Latest news with #RobertLiew
Time of India
02-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
$1.2 trillion needed for grid-forming battery storage to support global renewable push: Report
New Delhi: Global investment of $1.2 trillion will be required in battery energy storage systems (BESS) over the next decade to support the addition of 5,900 gigawatts (GW) of new wind and solar capacity worldwide, energy consultancy Wood Mackenzie said in its latest analysis. The report forecasts a 55 per cent increase in global power demand by 2034 , with more than 80 per cent of new capacity additions expected to come from variable renewable energy sources. 'Grid-forming battery energy storage systems represent a critical breakthrough for renewable energy integration ,' Robert Liew, Research Director at Wood Mackenzie, said. 'As global power demand is projected to surge 55 per cent by 2034, with variable renewable energy comprising over 80 per cent of new capacity additions, GFM BESS provides the technological bridge between renewable abundance and grid stability requirements .' Grid-forming battery systems differ from traditional grid-following systems by actively supporting voltage and frequency stability, which is essential as the share of intermittent renewable sources increases. According to the report, the power sector faces a 1,400 GW capacity gap for grid-forming battery storage installations between 2024 and 2034. This shortfall highlights the need for large-scale deployment of storage systems to ensure grid reliability. Several Asia-Pacific markets are already operating with wind and solar contributing between 46 per cent and 90 per cent of peak demand. The report notes that markets with high renewable penetration are likely to prefer grid-forming capabilities to address stability concerns. 'Grid-forming BESS provides multiple critical functions for stability including independent voltage source capabilities, high current transient support during disturbances, inertia response similar to conventional power plants, and black start functions,' it said. The report cited the 2025 Spanish blackout as an example of the risks associated with high renewable penetration without corresponding grid-forming infrastructure. Liew highlighted the Red Sea Project as a case study for grid-forming technology, stating, 'As the world's largest off-grid renewable energy project, it showcases how a utility-scale power system can operate continuously on 100 per cent renewable energy for almost two years.' While grid-forming capabilities add about 15 per cent to system costs, primarily due to advanced inverters and software, battery prices have declined by 10–40 per cent across global markets over the past year. The report said this has improved the economic feasibility of such installations. Hybrid utility-scale solar and battery storage systems are already cost-competitive with onshore wind, and projections suggest that battery systems will undercut coal and gas power generation costs in several non-US markets by 2040. Regulatory momentum is also building for grid-forming battery technology. Countries such as China, the United States, and Australia have issued technical guidelines to facilitate the deployment of such systems. 'Increasing clean energy targets , policy developments, and proven pilot projects are accelerating the adoption of grid-forming technology,' Liew added. 'With global battery capacity expected to triple by 2035, grid-forming capabilities will likely become a baseline requirement for new storage deployments.' India, China, Japan, and Vietnam are currently managing renewable energy penetration of 46 per cent to 92 per cent of peak demand, making them key regions for early adoption of grid-forming storage systems. The report noted that managing renewable curtailment and improving grid resilience will be central to energy transition efforts in these markets.
Korea Herald
23-06-2025
- Business
- Korea Herald
Huawei Digital Power Hosts the Grid Forming & ESS Safety Forum for Innovative Business Strategies and Safety Ecosystem
SHANGHAI, June 23, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- On June 12, 2025, Huawei Digital Power held the Grid Forming & Energy Storage System (ESS) Safety Forum in Shanghai, inviting customers, partners, insurance companies, and certification organizations from the PV and ESS industry to discuss and share insights on the development trends and applications of grid-forming technology, business practices, and ESS safety ecosystem construction. At the forum, Huawei Digital Power, along with customers, partners, insurance companies, and certification organizations, launched the ESS Safety Initiative to elevate ESS safety to new heights. Steven Zhou, President of the Smart PV & ESS Product Line at Huawei Digital Power, delivered the opening speech. He stated that with the advancement of the global energy transition, the ESS is playing a crucial role in supporting the large-scale integration of renewable energy into the grid and ensuring stable grid operations, presenting both unprecedented opportunities and challenges. A grid-forming ESS, with its excellent grid-supporting capability, has become a cutting-edge and popular technology. Moreover, ESS safety is the top priority for the sustainable development of the industry. Huawei Digital Power has just launched the brand-new FusionSolar 9.0 Smart PV+ESS solution, promoting grid-forming technology from ESS to PV+ESS and across all scenarios, thereby achieving comprehensive applications. Adhering to high safety standards is key to maintaining grid stability. Huawei Digital Power proposes four safety standards: non-flammable, non-explosive, non-spreading, and non-harmful. The cell-to-grid safety design improves system reliability. Huawei will continue to innovate and collaborate with customers, partners, and industry organizations to promote the adoption of safety standards and drive business model innovation, ensuring that all parties in the industry chain can benefit from technological advancements and achieve a sustainable future. Grid-Forming Business Strategies: Promoting Active Safety and Accelerating the Construction of New Power Systems Robert Liew, APAC Research Director at Wood Mackenzie, and Patrick Zank, Business Development Manager at VDE, shared insights about how grid-forming technology can support renewable energy investments and ideas about how unified standards and market trust are essential to promoting its large-scale applications. Vannsith Ith, Director of the Power Management Division at SchneiTec, and Billy Qiu, Technical Manager of Smart Energy at TÜV SÜD, shared details about the first utility-scale ESS project in Cambodia. TÜV SÜD conducted an empirical test on the grid-forming capability of Huawei's grid-forming PV+ESS system in Cambodia, in accordance with PPP 58232. The test results provide a solid foundation for building a stable and reliable smart grid, demonstrating the development of grid-forming projects in Southeast Asia. Chen Danqing, CTO of the Grid-Forming ESS Business at Huawei Digital Power, stated that there are four major technical challenges to the large-scale commercial use of grid-forming technology, including multi-device parallel operation stability, wideband oscillation damping, strong overload support, and device safety and reliability. With extensive experience in the PV and ESS fields, particularly in grid-friendly and grid-forming technologies, Huawei Digital Power proposes the Smart String Grid-Forming ESS technology system. The technology system encompasses grid-forming capabilities across the entire power generation, transmission, distribution, and consumption process, redefining the core standards of grid-forming capabilities. Specifically, grid-forming ESS should possess grid-forming capabilities for all performance levels, under all grid conditions, and throughout the full lifecycle. It can provide deterministic and stable support for power systems, meeting the requirements of various business models in the future. Huawei's Smart String Grid-Forming ESS has undergone rigorous empirical tests in projects in Qinghai and Xizang, and has been successfully applied in GW-level projects. Chen Weipeng, Regional Business President (Non-Life Insurance) of Munich Re Group, shared his insights on the theme of safeguarding ESS projects. Chen Xiong, General Manager of Electric Power and Electronic Products Service, TÜV Rheinland China pointed out that true system safety should encompass the entire lifecycle of the ESS. Steve Zheng, President of Grid-Forming ESS Business, Huawei Digital Power, pointed out that ESSs have three typical characteristics: high density, high voltage, and high current. During the lifecycle, the electrochemical inconsistency, grid uncertainty, and insufficient digital management capabilities of ESSs may cause great safety risks. To address these issues, Huawei Digital Power launches an innovative safety system that integrates the "Panshi" battery pack, two-stage string architecture, and smart health diagnosis to ensure the ESS's safety throughout its lifecycle. Together with the international authoritative organization DNV, Huawei Digital Power successfully conducted an extreme ignition test on the Smart String Grid-Forming ESS, fully verifying its safety protection capability in extreme ignition scenarios. Additionally, during the forum, the nail penetration, water immersion, and thermal runaway tests were demonstrated at the Huawei Dongguan Grid-Forming ESS Comprehensive Lab. The test results effectively verified the safety performance of the system under the four safety standards of non-flammable, non-explosive, non-spreading, and non-harmful, as well as the three basic safety standards of grid-friendly, load-friendly, and environment-friendly. Huawei Digital Power will continue to provide PV+ESS solutions and work with the industry chain to achieve a sustainable and green future. Huawei Digital Power, along with customers, partners, and organizations, launched the ESS Safety Initiative. The initiative aims to improve the ESS-dedicated fire suppression specifications, promote the global promotion and continuous iteration of ESS safety levels, establish ESS safety capabilities that can be visualized and managed throughout the lifecycle, and establish an ESS project risk assessment system throughout the process, thereby safeguarding the future of energy, building a safety foundation, and advancing ESS safety to new heights together.
