawei invert-
hours of sunshine throughout the year, ers with a multiple MPPT (maximum
including up to 3,180 hours at the project power point tracking) design can pro-
site. The project is expected to total more vide higher power generation than con-
than 1,700 hours of power generation per ventional inverters. Huawei’s mature tech-
year, which is far more than the average nologies, such as fuse-free and wear-free
value of other areas. This is also another parts, enable the inverters to operate sta-
power generation advantage of the PV bly and reliably in the high temperature
sand control project. and sandy environment of the site and are
The project developer expects that after less prone to failure. Using Huawei’s intel-
the Kubuqi project is completed and put ligent I-V diagnosis technology, the plant’s
into operation, annual power generation “health” can be understood as quickly as
will reach 4.1 TWh, which can meet the a CT scan, allowing the plant’s operation
annual electricity demand of more than and maintenance to be more efficient and
1.6 million households and can save 1.26 easier.

www.pv-magazine.com | Huawei Special 2023

23
 applications & installations

Powering rural Nigeria

Nigeria’s Rural Electrification Agency (REA) was established to tackle electricity challenges in rural parts of the
country. As the organization that manages electric power in remote areas, the REA is committed to resolving
the problem of power access for its constituents. It focuses on new power generation, microgrids, and the
construction of distribution networks. Abba Aliyu, the head of project management for the REA’s Nigeria
Electrification Project (NEP), says that much has already been achieved, but challenges remain.

What’s the relationship between the NEP and the REA?

The REA is Nigeria’s federal government agency that was created to facilitate off-grid
development. Initially, the country’s power sector was integrated with a monopolistic
arrangement. The sector was recently unbundled, based on the promulgation of the
Electricity Power Sector Reform Act (EPSRA), and transmission, generation, and dis-
tribution were all separated. Private sector participation was encouraged by the act, and
it led to the creation of the REA with the mandate of facilitating the Rural Electrifica-
tion Fund and the development of off-grid electrification for rural and unserved areas.
As part of the implementation of the REA, the federal government, in collaboration
with the agency, secured $250 million in funding from the World Bank and $200 mil-
lion from the African Development Bank for the Nigerian Electrification Project (NEP).
The project was designed to incentivize private sector participation and facilitate the
development of sustainable electricity.

What’s the current state of rural electrification in Nigeria?

There’s a lot that needs to be done. Figures provided by the World Bank show that
over 85 million people in Nigeria are either not served or are underserved in electric-
ity, with most of them living in rural areas. A lot still needs to be done to provide elec-
tricity in rural areas.

What government policies are there to support the REA?

EPSRA provided the enabling ground for private sector participation. The federal gov-
ernment’s Vision 2030 has a framework where renewable energy is an integral part of
the country. The Rural Electrification Strategy and Implementation Plan (RESIP) pro-
vides details for how the REA operates within the country and provides an operational
framework.

“aThe Nigerian project has been

trailblazer. We have been the
pace-setter and other African
countries come to us to learn
how we implemented
our projects
”
Photo: REA Nigeria

Abba Aliyu,
Nigeria Electrification Project

Huawei Special 2023 | www.pv-magazine.com

24
 applications & installations

What’s the role of Huawei and other partners in achieving the REA’s goals?
We have different components designed to target specific areas of need. In all of these,
there is a need for a huge provision of inverters, batteries, solar systems, PV panels,
communication, and appliances that ensure mini-grids are working and communicat-
ing with a system that monitors their performance. The relationship with Huawei is the
provision of these key requirements to build the minigrids. We have seen lots of par-
ticipation and collaboration with Huawei. This is because of the company’s presence
in the country and because they have after-sales support systems that are attractive to
EPC (engineering, procurement, and construction services) companies.

How many households, institutions, or businesses will benefit from the project? The Nigeria Electrification
Project has built

83
To date we have built 83 minigrids covering over 26,000 connections. We have over
200,000 connections in the pipeline, and we have over 1.4 million connections impact-
ing over six million Nigerians for solar home systems. We are currently in the process
of energizing seven federal universities and two affiliated teaching hospitals. This will
benefit over 150,000 students, creating a conducive learning environment.

How will people pay for electricity? What system is in place?

Based on our learning from phase one, which is implemented, we had to develop a minigrids in rural regions
sustainability plan to make the project a hybrid whereby there is a connection with across the country
the distribution network. It’s a hybrid system to ensure sustainability during the
nighttime when there is no solar irradiation. The system is connected to the distri-
bution network at night and relies on grid provision during the day. There’s a provi-
sion for metering for payment for all connections. There is adequate monitoring of
all connections to ensure payment and utilization within the operational framework
designed for the minigrids.

What challenges do you face?

If you look at implementation in Africa, the Nigerian project has been a trailblazer.
We have been the pace-setter and other African countries come to us to learn how we
implemented our projects. Initially, it was challenging to have developers trust the sys-
tem and buy into the idea. Many modifications and engagements had to be made to get
the private sector in. At this moment, the private sector has seen the operating frame-
work and has trusted the system. The challenge now is expansion because there is a lot
of demand from the private sector to partner. Our challenge is having adequate funds
to meet the demand.

What role do you see for technology and innovation in improving access to power in
remote areas, and how is the REA leveraging these tools to achieve its goals?
We have seen the effectiveness of technology in implementing the NEP.
Without technology, some of the NEP’s key objectives wouldn’t have been
achieved. We use technology to verify the connections, monitor the perfor-
mance of the minigrids, and ensure we reduce commercial and technical
losses. Without technology, nothing can be achieved under the NEP. If you look at the
cost of PV panels 10 years ago compared to now, there is a massive reduction in price
due to technological improvements. Without these, we would never have achieved even
10% of our accomplishments. I see technology as continually playing a role in shaping
how we work, reducing costs, and making work easier.

Can you tell us about success stories?

We have deployed 83 functional minigrids, distributed countrywide, with over 1.4 mil-
lion solar home systems that are working. We’ve also stimulated private sector partic-
ipation and have improved the economy by creating direct and indirect job opportu-
nities.

www.pv-magazine.com | Huawei Special 2023

25
applications & installations

Ripe for entrepreneurial   

Thailand has seen strong, stable growth in its solar market in recent years, leading it to become one of Southeast
Asia’s most secure demand centers for renewable technology. Polytechnology Thailand, a diverse company with
an expansive and growing green energy division, has more than doubled its solar inverter sales every year since
2016. Today, the company holds the biggest share of Thailand’s solar inverter market.

P olytechnology Thailand President

Narratchai Leeraphant says solar’s
strong uptake in the country means the
our solution is the most advanced in the
market,” he adds.
Solar is so established in Thailand that
market is ready for next-generation tech- it is already tricky to install more rooftop
nologies such as batteries, electric vehicle systems in some areas, Leeraphant says,
chargers, solar optimizers, and “full stack” so technology to store and use the resul-
product bundles. tant abundance of green energy is increas-
Recent changes to Thai safety standards ingly required.
and regulations for solar system rapid Polytechnology has been partnering
shutdown will make optimizers a grow- with Huawei since 2014, starting as the
ing trend in the country, Leeraphant says. brand’s inverter distributer in Thailand
“So we can up our sell, from only invert- and today offering the latter’s range of bat-
Polytechnology Thailand began its partnership with
Huawei in 2014. Every year since 2016, the company ers to inverters plus optimizers, for which tery energy storage systems and data-cen-
has more than doubled its sales of solar inverters.

Photos: Polytechnology

Huawei Special 2023 | www.pv-magazine.com

26
 applications & installations

   spirit
ter products. “Polytechnology and Huawei to manage the energy sector’s sub tiers of
have dealt with price, customer expecta- dealers, Leeraphant says, while the school
tion, and what current battery technology has afforded both a platform to teach a
can offer,” Leeraphant adds, in reference generation of students about renewable
to battery systems. technology, and also an opportunity to
He says the next step is to educate the showcase products to parents who make
market about safety and the value of up a cohort of top managers and business
advanced battery technologies, in order owners.
to bring the energy storage market to For Leeraphant, the key to good busi-
maturity. ness is staying open to new technology,
While Asia’s rooftop market still tends even if it disrupts companies. While Poly-
to be dominated by commercial and technology has long been involved in the
industrial installations, Leeraphant says energy sector, its roots are in oil and gas.
demand among households is boom- Despite that, the company entered into
ing. The primary barrier for the residen- new green markets back in 2011 and, two
tial segment is the fact most people are years later, installed Thailand’s first public
not actually at home during the daytime EV charger, long before EVs and charg-
to use the solar power their panels would ing products were mainstream. “Polytech

“forThe
generate. Leeraphant believes Huawei’s had been studying the EV business since
LUNA2000 home battery, which Poly-
technology introduced into the Thai mar-
2011, long before other companies,” says
Leeraphant.
key factor
success is you
ket in 2022, will close this gap, enabling Since 2020, demand for EVs and related
households to shift their solar energy to charging equipment has surged, Leera-
consume later in the day. phant says, putting Polytechnology in a
There is also growing demand for inte-
grated renewable technology product
position to use its knowledge in the sec-
tor. Leeraphant sees especially big growth
must be open to new
bundles. This full stack strategy is becom-
ing increasingly popular among both solar
potential for public DC (direct current)
chargers, of which Leeraphant’s company
technology or new
alliances all
manufacturers and retailers worldwide has already installed around 450 nation-
and is particularly valuable in Southeast wide. In 2021, the company delivered 120

”
Asia, where electricity networks remain a MW of DC charging capacity and almost
challenge. These integrated product suites
are easier to install and more user friendly
quadrupled that volume last year, when it
reached 450 MW. The demand for home
the time
– especially important for a region where and office chargers is also spiking in Thai- Narratchai Leeraphant,
renewable technology has burst onto the land, Leeraphant says. president, Polytechnology Thailand
scene a bit later than in Europe, the US, With nations across the globe com-
and Australia. mitting to carbon neutrality, and Asia
Full stack bundles are valuable for expected to experience a big upswing in
engineering, procurement, and con- electricity demand, Leeraphant is con-
struction (EPC) firms, Leeraphant says. fident that demand for solar, EVs, and
“Installing rooftop solar, sometimes the battery products – today’s main suite of
price is very tough because there are lots decarbonization technologies – will con-
of players, so adding EV [electric vehicle] tinue to boom.
charging adds more value, compared to “We see our growth will still sharply
other competitors,” he explains. increase in these next years if we come
Added value is often on Leeraphant’s with the right partners,” he says. “The key
mind – alongside heading up Polytech- factor for success is you must be open to
nology he owns a multinational restaurant new technology or new alliances all the
franchise business and the Thai Interna- time. Maybe it is not the right time yet
tional School. While, on the surface, these but when the time comes, you have to be
endeavors would appear to have little in ready and be the first who sets the mar-
common with the solar industry, Leera- ket direction, otherwise you can be only a
phant sees plenty of crossover. The restau- market follower.”
rant business has provided lessons in how

www.pv-magazine.com | Huawei Special 2023

27
project highlights gallery

This 1 GW project in Sichuan, China, is the world’s largest

and highest-altitude hydro-photovoltaic hybrid power
station. Average annual power generation is 2 billion kWh,
which can reduce carbon dioxide emissions by more than
1.6 million tons.

This floating PV project is scattered across seven sites in

Jiangxi province, China. All of them are in water areas, which
is very challenging for O&M. The innovation of a Smart
Co-Diagnosis System was adopted to achieve more accurate
fault location and loss quantification, while completing full-
coverage inspection and saving 80% of O&M time.

Mahidol University, one of the top public universities in

Thailand, installed a 15 MW PV power plant and 600 kWh
energy storage system in 2022. The university plays a leading
role in promoting low-carbon tech on its campus.

Huawei Special 2023 | www.pv-magazine.com

28
 project highlights gallery

Photos: Huawei

Southeast Asia‘s largest energy storage system covers 2

hectares of land on Jurong Island, Singapore. It can power
around 24,000, four-room Housing & Development Board
households for a period of one day with a single discharge.

This large detached home in Germany – powered entirely

by solar energy using FusionSolar residential solutions –
includes inverters and an energy storage system. The 11 kW of
PV and 10 kW ESS provide electricity for daily consumption, so
the house can achieve energy independence.

The world’s largest microgrid energy storage project and the

first gigawatt-level, grid-forming PV+ESS power plant – with
400 MW of PV and a 1.3 GWh ESS – can be found on the coast
of the Red Sea in Saudi Arabia. It will provide stable resilient,
100% renewable energy to 1 million people.

www.pv-magazine.com | Huawei Special 2023

29
technology

Paving the way to a clean   

Solutions such as Huawei’s FusionSolar Grid-forming technology will help to usher in more grid-connected
renewables, while also strengthening and stabilizing the grid for everyone.

A ccording to a recent report by Solar

Power Europe, utility-scale solar PV
installations globally reached 121 GW in
mission line’s limit. Normally, to address
those problems, synchronous condensers
are deployed to provide the reactive power
2022, up 41% from the previous year. In adjustment capability to maintain grid
Global Market Outlook for Solar Power stability. However, high cost and complex
2023-2027, the industry body notes that operation and maintenance (O&M) are
“the cost-competitiveness of combin- the two barriers.
ing solar power with storage, in compar-
ison to using gas turbines to meet peak Virtual inertia
demand, is unquestionable.” With global To cope with the preceding challenges,
temperatures now rising and extreme cli- Huawei launched its innovative Fusion-
mate events causing disruptions through- Solar Grid-forming solution. Based on
out the world, the widespread adoption of string architecture, the solution is devel-
solar has become vital. oped from Huawei’s Smart PV Inverter,
Smart String ESS, Smart ESS Control-
ler (PCS), Smart Power Plant Control-
ler (PPC), and algorithms. It is one of
the core technologies in the process of
building a new power system to maintain
power grid stability and increase the pro-
portion of new energy consumption to
80% and above. The solution mimics the

“ As the proportion of connected

characteristics of synchronous condens-
ers through the intelligent collaboration
between ESS, PCS, and inverter – real-
renewable energy increases, the power izing “Triple Restructuring” in voltage,

”
frequency, and power angle – to stabi-

grid faces many challenges lize the grid.

The grid-forming solution adopts the
DC/DC and DC/AC bipolar conversion
architecture. When the power grid voltage
increases, the overvoltage is conducted to
the DC bus side of the converter. However,
the voltage boost does not affect the bat-
tery voltage. Therefore, the active power
can be more stable during high-voltage
ride-through (HVRT).
As the proportion of connected renew- The FusionSolar Grid-forming solu-
able energy increases, the power grid faces tion can easily detect frequency changes
many challenges. Problems can include in the system caused by unbalanced
wideband oscillation, transient overvolt- power. When these effects are detected,
age, power quality deterioration, and the the solution can actively and quickly –
instability of power supply for islanded within 10 milliseconds – inject electro-
PV and energy storage systems. Faulty AC magnetic power into the power grid to
power lines, which transmit power flow imitate the changes in the kinetic energy
at a large scale and over a long distance, of the rotor and implement inertia sup-
can result in a sudden increase in imped- port for the system. The virtual inertia
ance that causes a reduction in the trans- and damping coefficient of the solution

Huawei Special 2023 | www.pv-magazine.com

30
 technology

   power future
can be set to adapt to different operation

Photo: Red Sea Global

scenarios and to improve the frequency
control of the system.
Under active disturbance, conventional
PV and ESS solutions – which use a non-
synchronous power supply – cannot pro-
vide inertia support and, therefore, also
cannot slow down changes in frequency.
The weak inertia support increases the
rotor angle difference between the “trans-
mit” and “receive” ends, and in serious
cases, this can make the power supply
unstable. By supplying virtual inertia to
the system, functioning as a synchronous
generator, the FusionSolar Grid-forming
solution eliminates this worry.

New era
In January 2023, Huawei cooperated with
China Electric Power Research Institute,
China Electric Power Research Institute
(Qinghai), and China Resources Power
for the first onsite MW-scale test of grid- Huawei’s grid-forming solution is also being used at the Red Sea Resort. The tourism mega-project is
forming, with a full range of testing scope now under construction in Saudi Arabia and is set to include a 400 MW PV plant and 1.3 GWh BESS. A
July update from developer Red Sea Global said that a total of 760,000 PV panels have been installed
following the test. The test, which took at the site and are already powering resort facilities.
place in Qinghai, China, covering over
180 test items, proved that the solution
can play a key role in strengthening the

Photo: Huawei
power grid and facilitating an increase in
the proportion of renewable energy tech-
nologies connected to the grid.
Starting in 2022, Huawei participated
in the construction of the world’s largest
microgrid project in the new city of Red
Sea in Saudi Arabia, with a 400 MW PV
plant and 1.3 GWh BESS. The FusionSolar
grid-forming solution has been adopted
with key features catering to the require-
ments of the harsh local environment,
such as gigawatt-level black start and mul-
tiple faults ride-though, among others.
As the popularity of renewable tech-
nologies continues to grow, and more
and more solar becomes integrated with
the power grid, solutions like the Fusion-
Solar Grid-forming technology will play
a crucial role in bringing stability to the
grid. Huawei’s continuous innovation will
usher in a new era, in which renewable
energy sources provide most of the world’s Huawei and its partners in China conducted a megawatt-scale grid-forming test covering
electricity demand and no one need won- 180 test items. They managed to prove that the technology can also strengthen larger grids
and facilitate higher renewable energy penetration.
der when the lights will go out next.

www.pv-magazine.com | Huawei Special 2023

31
technology

Optimizing BESS through

string architecture
The role of battery energy storage systems (BESS) in the energy transition efficiency of BESS to ensure that as lit-
cannot be overstated, but the industry is struggling to deliver on promises tle energy as possible is lost in the stor-
of low cost and guaranteed safety. Cutting-edge solutions are tackling age process.
these challenges head on. Unlike traditional BESS, Huawei’s Smart
String energy storage system solution is
tackling all these challenges through its

T he need for energy storage is growing

at an unprecedented pace, as renew-
ables become an increasingly dominant
unique design concept and string archi-
tecture. A decade ago, the Chinese PV
industry heavyweight took the lead in the
power source worldwide. With ambi- transition from central to string architec-
tious decarbonization targets in place, ture in inverter and project design. Today,
grid owners and operators are faced with string inverters have become the absolute
a challenging task of balancing the inter- mainstream with more than 70% market
mittent nature of wind and solar. In so share. Now, Huawei is once again pro-
doing, BESS have proved to be a key asset posing string architecture, this time in
in enabling a much-needed flexibility for the BESS domain, in a bid to make bat-
the clean energy supply. tery systems safer and more efficient. By
However, the BESS industry is not with- means of refined management of battery
out its own challenges. Decreasing cost is cells, packs and racks, and an accurate
an imperative for battery manufacturers, control of battery charge and discharge,
but fluctuating raw material and battery its Smart String ESS technology improves
component prices are making things dif- the lifetime throughput and safety of the
ficult. Furthermore, safety is a major con- BESS and simplifies O&M.
cern due to battery system issues, such as
manufacturing defects, external and inter- LCOS is king
nal short circuits, and battery monitoring While people tend to evaluate proj-
failure, which can eventually lead to haz- ects based on initial capital expenditure
ardous fires that are difficult to put out. (CapEx) or BESS price tag, the key figure
Other challenges include short service which needs to be considered when mak-
life and complex operations and main- ing technology choices is the cost of stor-
This 1.3 GWh BESS installation has been completed tenance (O&M). Finally, there is a need age over the lifetime of the project. The
at a site on Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea coast. Developer
Red Sea Global says the system is already delivering for a constant improvement of the energy levelized cost of storage (LCOS) is a com-
power. prehensive metric which takes into con-
sideration all cost influencers, such as ini-
tial costs, operational expenses, and the
total amount of energy that the system can
store and discharge during its operational
life. It is therefore the most reliable metric
that stakeholders can use to compare dif-
ferent storage technologies in a targeted
application and make an educated invest-
ment decision.
By virtue of its smart string architec-
ture, Huawei’s ESS solution can discharge
more usable energy, so its LCOS is more
than 15% lower compared to conventional
solutions. Specifically, the solution’s pack-
level and rack-level optimization in com-
bination with distributed cooling ensure
more energy from a single device, increas-

Huawei Special 2023 | www.pv-magazine.com

32
 technology

Photos: Huawei

FusionSolar Smart String ESS installed at the Red Sea project. In this harsh desert environment, the BESS will have to deal with high temperatures, as
well as humidity and salinity.

ing discharge capacity by 15%. Battery tive alarm and active safety mechanisms. guishing capability to prevent the acci-
pack optimizers help achieve full charge These include a smart internal short cir- dent from escalating.
and discharge of each pack individually to cuit diagnosis, fire risk point monitoring,
avoid series mismatch, while battery rack live insulation monitoring, multi-level Broad potential
controllers balance the capacity of battery shutdown and protection, rapid system In the ultimate proof of its robustness,
racks during charge and discharge, pre- disconnect, active gas release, and quick Huawei is deploying its Smart String ESS
venting current circulation between bat- fire suppression. technology in the world’s largest microgrid
tery racks. Since no technology to date has been project on the Red Sea coast of Saudi Ara-
Another major cost factor for BESS able to promise a 100% safe BESS, early bia. Billed as the world’s most ambitious
is O&M. For instance, regular state of detection of a failing battery cell is crit- regenerative tourism development, the
charge (SOC) calibration by professional ical, allowing for implementation of project will feature a 400 MW solar array
staff, which is usually carried out every six active countermeasures. Huawei’s smart and a 1.3 GWh BESS with the goal of hav-
months, is estimated to amount to more Battery Management System (BMS) can ing the mega development 100% powered
than €1.7 million for a 100 MW/200 MWh give an accurate diagnosis, detects poten- by renewable energy. The technology was
BESS project over a 10-year lifespan. With tial malfunctions, and triggers a proactive chosen by a consortium of developers –
Huawei’s Smart String ESS solution, the warning. led by ACWA Power – for its capability
calibration of SOC is automated, elimi- Within the Smart String ESS, faulty to withstand harsh environmental condi-
nating the need for expert site visits and packs and racks are disconnected and tions, including high temperatures, high
resulting in major cost savings. Finally, the isolated, whereas the entire system can humidity, and high salinity.
optimal investment profile is reflected in be disconnected in case thermal runaway Other features of the Smart String ESS
the smart rack controller’s ability to enable is identified. Thermal runaway, which include GW-level black start and multiple
phased battery augmentation and allow occurs when a cell reaches an elevated fault ride through capabilities ensuring a
for new and old batteries to be mixed, temperature due to thermal or mechan- stable power output. Therefore, Huawei’s
while eliminating the need for an AC- ical failure, internal/external short cir- ESS was also the technology of choice
side device. cuiting, and/or electrochemical abuse, for Singapore-based renewables devel-
can result in extremely high tempera- oper Sembcorp when building the largest
Safety first tures, violent cell venting, smoke, and BESS plant in Southeast Asia. The project,
While cost remains a key driver propel- fire. That is why the Smart String ESS located on Jurong Island, will complement
ling the battery evolution, safety is para- features multiple temperature, humid- Singapore’s efforts in maximizing solar
mount for BESS project owners and oper- ity, and smoke sensors, which enable an adoption and marks the achievement of
ators. To optimize safety features, Huawei active combustible gas release to avoid the country’s 2025 energy storage target
has combined a broad range of proac- explosion, as well as quick fire extin- ahead of time.

www.pv-magazine.com | Huawei Special 2023

33
technology

Giving a boost to
commercial systems
A look at Huawei’s PV and storage solutions for the commercial and industrial (C&I) segment shows that efficiency
benefits from intelligent features. Huawei’s C&I solar PV and storage solutions have resulted in a 30% higher
energy yield by using an optimizer with two strings per maximum power point tracker (MPPT), rather than the
standard string solutions, according to the company’s internal research.

H uawei’s suite of FusionSolar C&I

solutions include the SUN2000
inverter, which features multiple MPPT
tion and maintenance (O&M) cycle and
reduce the requirements for user-oper-
ation in emergency situations. Huawei’s
channels for versatile power adaptions. Smart PV Optimizer can provide loss-
This allows for intelligent management less rooftop PV performance for those
and seamless troubleshooting. The com- projects where shading factors inevitably
mercial and industrial inverter, like its come into play. Without management on
utility-scale counterpart, is configurable the power electronics side, losses caused
in anything from two to 10 MPPT con- by partial or uneven shading can quickly
figurations for different PV array deploy- add up, and even reach as high as 50%.
ments in 1,100 V or 1,500 V DC. Seamless communication between
Intelligent DC switching brings flexi- components is enabled by the Smartlog-
bility to inverter design, where it is possi- ger 3000B series device, capable of man-
ble to deal with the backflow problems in aging up to 150 string inverters and a total
prior inverter layouts by connecting more of 200 interconnected PV devices in one
than three strings. Huawei’s intelligent system at speeds of up to 1,000 megabytes
switch can solve backflow and protection per second.
problems. Additional remote decoupling
can be applied to distributed-generation Fault detection
systems to form a more reliable opera- The impact of potential induced degrada-
tion (PID) can be amplified by tempera-
ture and humidity factors in the environ-
ment, which contribute to degradation in
various ways caused by objects that are
electrically conductive, acidic, or ionic.
Huawei’s SmartPID module is installed
in its Smart Array Controller cabinet to
reduce the negative effects of degradation
and support 1,000 V DC to 1,500 V DC
systems. When the inverter is in standby
mode, at night, offset direct current volt-
age is applied between the PV inverter and
the ground, which effectively increases the
voltage of the PV string system overall, a
highlight of Huawei’s resilient PV and
storage solutions.
Huawei’s Smart I-V Curve Diagnosis
identifies string faults, evaluates power
loss, and recommends repair solutions
while completing full online inspection
of a 100 MW power plant in just 15 min-
utes. The diagnosis enhances operation
and maintenance functions while increas-
Huawei’s Smart I-V Curve Diagnosis can complete full online inspections of 100 MW solar projects in ing power generation. In Malaysia, about
just 15 minutes. 2,000 hours of workload are saved every

Huawei Special 2023 | www.pv-magazine.com

34
 technology

Photos: Huawei

Huawei’s optimizers allow for PV systems affected by shading to Huawei’s C&I inverters are configurable in anything from two to 10 MPPT
reduce their losses, which can go as high as 50% in some scenarios. setups for PV array deployments with voltages of 1,100 V to 1,500 V (DC).

year on a 30 MW project by using the ously, delivering a 30% increase in new Smart String ESS
curve technology. energy access. Huawei’s Smart String energy storage
system (ESS) addresses limited capac-
PV safety Intelligent boost ity, short service life, complex O&M,
Huawei has developed its innovative Huawei’s arc fault circuit interruptor and the inherent safety risks of conven-
Smart String-Level Disconnector Tech- (AFCI) solution supports a detection tional energy storage. The company’s ESS
nology (SSLD-TECH) which minimizes range of 200 m for inverters to detect sig- system uses a smart string structure that
the safety hazards of direct-current faults, nals in all scenarios. The detection range integrates digital, power electronics, and
enabling a total shutdown in milliseconds of the conventional AFCI solution is only energy storage technologies, overcom-
to prevent system failures or damage. Ger- 80 m. Equipped with DC arc detection ing traditional limitations associated
many’s TÜV SÜD, IEC 60947-2, and Chi- and emergency disconnection, Huawei’s with lithium-ion batteries. This system
na’s certifications ensure PV plant safety Smart PV Solution cuts off faults with utilizes pack- and rack-level optimiza-
compliance. high precision and provides fast response tion, distributed cooling, and modular
In early 2023, the SSLD-TECH system for enhanced safety. design, enabling full battery charging
received low-voltage circuit breaker cer- Huawei used the software algorithms and discharging potential and providing
tificate IEC 60947-2 from DEKRA and of weak grid operations in PV arrays and, an optimal levelized cost of energy for
Intertek. Huawei became the first vendor using big data to train the optimal grid solar projects.
to be certified for the smart string shut- connection control algorithms, ensures The ESS system offers comprehen-
down technology. The SSLD can accu- seamless and consistent solar inverter sive safety with four layers of protection
rately identify faults from the DC side of generation. Its Intelligent Boost solution covering cellular short circuit detection,
PV systems such as reverse polarity con- for impedance reshaping integrates mul- pack-level safety shutdown, overcurrent
nection, backflow current, and short cir- tiple algorithms for dynamic damping for protection, and fault isolation, as well
cuits, and it can implement automatic series compensation and active harmonic as smart fire suppression over the ESS
string-level shutdown in milliseconds, suppression. The Intelligent Boost system system.
which rapidly improves the safety capa- has made a notable difference in large,
bility of PV plants. multiple megawatt PV systems, remote Use case results
Developed by Huawei, the intelligent projects, and areas with weak grids. A 29.96 MW Nissan solar carport in
grid connection algorithm enables a PV The company’s Pinpoint Arc Fault Guangzhou, China, deployed with Hua-
system to be adapted to various grid sce- Positioning report leads to problem res- wei’s FusionSolar two-stringed max-
narios, improving voltage and power olution within a single solar cell among a imum power point tracking (MPPT)
control functionality. At a low short cir- large, 100 kW rooftop solar array, provid- solar PV and storage system, resulted in
cuit ratio of 1.2, its grid-forming function ing a smartphone-readable solution that, a 1.69% power yield increase over a six-
ensures the inverter runs at full power under manual detection, would require month case study, while adhering to strin-
without derating and successfully passes up to two days to locate in the same solar gent standards for grid-connected PV sys-
through high and low voltage continu- array. tems.

www.pv-magazine.com | Huawei Special 2023

35
technology

A shiny home with a smart   

The use cases for residential PV systems are as versatile as the homes they power. But the requirements for system
safety, quality, and functionality are very similar, whether for a large family home on the northern sections of the
Rhine River in Germany, or a building-integrated PV solution on a terracotta roof in sun-kissed Italy.

I n the town of Xanten, Germany, where

the Rhine River flows into the Nether-
lands, a big white family home features
home loads without the grid. Not all invert-
ers can achieve that, as they need to cre-
ate their own 50 Hz grid in the house and
a new PV system. The house belongs to keep it stable. Svenja Woge and her fam-
Svenja Woge, CEO of PV wholesaling ily will not even notice that a power out-
business Varus Energy, and she is visibly age occurred.
pleased with her decision to install the 11
kW PV system on her family home’s roof. Smart scheduling
With the unique roof structure featuring Apart from safety and compatibility,
dormers and multiple pitches and the load Woge says she chose Huawei because the
profile of the three family members, she FusionSolar app that manages the various
chose a set of two Huawei inverters with units is straightforward to use. Owner
power capacities of 5 kW and 6 kW, as well configuration is necessary since, for
as a 10 kWh Luna storage battery, also pro- example, an electric car can be charged
vided by Huawei. from the PV system, the battery, or the
“We definitely needed the storage battery grid. Sometimes, an owner may want a
because we have a heat pump, and we want slower or partial charge using only PV to
to charge our electric vehicle with the PV save cost and use carbon-free electricity.
system,” says Woge. EVs and heat pumps In other instances, a fast and full charge

“
are becoming commonplace in Germany is necessary. The app also lets Woge get
Choosing the and Europe, resulting from an uptick in
residential PV adoption. Between January
an overview of her system’s energy yield,
storage level, and even carbon emission
correct battery is and May 2023, 55% of newly built homes in
Germany installed heat pumps. It is a sim-
savings.
Combining components from one sup-

essential for running ilar story with EVs: Last year, more than
800,000 new electric cars were registered
plier allows for a deep level of system inte-
gration, which benefits the array’s overall
on German roads, representing 59% year- efficiency. Huawei says machine learning
a safe and reliable on-year growth. algorithms can even predict energy con-

”
sumption patterns and include these pat-
installation Storage needed
Owning a PV system means energy inde-
terns in its smart scheduling, which can
help boost self-consumption rates up to
pendence and subsequently lower house- 95%. Including weather forecast data and
hold energy cost. The financial benefits learned consumption patterns, the eco-
of using an EV come into play when it is system can decide to delay EV charging
charged at home using the rooftop PV sys- to a more opportune moment, when PV
tem as the primary energy source. A stor- power is available, rather than commenc-
age battery allows charging to take place ing to charge as soon as the cable has been
in the evening hours, minimizing the need plugged into the car.
for grid power and further reducing the
cost of using an EV. Choosing the cor- Optimal yield
rect battery is essential for running a safe To generate the most energy from the
and reliable installation. The Luna battery rooftop system, all modules should ide-
Woge uses features energy optimizers for ally have the same tilt. Svenja Woge’s roof,
each battery module, which increases the however, features multiple pitches, dor-
available energy capacity of the battery. mers, and chimneys, creating a challeng-
“For me, it was important that if the ing environment. If only one PV module
power goes out, we want to make sure our in a string is partially shaded, its power
computer and phones keep running,” says loss drags down output for the entire
Woge. Huawei’s inverters can also supply string. All other modules in that string

Huawei Special 2023 | www.pv-magazine.com

36
 technology

    approach to sustainability

Photos: Huawei

With built-in optimizers, a battery achieves cell-level protection from electrical failures, such
as overcharging, overcurrent, or overvoltage.

will reduce their power level to match that relevant DC arc detection and shut-
of the weakest module in the string. down standards, such as UL1699B-2011,
This effect can be overcome with the UL1699B-2018, IEC 63027, and CGC/GF
help of power optimizers. These devices 175:2020.
are fitted behind each module, where they Arc Fault Circuit Interrupter (AFCI)
individually modulate the DC power for devices are critical to keep homes safe,
each module. It is a module-level optimi- as electric arcs pose a severe fire risk. In With optimizers connected to each PV module,
zation. Huawei says deploying its opti- the past, arc fault detection devices strug- installations covering multiple rooftop pitches and
orientations are easy to manage.
mizers will likely increase energy yield gled to identify arcs. Huawei has leveraged
by 5% to 30%. its technology capabilities to achieve a
detection scope, precision, and shutdown
High safety and chic design response time that matches the norm of
Battery safety is also a concern among a CGC/GF L4 level arc protection. An
homeowners, so choosing the correct industry first, says FusionSolar.
battery should include consideration of Should something still go wrong,
the device’s protection level. With built- FusionSolar’s inverters in combination
in optimizers, a battery achieves cell-level with the optimizers provide module-level
protection from electrical failures, such as rapid shutdown. In the event of a detected
overcharging, overcurrent, or overvoltage. fault the array de-energizes in no time to
A battery should also come with a high safety voltage, ensuring the safety of any
level of ingress protection to prevent dust firefighting personnel handling water
particles or humidity from reaching the around the array.
interior, which can cause short circuits or Lastly, Svenja Woge had one more con-
even corrosion of critical parts. Huawei’s sideration. Like a piece of furniture, the
Luna battery features IP 66 protection, smart power system is visible inside the
meaning that the casing is dust tight and house. “I think the design of the inverter
will withstand powerful waterjets. is ideal because it is not very conspicu-
International standards for PV plant ous; it looks chic and isn’t bulky,” says
safety are considered an essential require- Woge. “You could set it up in your hall-
ment for PV manufacturers and equip- way or living room; I really think they
ment suppliers. Currently, there are look great.”

www.pv-magazine.com | Huawei Special 2023

37
technology

Safety evolution for   

As utility-scale solar installations
proliferate and PV plants grapple
with ever increasing capacity,
W ith global energy costs continuing
to rise, and the negative effects of
climate change becoming ever more visi-
As the currents and voltages in PV sys-
tems increase, and the technology finds
more complex and diverse application
inverter technology is evolving ble, it should come as no surprise that util- scenarios, industry-wide attention is shift-
to incorporate intelligent fault ities have steadily been turning to renew- ing to safety. When it comes to PV plant
detection capabilities, with Huawei able energy solutions. According to the safety, multiple issues spring to mind,
leading the way. latest report by the International Renew- including electrical safety, grid-connec-
able Energy Agency (IRENA), the total tion safety, power supply safety, cyber-
global capacity of installed PV passed security, and ecological safety. Electrical
1 TW at the end of 2022. Additionally, the safety is also a key concern, and often a
International Energy Agency noted in its top priority, as it is closely related to per-
September 2022 solar report that utility- sonal safety for staff and technicians, and
scale plants were responsible for 52% of potential damage to plant infrastructure.
global PV capacity additions in 2021. There are many types of electrical faults

Huawei inverters perform multi-level

protection based on the accurate perception
of system current, voltage, resistance, and
temperature.

Photo: Huawei

Huawei Special 2023 | www.pv-magazine.com

38
 technology

   utility-scale PV
that can occur in a PV plant, including it can trigger shutdowns in milliseconds to
issues with grounding, insulation, DC protect system safety.
reverse connection, terminal contacts, short As the current of PV modules and the
circuits, and arcing. To prevent serious acci- power of single inverters continue to
dents and lengthy power interruptions, it increase, harmful arc faults are becom-
is important for inverters to be able to not ing common. The FusionSolar inverter’s
only detect faults, but also to communicate integrated algorithm package aids in arc
exact locations to enable speedy repairs. detection on the DC side, featuring noise
Traditionally, inverters detect current adaptability that can distinguish between
and voltage at the string level. However, arcs no matter the environmental noise.
traditional inverters cannot determine the Additionally, the smart arc fault circuit
specific point when ground insulation fail- interrupter (AFCI) feature can support a
ures happen – this needs to be performed maximum maximum input cable length
manually. Troubleshooting becomes more of 200 meters and rapid shutdown within
difficult and time-consuming with utility- 0.5 seconds. In 2020, the solution obtained
scale systems as the power of PV invert- the highest L4 certification issued by the

“
ers and the number of PV strings increase. China General Certification Center. The

Built-in safety
feature was widely adopted in Huawei’s
solution for distributed PV scenarios, and
The SSLD-TECH
With its innovative inverter design con-
cept, Huawei integrates digital technolo-
it will also be introduced into the utility-
scale PV scenario in the future. can accurately
gies to diagnose the status via the chang- In traditional inverters, loose or dam-
ing trend of a PV system’s current, voltage,
resistance, temperature, and other char-
aged connections can occur because the
DC connectors are fixed on external
detect and identify
acteristics. Huawei’s FusionSolar Smart
String PV inverters outperform tradi-
mechanical parts and are routed through
cable harnesses and DC switches until
different faults
tional inverters when it comes to safety
features, particularly due to their com-
they reach the printed circuit boards
(PCBs). Huawei’s innovative on-board and can trigger
prehensive safety protection design. connector design, where connectors are
Ground insulation failure is a common
fault in PV plants, especially in damp areas
directly soldered on PCBs, reduces the
risk of poor DC connector connection,
shutdowns in
such as sea surfaces and drainage basins.
Huawei’s MPPT-level DC insulation diag-
which can cause damagingly high temper-
atures. Huawei’s Smart Connector Level
milliseconds to
nosis technology greatly improves loca-
tion accuracy for insulation faults, as it
Detection technology (SCLD-TECH) can
accurately detect temperature increases protect system

”
enables inverters to scan the insulation of due to connection problems and trigger
each MPPT circuit. In addition, the tech-
nology significantly shortens the time to
an automatic shutdown to protect the
safety of the whole system.
safety
locate faults, using intelligent detection to
find voltage changes, even if faults occur Industry recognition
on a single point. Huawei’s leading technologies related to
Most faults in PV plants happen on the smart safety, such as SSLD, smart DC arc
DC side, which is why Huawei’s Smart detection, and Smart I-V Curve Diagno-
String-Level Disconnect technology sis, have been recognized and applied in
(SSLD-TECH) implements string-level the industry. For example, the new gen-
protection and active disconnection on eration of Huawei SUN2000-330K-H1/2
the DC side. The SSLD-TECH consists of inverters recently won the 2023 Intersolar
three parts: an inverter detection and logic Award, and it was the only inverter among
judgment system, a tripping control sys- the three winners. In utility-scale scenar-
tem, and a DC switch system. The SSLD- ios, Huawei recognizes that using digi-
TECH can accurately detect and identify tal technologies to achieve active safety is
different faults based on changes in char- an inherent requirement for the healthy
acteristics such as current and voltage, and development of the entire PV industry.

www.pv-magazine.com | Huawei Special 2023

39
final thought

Optimizing for the future

Guoguang Chen, president of the Smart PV and ESS Business at Huawei Digital Power

O ur new slogan – “Making the Most of sumption, it becomes necessary to also tap
Photo: Huawei

Every Ray” – captures the essence of into virtual power plants. That’s why we
what we aim to achieve with FusionSolar provide a one-stop solution that includes
products. The FusionSolar brand embod- building-integrated PV to utilize every
ies our core concept of converged innova- possible surface for generation.
tion and its pursuit of making the most of In the C&I sector, we recognize that each
every ray, in order to provide more value industry has its unique requirements and
for customers, partners, the industry, and we strive to meet those demands through
society. continuous improvement and innovation,
The use of optimizers with the latest particularly in the use of optimizers. For
electronic functionalities is crucial in our the residential sector, we’ve upgraded our
approach. Rooftops vary in shape, angles, technology and increased battery capac-
and shading. ity so that homeowners can achieve near
Our optimizers, with integrated safety 100% self-consumption of green power,
features including rapid shutdown, even during power outages or when the
enable the full use of rooftops and ensure grid is unavailable.
high yield for commercial and indus- We’ve observed PV’s significant impact
trial (C&I) applications. Furthermore, on expanding off-grid applications, which
our inverters offer arc fault protection, is why our FusionSolar technology is
allowing for higher voltage and current applicable to both on-grid and off-grid
handling. scenarios. We want to bring the power of
Battery technology advancements offer the sun to any location, regardless of grid
flexibility in charging, discharging, and connectivity.
power conversion systems. This ensures We are even expanding beyond rooftop
a range of backup time spans, even in applications to wall installations and gar-
extreme cases, such as the 10-hour out- dens, utilizing any sunlit space as a poten-
ages that occur in South Africa. tial resource.
For the utility sector, our focus is on To really achieve the vision of making
grid-forming technology, which can the most of every ray, it is vital to look
play a crucial role in achieving a renew- holistically at the entire range of available
able energy mix of 60% or even higher. In spaces on which the sun shines, taking
looking at industries that consume high advantage of every usable square meter
amounts of energy, deploying PV on roof- of every surface and creating the technol-
tops alone might not suffice. Therefore, to ogy that will help us optimize our way to
achieve 100% green power and safe con- a 100% clean energy future.

Huawei Special 2023 | www.pv-magazine.com

40