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Technological advances and growing interest in batteries are beginning to reshape the strategies of major players in the energy sector. In this context, Huawei is preparing to launch a new photovoltaic inverter capable of operating at 1,000 volts in alternating current (AC), an innovation that could modify the design and efficiency of utility-scale solar PV plants.
Currently, most string-type photovoltaic inverters operate at 800 volts AC, so the jump to 1,000 volts represents a significant shift in the architecture of solar power plants, according to Andrés Hernando Ros, CTO of Huawei Digital Power, during the Future Energy Summit (FES) Iberia 2026.
“This product opens up a new range of features for us. For example, increasing the medium-voltage layout. Instead of working with 9-megawatt blocks, we will be able to move to 11-megawatt transformers. This also enables us to operate with higher DC buses, for example at 1,600 volts,” said Hernando Ros.
This change directly impacts tracker design and the energy density of solar plants. “On the same tracker we will be able to install two additional panels and move more modules with the same motor, which increases the overall efficiency of the system,” the executive explained.
The new equipment will evolve from Huawei’s current 330-kilowatt inverter to a model of approximately 506 kilowatts, designed to manage more powerful photovoltaic arrays and improve the energy output of solar installations.
“The key is to reduce the levelized cost of energy (LCOE), not necessarily only CAPEX but also operation, maintenance and higher energy production,” the Huawei executive stated.
The device will also incorporate grid-forming capabilities, a functionality that will allow solar inverters to actively contribute to power system stability.
“We are not only talking about grid forming in storage, but also in photovoltaics,” said the CTO, who also mentioned the possibility of performing black start functions, meaning the ability to restart parts of the electrical system after a blackout.
Meanwhile, the European energy market is watching the development of battery energy storage systems (BESS) with increasing interest. In Spain, the sector is analyzing the potential of batteries to provide grid flexibility, optimize renewable generation management and open new business opportunities for developers and utilities.
During the sector debate at Future Energy Summit Iberia, several industry players estimated that energy storage demand could reach several gigawatts of capacity in the coming years, driven by the need to balance the grid and manage the variability of renewable generation.
“It looks like a race to take pole position for when these mechanisms come into play, so that projects are ready to participate in those markets,” Hernando Ros explained.
He added: “It is no longer about making a fixed-term deposit with a photovoltaic plant and obtaining high returns; now we are investing with a certain level of risk, and what we need to do is minimize those risks.”
The hybridization of solar plants with battery storage appears to be one of the clearest opportunities for the Spanish market. Recent regulatory changes allow storage to be integrated into existing photovoltaic installations, which can improve system efficiency and increase project profitability.
“You can connect storage at low voltage in parallel with the existing photovoltaic plant and process it using the same transformer, which reduces investments and improves efficiency,” he added.
These types of configurations make it possible to optimize the operation of renewable power plants, store excess generation and prepare projects for future capacity markets or grid services. According to the executive, more and more developers are seeking to position themselves in this new phase of the energy sector.
Alongside the utility-scale segment, storage is also beginning to consolidate in the commercial and industrial (C&I) segment, where batteries are already finding multiple business models linked to self-consumption and energy demand management.
“In the commercial and industrial segment you have many different markets: maximizing self-consumption, managing time-of-use tariffs or even reducing peak demand to electrify fleets or industrial processes,” Hernando Ros explained.
“We have had projects in the commercial and industrial segment for two or three years, and one reference project reaches 28 megawatt-hours in a large industrial facility, which shows that storage can also achieve scale in this market,” he added.
In this context, the executive believes that both utility-scale hybrid plants and applications in the industrial sector are beginning to open a wide range of opportunities for energy storage in Spain, as the market seeks to position itself ahead of future regulatory mechanisms and new grid services.
“We are seeing significant interest from clients in understanding these solutions, where the hybrid plant is managed as a single system,” concluded Hernando Ros.
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