The future of commercial and industrial (C&I) energy storage was the focus of a recent groundbreaking session of Sungrow’s PhD Talk series, convened at the Capital International Convention Center in Beijing. The event brought together distinguished experts from the field to share their perspectives on the future of energy storage and its role in accelerating the energy transition.

• Dr. Nannan Kou, China Decarbonization Specialist at BNEF
• Dr. Wei Cao, General Manager of C&I Energy Storage Product Line at Sungrow
• Dr. Jing Song, Research Associate at Energy Program of the Sustainable Transition Center at WRI China
• Dr. Winfred Zhou, General Manager of Sungrow iCarbon

The panel discussion explored emerging trends and industry opportunities in C&I energy storage, with a focus on the following key points:

According to Dr. Cao, the future of C&I energy storage holds great promise, with emerging trends such as time-of-use electricity pricing mechanisms and improved ancillary service markets diversifying revenue streams for user-side storage solutions. “Time-of-use electricity pricing mechanisms and improved ancillary service markets diversify revenue streams for user-side storage solutions. AI technology is revolutionizing the energy storage value chain across three dimensions: precision management of energy use, real-time decision-making in dispatching, and optimization in electricity trading strategies,” Dr. Cao said. Sungrow also unveiled its BM²T battery management technology white paper, which integrates various components of an energy storage system using big data-driven AI computations to manage massive numbers of battery cells with over 99% accuracy. “Enterprises not only face green transformation demands but also must navigate stable power supply challenges amid fluctuating electricity prices and power rationing risks,” Dr. Song emphasized. “From what I see, flexible configurations between storage systems and distributed resources are the keys to overcome these barriers.”
Currently, by leveraging the iCarbon platform developed by Sungrow, pioneering green and low-carbon demonstration projects are being implemented across industrial parks, factories, hospitals, and other sectors, dynamically balancing cost-effectiveness, operational stability, and carbon footprint reduction. “Safety, efficiency, and long-term,” Dr. Cao said, “are critical factors for sustainable development within C&I energy storage sectors emphasizing customer-centric approaches, tailored scenario-based solutions like their latest C&I energy storage systems designed specifically per varying site requirements.”
The development of zero-carbon industrial parks hinges on integrating virtual power plants and energy-carbon synergies. Dr. Zhou emphasized the importance of connecting energy flows, carbon flows, and data flows and offering an on-site explanation of the key technologies and business models driving this transformation. A compelling example of this is the collaboration between iCarbon and LSH Auto, which delivered a customized solution that ensured rapid delivery, high turnover, and stable green certificate pricing. This approach enabled precise responses to the diverse requirements of individual dealerships. Expanding on the broader energy landscape, Dr. Cao analyzed the growing trend of energy storage in the C&I sectors. As distributed solar PV increasingly participates in electricity trading, demand for integrated “storage + trading” services is surging. Sungrow’s C&I storage solutions offer a full-lifecycle service model, addressing multiple use cases such as peak-valley arbitrage, demand-side management, and green electricity consumption. “The development of zero-carbon industrial parks hinges on integrating virtual power plants and energy-carbon synergies,” Dr. Zhou emphasized. “It is important to connect energy flows, carbon flows, and data flows, and offer an on-site explanation of the key technologies and business models driving this transformation.”
According to Dr. Song, clear carbon accounting standards from policymakers and a mature green electricity trading mechanism in the market are still urgently needed to accelerate progress. Sungrow continues to place technology at the core of its mission, staying true to its brand value proposition of serving as a “Bridge to a sustainable future.” With a steadfast focus on innovation and sustainability, the company is driving forward the transition to zero-carbon solutions.