Daily CSR

Sungrow Commissions Sierra Leone's First Major Solar-Storage Power Project

2026-07-31T11:58:00+02:00

Sungrow, a global leader in photovoltaic (PV) inverters and energy storage systems (ESS), has completed and commissioned the RESPITE Solar-plus-Storage Project in Sierra Leone. The initiative marks the country's first large-scale national power generation project to be completed and connected to the electricity grid in almost ten years. The installation includes 35MWh of energy storage capacity, supported by eight units of Sungrow's PowerTitan Series energy storage systems.

Sierra Leone has one of the world's lowest electricity access rates, with inadequate power infrastructure and an unreliable electricity network limiting economic and social development. The country's grid is primarily dependent on a single 161kV transmission line with a capacity of 70MW that links the Bumbuna Hydropower Plant to the capital, Freetown. Around 172,000 consumers are connected to the national electricity system, with nearly 90% located in Freetown. Outside the capital, electricity access remains extremely limited, as only five of the nation's sixteen regional capitals receive partial power from diesel generators and hydropower stations, while rural communities continue to experience severe shortages.

Supported by the World Bank, the RESPITE project represents a major step forward in strengthening Sierra Leone's electricity sector. As the first significant national-scale power project to enter service in nearly a decade, it overcame several long-standing challenges common to energy developments in low-income countries, including weak grid infrastructure, low consumer affordability, and limited commercial attractiveness for investors. Sungrow's strong financial credibility, combined with the proven performance of its inverter and energy storage technologies, played an important role in securing confidence from financing partners, including the World Bank.

According to World Bank projections, once the project reaches full operational capacity, Sierra Leone's national electricity access rate is expected to rise from 16% to 36%. The additional power will provide more reliable electricity to homes, schools, hospitals, businesses, and industrial facilities across the country.

The project was implemented under particularly demanding conditions, as Sierra Leone's fragile power network experiences outages lasting up to 18 hours each day. To address these challenges, Sungrow utilized the PowerTitan system's advanced black start capability and independent off-grid operation. During commissioning, engineers shifted from conventional grid-connected testing to off-grid operation, allowing the system to automatically establish a stable microgrid without relying on the national grid. Solar generation supplied local loads while creating the electrical stability required to complete commissioning.

To ensure timely project completion, Sungrow applied its international project management expertise and streamlined deployment approach. The modular, factory-preassembled design of the PowerTitan Series enabled pre-installation and pre-commissioning before shipment, cutting on-site construction time by approximately 50% and significantly speeding up deployment.

The company also coordinated technical support through a global network of specialists operating across multiple regions and time zones. This around-the-clock support structure ensured that technical issues could be evaluated within two hours. Combined with standardized emergency response procedures and an international spare parts network, Sungrow delivered comprehensive assistance throughout installation, commissioning, and grid integration, helping the project meet its delivery schedule.

Officials from Sierra Leone said they selected Sungrow because of the company's established reputation for dependable products and its proven experience in delivering complex energy projects worldwide. They noted that despite the difficult construction environment, Sungrow's engineering team completed the project to a high standard, demonstrating strong technical expertise, efficient execution, and consistent support throughout the implementation process.

The successful commissioning of the power station has been widely recognized by both the Government of Sierra Leone and the World Bank. In addition to expanding clean energy generation, the project has created nearly 100 local jobs, increased household incomes, and contributed to wider economic and social development within surrounding communities.

Through projects in regions with weak or isolated power networks, Sungrow continues to apply its advanced renewable energy technologies and international implementation experience to improve energy access. By delivering dependable solar and energy storage solutions, the company is helping Sierra Leone strengthen its power infrastructure, advance its clean energy transition, and support sustainable long-term economic growth.

Daqo Presents Next-Generation Grid Solutions at The smarter E Europe

2026-07-06T15:24:00+02:00

As Europe continues to expand renewable energy capacity, energy storage systems, and electrification initiatives, project developers are under increasing pressure to accelerate grid connections for new generation assets and high-demand electrical loads. At the same time, they must comply with more stringent expectations around environmental sustainability, system reliability, and project execution.

One of the key highlights presented by Daqo was its DQS Air Series SF6-free Ring Main Unit (RMU). Utilizing dry-air insulation combined with vacuum interruption technology, the DQS Air series offers an environmentally responsible alternative to traditional SF6-based medium-voltage equipment. Its compact, sealed construction is designed to minimize maintenance requirements while delivering dependable performance across urban power distribution networks, renewable energy interconnections, industrial installations, and grid modernization projects.

Daqo also unveiled its latest generation of SF6-free air-insulated RMUs developed specifically for secondary distribution applications. Featuring flexible configuration options, intelligent monitoring capabilities, and remote operation readiness, these solutions address the growing demand for sustainable, efficient, and easily manageable power distribution systems.

For renewable energy generation and battery storage applications, Daqo showcased its integrated containerized PV and BESS substation solutions. By factory-integrating step-up transformers, medium-voltage and low-voltage switchgear, monitoring systems, and auxiliary equipment into a single modular unit, the company enables developers and EPC contractors to reduce on-site complexity, streamline project coordination, and accelerate grid connection timelines.

To address the needs of energy-intensive industries such as data centers, Daqo introduced DQMpower 2.0, a modular power infrastructure platform combining low-voltage distribution, UPS functionality, power quality management, and advanced monitoring systems. This integrated approach enhances deployment speed, optimizes the use of electrical room space, and provides greater operational transparency. The company's solid-state transformer technology also attracted considerable attention as a future-ready solution supporting dynamic interaction among power grids, loads, energy storage systems, and DC networks.

"Our conversations with customers at The smarter E Europe reinforced a clear market trend: infrastructure projects increasingly require environmentally sustainable technologies, faster grid integration, and greater confidence in project delivery," said Kevin Lin, General Manager for Daqo's Europe Region. "To meet these expectations, Daqo is expanding its European coordination capabilities and strengthening its partner ecosystem to provide customers with integrated technical solutions, simplified interfaces, and enhanced delivery support."

Daqo's strategy in Europe focuses on combining large-scale manufacturing capabilities with strong local coordination and partner engagement. The company's manufacturing network comprises 32 production facilities with expertise spanning medium- and low-voltage equipment, transformers, automation technologies, and system integration.

This approach enables European customers to benefit from consolidated technical solutions, reduced supplier complexity, and improved project execution control. Moving forward, Daqo intends to deepen its collaboration with utilities, project developers, EPC firms, and industrial customers to support the development of cleaner, more reliable, and rapidly deployable energy infrastructure throughout Europe.

Daqo Showcases SF6-Free Power Solutions for Europe's Energy Transition

2026-07-01T12:39:00+02:00

As Europe rapidly expands renewable energy capacity, energy storage systems, and electrification initiatives, project developers are under increasing pressure to accelerate grid connections for new power generation assets and energy-intensive facilities while complying with more demanding standards for sustainability, reliability, and project execution.

One of the key technologies showcased by Daqo was the DQS Air Series SF6-free ring main unit (RMU). Utilizing dry-air insulation combined with vacuum interruption technology, the DQS Air system offers an environmentally responsible alternative to traditional SF6-based medium-voltage equipment. Its compact and fully sealed construction is designed to minimize maintenance requirements while ensuring dependable performance across urban power networks, renewable energy installations, industrial applications, and grid modernization projects.

Daqo also unveiled its newest SF6-free air-insulated RMU solution developed for secondary distribution networks. Engineered with flexible configuration options, intelligent monitoring capabilities, and remote operation readiness, the system is intended to help customers build more sustainable, efficient, and easier-to-manage power distribution infrastructure.

For renewable energy and battery storage applications, the company presented its containerized photovoltaic (PV) and battery energy storage system (BESS) substation solutions. These integrated systems combine step-up transformers, medium- and low-voltage switchgear, monitoring platforms, and auxiliary equipment within a factory-assembled unit. This approach enables developers and EPC contractors to reduce on-site complexity, streamline project coordination, and accelerate the timeline from installation to grid connection.

Addressing the requirements of power-intensive industries such as data centers, Daqo showcased DQMpower 2.0, a modular power platform that consolidates low-voltage distribution, UPS-related functionality, power quality management, and monitoring systems. The solution is designed to improve deployment speed, maximize the utilization of electrical room space, and provide greater operational transparency. The company's solid-state transformer technology also attracted attention as an advanced solution capable of supporting more flexible interaction between electrical grids, energy storage systems, loads, and DC power networks.

"Our discussions with customers at The smarter E Europe reinforced a clear industry priority: energy infrastructure projects require cleaner technologies, faster grid access, and more predictable project delivery," said Kevin Lin, General Manager for Daqo's European region. "Daqo continues to expand its European coordination capabilities and partner ecosystem to provide customers with integrated technical solutions, simplified project interfaces, and enhanced delivery support."

Daqo's strategy in Europe centers on combining large-scale manufacturing capabilities with localized coordination and partner collaboration. The company operates through a network of 32 manufacturing entities, providing expertise across medium- and low-voltage electrical equipment, transformers, automation technologies, and integrated power systems.

For European customers, this approach offers streamlined technical solutions, reduced supplier complexity, and improved control over project delivery. Moving forward, Daqo plans to deepen collaboration with utilities, developers, EPC contractors, and industrial clients to advance the deployment of cleaner, more reliable, and rapidly deployable power infrastructure throughout Europe.