Huawei Unveils Top 10 Trends in Smart Photovoltaics for 2026

Huawei released the top ten trends in smart photovoltaic technology for 2026 on January 13, 2026. The event was themed “Building a Comprehensive Network, Unleashing AI Potential, Creating High Quality, and Accelerating the Integration of Wind, Solar, and Storage as Main Power Sources.” Huawei Digital Energy aimed to provide forward-looking insights and practical pathways for the rapid evolution of wind-solar-storage systems into the main sources of a new power system, promoting high-quality development in the industry.

During the event, Zhong Mingming, Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer of Huawei Digital Energy’s smart photovoltaic business, outlined the top ten trends in smart photovoltaic technology and presented a white paper. Over the past decade, the wind-solar-storage industry has experienced significant growth; however, with the increase in renewable energy penetration, various stability and balance issues have emerged on the generation, grid, and consumption sides of power systems.

Currently, the renewable energy industry is at a historical juncture, entering a “value cultivation period,” shifting from single-point innovations to integrated innovations. Based on insights into the future of the wind-solar-storage industry, Huawei has identified four scenario-based application trends and six technology application trends.

1. Collaboration of Wind, Solar, and Storage: Renewable energy must become a predictable and controllable stable power source. Future wind-solar-storage bases should have five core characteristics: two pillars of stability and cost control, along with three elements of 100% renewable energy operation, full-link intelligent collaboration, and high-quality safety throughout the lifecycle, aimed at achieving predictable and controllable stable power supply.
2. Ubiquitous Grid-Connected Storage: It will become a key support for grid stability and balance. This type of storage not only smoothens the fluctuations in renewable energy generation but also actively engages in energy market transactions, providing services like frequency modulation and peak regulation, which creates continuous economic value for users and contributes to a safer, more flexible, and efficient new power system.
3. Cooperation among Source, Grid, Load, and Storage: The power supply model is shifting towards “regional autonomy + overall collaboration.” With AI-based intelligent scheduling technology, deep interlinking and efficient collaboration among generation, grid, load, and storage can be achieved.
4. Home Energy Storage Scenarios: These will transition from AI empowerment to AI-native solutions, achieving optimal electricity usage experiences. AI will be fully integrated into the design, experience, and operation and maintenance phases, elevating the basic need for maximum self-consumption to a proactive strategy for optimal electricity usage experiences.
5. Increased Frequency and Density: This will drive continuous improvement in the power density of photovoltaic equipment. Through innovations from components to systems, along with advanced heat dissipation and high-frequency materials, it is expected that in the coming years, the power density of photovoltaic inverters and storage PCS will increase by over 40%, enhancing the quality and efficiency of wind-solar-storage systems.
6. High Voltage and Reliability: This will lead to a continuous reduction in the cost per kilowatt-hour. Upgrades in key components’ voltage tolerance and insulation materials will promote the trend towards high voltage. The safety protection of equipment and systems will evolve from passive responses to proactive controls, ensuring safety and reliability under high voltage, which will significantly reduce the cost of solar power systems.
7. Batteries vs. Storage Systems: System-level battery management is essential for safe and stable operation. Utilizing power electronics, cloud, and AI technologies for precise monitoring and management from battery cells to systems is crucial. This will ensure higher discharge rates, improved safety, longer lifespans, and simplified operations, becoming a foundational requirement for high-quality energy storage.
8. Mature Network Construction Technologies: These will accelerate the establishment of new power systems. Network-connected storage is transitioning from being a “passive follower” in grid stability to an “active builder.” Network construction technologies are advancing from single-function applications to a new stage of systematic deep integration, focusing on high-performance hardware, network algorithms, and intelligence.
9. Intelligent Agents Empowering Renewable Power Plants: These agents will increasingly integrate into renewable power plants, facilitating “autonomous driving” through intelligent collaboration across cloud, edge, and terminal devices.
10. Storage Industry Safety Advancements: The industry is moving towards a new phase of quantifiable safety. Safety evaluations will evolve from assessing individual samples to systematic evaluations covering the entire lifecycle of systems. By establishing quantifiable safety standards and tiered requirements, the industry can address safety concerns effectively, creating a solid safety framework for healthy development in the storage industry.

The comprehensive network construction, harnessing AI potential, and pursuing high quality represent not just a technological leap but also a deep commitment to a sustainable future. Huawei Digital Energy is eager to collaborate with industry partners and stakeholders to lead the development of the wind-solar-storage sector through insights and innovation, accelerating the integration of these technologies as primary power sources, and making green electricity accessible to all, contributing to a greener and better future.