Innovative Safety and Modular Design Highlighted at SNEC 2025 for Next-Gen Battery Energy Storage Systems

**SNEC 2025: Safety and Modular Design for Next-Generation BESS Technologies**

Carrie Xiao’s exclusive coverage of SNEC 2025 highlights the latest advancements in modular battery storage system design and fire safety approaches. SNEC, held earlier this month in Shanghai, is the world’s largest event focused on solar PV and energy storage.

In the first part of Carrie’s report, published yesterday, the emphasis was on the escalating competition in the development of higher capacity and greater energy density in third-generation battery cells from major industry players.

### Evolving Energy Storage Solutions

As third-generation storage cells progress towards larger capacities, the lines between commercial and utility-scale energy storage solutions are increasingly becoming indistinct. Energy storage systems now feature modular components and platform-based architectures. The evolution in cell capacity and dimensions is paving the way for system redesigns that challenge the conventional 20-foot container standard.

Innovative modular and platform-based products designed for easy transport and adaptable scenarios are emerging. For instance, HyperStrong’s 10-foot energy storage system can house cells of various capacities, making it suitable for both commercial and industrial (C&I) and utility-scale storage applications. At SNEC, HyperStrong showcased its MagicBlock platform and the flagship HyperBlock M energy storage system. Each cabinet, designed in a standardized 10-foot modular format, offers 3.125MWh (DC)/3.2MWh (AC), with the ability to scale from 6.25MWh to 25MWh through flexible combinations of 1-8 modules. This innovative design saves 30%-50% in floor space compared to traditional solutions, effectively addressing deployment challenges in space-limited environments, such as urban substations and industrial parks. Additionally, the lightweight design (24 tons per cabinet) adheres to transportation standards for maritime, railway, and road transport.

### Complying with New Regulations

Chint Power has introduced a novel solution for distributed PV-storage projects that aligns with the requirements outlined in ‘Document No. 136’ regarding the market-oriented reform of new energy feed-in tariffs. Utilizing Chint’s commercial inverters, 125kW/261kWh commercial and industrial energy storage outdoor cabinets, along with a smart energy management system, this solution meets the demands of China’s evolving distributed power generation landscape. The core product, the 125kW/261kWh commercial and industrial energy storage outdoor integrated cabinet, features an All-in-One highly integrated design, providing 261kWh, making it ideal for office buildings, industrial parks, commercial complexes, and various application scenarios.

### Ensuring Lifecycle Safety for Large-Capacity Cells

The industry’s ongoing pursuit of cost reduction and efficiency improvement is reflected in the shift towards larger capacity and higher energy density cells. However, this trend poses multiple challenges, including the need for material system redesign, coordination between upstream and downstream processes, and enhancements in performance indicators. Large-capacity cells are essential for reducing costs and improving efficiency in energy storage systems, while also maintaining an optimal balance between safety, manufacturing, and cost.

REPT BATTERO highlights that increasing size isn’t always synonymous with better performance for energy storage cells, advocating that cell development should not occur in isolation. The ultimate design of cells is for system applications, aiming to help energy storage stations achieve higher returns while ensuring safety and reliability. This fundamental objective should influence key parameters such as spatial integration, energy density, cell dimensions, performance, and lifespan.

Dr. Liu Xiaoxiao, a product safety expert at Hithium, reported that the company has implemented extensive safety designs at multiple levels, spanning from cells to modules to systems, to ensure full lifecycle safety for large-capacity energy storage systems. Dr. Liu noted that Hithium’s ∞Block 5MWh energy storage system has successfully completed the world’s first open-door extreme combustion test, establishing four unprecedented benchmarks in energy storage combustion testing: the first open-door combustion test, dual 15cm extreme spacing, a deactivated active fire suppression system, and a fully charged state with 100% state of charge (SoC). At SNEC 2025, Hithium revealed comprehensive results from this groundbreaking combustion test, detailing the entire testing process, technical specifications, and authoritative data.

In the upcoming edition of this article series, Energy-Storage.news will explore these large-scale fire testing data and their implications—stay tuned for more insights.