Global Forum on Low-Carbon Industry Explores Solutions for Electricity Access Gaps
On September 15, 2026, the Global Forum on Low-Carbon Industry took place in Shenzhen, China, with a focus on the theme "Utilizing Every Ray of Sunshine to Bring Electricity Where It's Needed Most." The event was a collaborative effort from key organizations such as the Global Solar Council, the China Energy Research Society, the World Alliance for Low Carbon Cities, Tsinghua University Shenzhen International Graduate School, and Huawei Digital Power. Industry leaders, renowned scientists, grid operators, and representatives from businesses around the globe gathered to explore how advancements in grid-forming technology (GFM) and artificial intelligence (AI) could reshape the future of global energy.
In his keynote speech, Hou Jinlong, a board member of Huawei and president of Huawei Digital Power, emphasized that the trends of decarbonization, electrification, digitalization, and intelligent technologies have become crucial facets of the ongoing global energy transformation. He cautioned that there is no one-size-fits-all solution for energy transformation, as regions and economies face distinct and complex challenges. In areas with a high share of renewable energy, system security remains a significant topic. Conversely, in developing economies, the priority is ensuring reliable power supply at lower costs. For less developed regions, the primary goal is to achieve universal electricity access. The integration of grid-forming technologies with artificial intelligence promises low-cost, high-reliability, sustainable, and secure renewable energy solutions. Thus, it introduces a new, reproducible, and practically feasible approach to energy transformation.
Key Trends and Challenges
The global energy landscape is transitioning paradigms. A representative from the Global Solar Council highlighted in their keynote address that a shift away from fossil fuel dependency is underway towards energy independence rooted in local solar energy resources and energy storage. This transformation has been facilitated by a technological revolution, where the deep integration of photovoltaic systems and energy storage will be essential for constructing a more resilient and sustainable power grid.
Wang Xiongfei, a member of IEEE and a professor at Tsinghua University, shared insights on the emerging challenges posed by gigawatt-scale AI data centers (AIDC). He noted that future data centers should not merely be large electricity consumers but should also behave as responsive loads, capable of sensing grid conditions, actively providing support, and handling outages without disconnection. He introduced the concept of a coordinated design from "chip to grid" and underscored that key technologies such as grid-forming energy storage systems, optimized UPS control, and coordinated load adjustment will enable effective interaction between data centers and electrical grids, ensuring stable operation for future computational infrastructures.
Patrick Clerens, Secretary General of Energy Storage Europe, delivered a pivotal presentation entitled "European Energy Storage Markets: Market Mechanisms and GFM Services Development." He detailed the progress of the EU energy storage market, driven by the need to ensure supply security and reform market arrangements. He pointed out that with a growing share of renewable energy, the system's inertia declines, thus making grid-forming capability essential. He provided an in-depth discussion on the European efforts to commercially leverage grid-forming services such as synthetic inertia and rapid frequency response. Countries such as Germany are already conducting auctions for grid-forming service provision, opening new business models and valuable opportunities in energy storage.
Dr. Liu Yunfeng, Huawei Digital Power's lead scientist, presented his findings on the evolution of energy internet technologies, explaining how power systems are transitioning from "electromechanical systems" to "silicon programmable systems". He indicated that system stability has shifted from being a "natural property" to a "designed capability". His presentation included Huawei’s comprehensive validation system for grid-forming technology and emphasized that AI has become a mandatory capability for the energy internet, allowing complex systems to achieve autonomy. The Huawei FusionSolar Agent solution, with its four-layer AI architecture comprising computation base, energy system models, intelligent devices, and agents, redefines intelligent power management throughout the lifecycle of power plants, pushing forward the comprehensive application of intelligent technologies in photovoltaic, wind, and energy storage systems.
Demonstrating Practical Applications
The first European test of grid-forming technology at the megawatt level, conducted in collaboration with Huawei, was introduced through the insights of Pouya Mostashar, a researcher at Fraunhofer IWES. This test adhered strictly to the world’s first comprehensive guidelines for testing grid-forming technology released by the German VDE FNN organization. Results illustrated that energy storage systems performed excellently regarding key scenarios such as inertia response, overload capacity, and islanded operation. This test not only provided robust evidence of the applicability of grid-forming technology in energy storage systems but also established a firm foundation for standardized certification and commercial trading of grid-forming capabilities.
Antonio M. Abuel Jr., project director at Terra Solar Philippines Inc., discussed the largest global project that combines photovoltaic and energy storage systems. The MTerra Solar Grid-Forming PV+ESS project includes a photovoltaic system with a capacity of 3.5 GW and a grid-forming energy storage system with a capacity of 4.5 GWh. The first phase, completed on August 26, 2026, integrates photovoltaic sources with a capacity of 2.5 GW and an energy storage system (BESS) boasting 3.3 GWh capacity, which is now operational commercially. This project will supply stable and clean electricity to approximately 2.4 million homes and will reduce carbon emissions by over 4.3 million tons annually. Importantly, this project serves as a proof point that large-capacity photovoltaic systems paired with energy storage can indeed be a reliable and stable electricity source for the Philippine power grid, creating a replicable model that can accelerate the global transition to clean energy.
Collaborative Industry Efforts
The Global Solar Council, China Energy Research Society, World Alliance for Low Carbon Cities, Tsinghua University Shenzhen International Graduate School, and Huawei Digital Power, along with industry partners and representatives from leading companies worldwide, officially launched the Global Joint Initiative on Grid Forming AI. This initiative aims to unite the entire sector to expedite the widespread adoption and standardization of grid-forming and AI technologies. The goal is to leverage technological innovations to address disparities in electricity access and ensure ecological, stable, and affordable electricity for all, particularly for the nearly 700 million individuals globally who currently lack electricity access. With the advancements in grid-forming technologies and AI, a green, stable, and intelligent energy system focused on renewable resources like solar and wind energy, along with energy storage solutions, is rapidly taking shape.
In his keynote speech, Hou Jinlong, a board member of Huawei and president of Huawei Digital Power, emphasized that the trends of decarbonization, electrification, digitalization, and intelligent technologies have become crucial facets of the ongoing global energy transformation. He cautioned that there is no one-size-fits-all solution for energy transformation, as regions and economies face distinct and complex challenges. In areas with a high share of renewable energy, system security remains a significant topic. Conversely, in developing economies, the priority is ensuring reliable power supply at lower costs. For less developed regions, the primary goal is to achieve universal electricity access. The integration of grid-forming technologies with artificial intelligence promises low-cost, high-reliability, sustainable, and secure renewable energy solutions. Thus, it introduces a new, reproducible, and practically feasible approach to energy transformation.
Key Trends and Challenges
The global energy landscape is transitioning paradigms. A representative from the Global Solar Council highlighted in their keynote address that a shift away from fossil fuel dependency is underway towards energy independence rooted in local solar energy resources and energy storage. This transformation has been facilitated by a technological revolution, where the deep integration of photovoltaic systems and energy storage will be essential for constructing a more resilient and sustainable power grid.
Wang Xiongfei, a member of IEEE and a professor at Tsinghua University, shared insights on the emerging challenges posed by gigawatt-scale AI data centers (AIDC). He noted that future data centers should not merely be large electricity consumers but should also behave as responsive loads, capable of sensing grid conditions, actively providing support, and handling outages without disconnection. He introduced the concept of a coordinated design from "chip to grid" and underscored that key technologies such as grid-forming energy storage systems, optimized UPS control, and coordinated load adjustment will enable effective interaction between data centers and electrical grids, ensuring stable operation for future computational infrastructures.
Patrick Clerens, Secretary General of Energy Storage Europe, delivered a pivotal presentation entitled "European Energy Storage Markets: Market Mechanisms and GFM Services Development." He detailed the progress of the EU energy storage market, driven by the need to ensure supply security and reform market arrangements. He pointed out that with a growing share of renewable energy, the system's inertia declines, thus making grid-forming capability essential. He provided an in-depth discussion on the European efforts to commercially leverage grid-forming services such as synthetic inertia and rapid frequency response. Countries such as Germany are already conducting auctions for grid-forming service provision, opening new business models and valuable opportunities in energy storage.
Dr. Liu Yunfeng, Huawei Digital Power's lead scientist, presented his findings on the evolution of energy internet technologies, explaining how power systems are transitioning from "electromechanical systems" to "silicon programmable systems". He indicated that system stability has shifted from being a "natural property" to a "designed capability". His presentation included Huawei’s comprehensive validation system for grid-forming technology and emphasized that AI has become a mandatory capability for the energy internet, allowing complex systems to achieve autonomy. The Huawei FusionSolar Agent solution, with its four-layer AI architecture comprising computation base, energy system models, intelligent devices, and agents, redefines intelligent power management throughout the lifecycle of power plants, pushing forward the comprehensive application of intelligent technologies in photovoltaic, wind, and energy storage systems.
Demonstrating Practical Applications
The first European test of grid-forming technology at the megawatt level, conducted in collaboration with Huawei, was introduced through the insights of Pouya Mostashar, a researcher at Fraunhofer IWES. This test adhered strictly to the world’s first comprehensive guidelines for testing grid-forming technology released by the German VDE FNN organization. Results illustrated that energy storage systems performed excellently regarding key scenarios such as inertia response, overload capacity, and islanded operation. This test not only provided robust evidence of the applicability of grid-forming technology in energy storage systems but also established a firm foundation for standardized certification and commercial trading of grid-forming capabilities.
Antonio M. Abuel Jr., project director at Terra Solar Philippines Inc., discussed the largest global project that combines photovoltaic and energy storage systems. The MTerra Solar Grid-Forming PV+ESS project includes a photovoltaic system with a capacity of 3.5 GW and a grid-forming energy storage system with a capacity of 4.5 GWh. The first phase, completed on August 26, 2026, integrates photovoltaic sources with a capacity of 2.5 GW and an energy storage system (BESS) boasting 3.3 GWh capacity, which is now operational commercially. This project will supply stable and clean electricity to approximately 2.4 million homes and will reduce carbon emissions by over 4.3 million tons annually. Importantly, this project serves as a proof point that large-capacity photovoltaic systems paired with energy storage can indeed be a reliable and stable electricity source for the Philippine power grid, creating a replicable model that can accelerate the global transition to clean energy.
Collaborative Industry Efforts
The Global Solar Council, China Energy Research Society, World Alliance for Low Carbon Cities, Tsinghua University Shenzhen International Graduate School, and Huawei Digital Power, along with industry partners and representatives from leading companies worldwide, officially launched the Global Joint Initiative on Grid Forming AI. This initiative aims to unite the entire sector to expedite the widespread adoption and standardization of grid-forming and AI technologies. The goal is to leverage technological innovations to address disparities in electricity access and ensure ecological, stable, and affordable electricity for all, particularly for the nearly 700 million individuals globally who currently lack electricity access. With the advancements in grid-forming technologies and AI, a green, stable, and intelligent energy system focused on renewable resources like solar and wind energy, along with energy storage solutions, is rapidly taking shape.
Topics Energy）
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