UL Solutions Successfully Hosts the 3rd “Quality Chain Future” New Energy Industry Chain Conference

On March 20-21, UL Solutions held the 3rd “Quality Chain Future” New Energy Industry Chain Conference in Suzhou. Amidst a critical period of accelerated global energy transition, nearly 700 professionals from the new energy sector, including UL Solutions’ global executives and technical experts, gathered to engage in in-depth discussions centered on energy transformation, explore industry development strategies, and outline future directions for the sector.

The conference featured prominent speakers such as Zhou Weifang, Global Executive Vice President and President of the Testing, Inspection and Certification Business Group; Jeff Smidt, Senior Vice President of the Industrial Division; Wei Wenxing, Global Vice President and General Manager of the Engineering Materials Division; Jason Chan, Global Vice President of Data and Innovation; Wu Dawei, General Manager for Mainland China and Hong Kong; and Shi Jun, General Manager of Suzhou UL Meihua Certification Co., Ltd.

In his opening remarks, Zhou Weifang emphasized, “As a company grounded in standards and science, UL Solutions is committed to helping Chinese clients launch safe and innovative products globally. In an era of geopolitical change and growing energy demands driven by population growth and data storage, accelerating the development of renewable energy is vital. UL Solutions continues to expand its energy transition services and technological capabilities, having completed a significant acquisition in 2024 that enhances its expertise in battery and hydrogen energy sectors. In addition to testing and certification services, we also provide professional guidance to help clients understand compliance and market access requirements.”

Diverse Perspectives and Innovative Ideas from Experts

The conference attracted numerous distinguished guests from North American regulatory bodies, research institutions, businesses, as well as insurance and finance sectors, offering multifaceted insights and extensive experiences. Robert Marshall, Deputy Chief of the San Mateo Fire Department in the US, provided professional insights on energy storage safety based on his extensive fire safety experience. Sun Jinhua, a chair professor at the University of Science and Technology of China, contributed academic support in the field of electrochemical energy storage safety control technology. Guests from institutions like Sichuan University, SANY Renewable Energy, Wuhu Shipyard, Zhongyi Insurance Brokerage, and Guotai Junan shared insights on various hot topics related to new energy.

During the conference, Jeff Smidt discussed pathways and directions for energy transition, highlighting China’s leading position in this process. He noted that China is a major producer of new energy vehicles and leads the world in charging station availability. Jason Chan analyzed how artificial intelligence can enhance productivity and efficiency in the energy transition process, empowering third-party testing and certification organizations with robust technical capabilities and building trust within the supply chain. Furthermore, Herminio Andre, Executive Director of the Georgia/Pennsylvania Trade Office in China, shared insights on the prospects of US state government investment, while Rong Chengze, Chief Representative of the California State Capital Office in China, discussed strategies for Chinese companies operating in the US market.

Strategic Partnerships for New Energy Development

During the conference, UL Solutions and Wuhan Yihui Energy Co., Ltd. established a strategic partnership, signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). Wu Dawei, Global Vice President and General Manager for Mainland China and Hong Kong, and Zhang Jin, Director of the Energy Storage Research Institute at Huizhou Yihui Lithium Energy Co., Ltd., attended the signing ceremony. The memorandum covers collaboration in areas such as energy storage product testing and certification and software consulting. Future efforts will focus on UL WTDP witnessed testing laboratory qualification, custom V-mark claims for energy storage products, and fire testing verification. UL Solutions will assist Yihui Energy in understanding and applying standards like UL 1973 and UL 9540, enhancing compliance with innovative design and integration into global supply chains, while also providing sustainability and financing report services to differentiate in the market.

Supporting High-Quality Industry Development

The conference also featured several prestigious certification award ceremonies, where numerous companies in the new energy sector received relevant testing and certification certificates across critical fields such as energy storage systems, charging equipment, photovoltaic components, batteries, fire protection systems, and switches. These awards not only recognize the capabilities of these companies but also encourage greater investment in research and development, improved product quality, and active participation in international competition, thereby promoting standardization and high-quality development across the new energy industry.

Highlights from Sub-Forums

The second day of the conference included four engaging sub-forums focused on specific areas of the new energy industry, providing participants with opportunities for in-depth exchange and learning.

• Sub-Forum 1: “Exploration of New Technologies for Multi-Application of Batteries” – Discussed energy storage batteries and solid-state batteries, released fire testing standards and white papers, and explored new technologies for multi-application of batteries.
• Sub-Forum 2: Focused on components and the North American market, including updates on 2000V system component certifications and discussions on marine lithium battery technology.
• Sub-Forum 3: Covered topics such as intelligent driving and charging, introducing mobile charging carts and liquid-cooled DC charging piles, while discussing carbon footprint directions and low-carbon travel.
• Sub-Forum 4: Concentrated on wind-solar systems, discussing international market grid access testing and compliance certification, evaluating photovoltaic component reliability, and explaining hydrogen production system technology.

The successful hosting of the 3rd “Quality Chain Future” New Energy Industry Chain Conference by UL Solutions provided a highly effective platform for collaboration and communication within the new energy sector. Looking ahead, as the global energy transition continues to advance, the new energy industry is poised for broader development opportunities. UL Solutions is dedicated to connecting upstream and downstream enterprises in the industry chain, strengthening technological innovation and cooperative exchanges, and jointly promoting high-quality development in the new energy sector, contributing to the sustainable development of global energy. We believe that with the collaborative efforts of all parties involved, the new energy industry will achieve even greater success and create a better green future for humanity.