#Germany #Munich #Energy Storage #BESS #Huawei Digital Power

The Launch of the 2026 PV & ESS Safety Industry Summit

In a significant event held on June 24, 2026, during the Intersolar Europe exhibition in Munich, Huawei Digital Power, in collaboration with its global partners, organized the inaugural PV & ESS Safety Industry Summit 2026. This summit aimed to address crucial safety risks and insurance gaps associated with large-scale developments of photovoltaic (PV) and energy storage systems (ESS) within the ongoing global energy transition.

Renowned experts, industry representatives, and leading figures from insurance firms gathered to engage in in-depth discussions regarding safety standards in energy storage, firefighting challenges, testing protocols, and insurance innovations. This gathering effectively laid the groundwork for a new path toward a secure and reliable future in energy solutions.

Emphasizing the Vitality of Safety in Energy Transition

Xia Hesheng, the Vice President of Huawei Digital Power and President of Huawei Digital Power Strategy & Marketing, stressed that safety in PV and ESS applications is no longer just an option but an absolute necessity in developing new energy systems. He reiterated that industry advancements are not simply technological breakthroughs but require a blend of multiple disciplines, including electrochemistry, temperature management, power electronics, digital technologies, and artificial intelligence.

Huawei has consistently prioritized quality and continues to invest significantly in innovations for the safety of photovoltaic systems and energy storage. The company aims to enhance safety measures across the entire energy sector supply chain through collaboration with industry leaders, thereby encouraging high-caliber developments in renewable energy.

Energy Storage: A Key Pillar Amidst Supply Chain Crisis

Gerrit Lührung, head of system infrastructure and BESS at the Bundesverband Energiespeicher Systeme e. V. (BVES), indicated that energy storage has transformed from a commercial tool into a critical systemic element in the wake of the ongoing supply chain crisis. In Germany, the overall capacity of battery energy storage systems (BESS) currently stands at 19 GW, with growth being spurred by utility, commercial, and industrial sectors.

Over the next three years, the industry must navigate regulatory hurdles, adhere to new safety guidelines, and fully capitalize on its potential in the energy sector. Tom Hessels, an energy safety and transportation advisor at the Dutch Institute for Public Safety (NIPV), warned about the increase in battery fires, attributing the issue primarily to a lack of information connectivity. He called for transparent data reporting on testing results per UL 9540A standards and ongoing communication channels with manufacturers to bridge the informational gap between fire response teams and production companies.

Mikel Arrese-Igor, chief engineer for energy storage at DNV, reported that approximately 70% of BESS system failures occur at the system level. He highlighted that real-world testing, such as those conducted through Huawei's LUNA2000, would validate safety philosophies and approaches right from the design phase.

The Future of Safety Standards

Bill Reaugh, the Executive Director for solar energy and chief engineer at the German Association of Electrical Engineering and Electronics (VDE), stated that the transformation of energy systems introduces new risks that necessitate an evolution in safety practices from component levels to the entire ecosystem. There is a call to incorporate a model of digital trust that spans the entire lifecycle from design through manufacturing to operation.

Zhu Jun, product director for Utility GFM ESS at Huawei Digital Power, outlined four primary challenges facing the industry, including exceeding thermal runaway thresholds, high-voltage isolation failures, network faults, and insufficient digitalization. A new quantitative safety assessment framework throughout the lifecycle is essential to shifting risk management from a ‘risk mitigation zone B’ to an ‘acceptable zone C.’

Huawei has established a defensive network combining passive protection with proactive warning systems, utilizing heat-resistant isolation, smoke discharge mechanisms, dual architecture of intelligent chains, and AI-supported early warning technologies to prevent thermal runaway even in extreme scenarios.

A Pioneering Approach to Insurance and Risk Management

Alastair Nicklin ACII, director for business development at Willis Natural Resources, WTW, advocated for a shift in insurance toward a 'design as risk control' paradigm. This model aims to quantify 'risk probability × loss severity' to build a three-dimensional defense mechanism across physical, financial, and environmental dimensions. Approaches include extending fire safety intervals, modernizing facility repair protocols, securing revenue against interruptions, and elevating resilience beyond strict compliance.

During the summit, a White Paper on Energy Storage Safety Systems was unveiled, focusing on qualitative assessment frameworks, defense testing systems, and pathways to digitalization. It explores a logic of “supporting defense through attack” as well as data-driven approaches and closed-loop iterations, offering guidelines for research, development, regulation, and construction and guiding the industry towards a unified safety paradigm.

Through events like the PV & ESS Safety Industry Summit, stakeholders are poised to forge a future that fosters innovation while prioritizing safety in renewable energy development.