Sungrow Launches DC-Coupled Solution for European PV-ESS Systems
Energy technology firm Sungrow has introduced a DC-coupled solution aimed at improving the efficiency of large-scale solar and energy storage systems in Europe. The company notes that combining photovoltaics (PV) with energy storage systems (ESS) is becoming standard for utility-scale projects on the continent. The new product launch comes as BloombergNEF forecasts significant growth in Europe's cumulative PV and storage capacity.
- DC-coupled systems, like the one Sungrow launched, connect solar panels and batteries on the direct current side of a shared inverter, which minimizes energy loss from DC to AC conversions and can improve overall energy conversion efficiency by 3-5%. For a typical 100 MW PV and 200 MWh storage project, this architecture can reduce initial capital expenses by up to €1 million by eliminating the need for a separate Power Conversion System (PCS) and reducing AC cabling requirements. - Sungrow has significantly increased its market share in the European battery energy storage system (BESS) integrator market, jumping from 10% in 2023 to 21% in 2024, making it the market leader. This growth comes as Chinese BESS integrators saw their overall European market share surge by 67% year-over-year. To support this expansion, Sungrow is building a new manufacturing facility in Wałbrzych, Poland, with an annual capacity of 20 GW for inverters and 12.5 GWh for energy storage systems. - The European utility-scale energy storage pipeline has surpassed 130 GW across more than 3,000 projects, signaling a sevenfold expansion of capacity expected over the next decade from the 19 GW operational today. This growth is driven by the need for grid stability as renewables increasingly contribute to the energy mix, with BloombergNEF forecasting annual global additions to reach 94 GW (247 GWh) in 2025. - Sungrow's new system incorporates "grid-forming" technology, which allows the system to operate stably even in weak grid conditions and switch between grid-following and grid-forming modes. This capability is crucial for enhancing grid stability and reliability as the share of intermittent renewable energy sources grows across Europe. - Turkey is targeting significant growth in renewable capacity, aiming for 77 GW of solar and 29.6 GW of wind by 2035, making energy storage critical for grid stability. A subsidiary of Kontrolmatik Technologies is developing what is slated to be Europe's largest energy storage facility in Tekirdağ, with a 1 GWh capacity, financed with $300 million from China. - In the Turkish startup ecosystem, there are 87 energy storage technology companies, with 14 being venture-funded. Notable seed-stage startups include Next-Ion Energy, which received a $295K grant, and Ion membranes, which raised a $750K seed round from investors including YEO Technology and Fark Labs. - Turkey's geopolitical position as a transit hub between energy-rich regions and Europe is a core component of its energy strategy, exemplified by pipelines like the Trans-Anatolian Gas Pipeline (TANAP). However, with roughly 74% of its energy imported, a primary national security goal is to reduce dependency on foreign suppliers like Russia, Iran, and Azerbaijan through diversification and increased domestic renewable generation.
