Energy storage took center stage at SNEC 2026, with ESS providers occupying more exhibition space than PV module suppliers and reshaping the event’s overall focus
PV companies are rapidly becoming solar-plus-storage solution providers, as leading module suppliers such as JinkoSolar, Trinasolar, JA, and Canadian Solar showcased integrated PV and BESS offerings
Technology competition is sharpening across PV and ESS, with TOPCon remaining dominant, BC gaining momentum, HJT losing visibility, and lithium-ion ESS still leading while sodium-ion and longer-duration storage gain attention
Asia’s largest solar and storage exhibition, SNEC PV & ES, concluded on June 5, 2026, reaffirming its position as the leading global platform for the solar industry. As SNEC’s partner, the TaiyangNews team actively participated in and extensively covered the event, engaging with exhibitors to understand their latest products and emerging technologies. While the exhibition clearly maintained its stature, it witnessed a noticeable decline in both exhibitors and attendees compared to previous editions. Nevertheless, the overall atmosphere remained vibrant, driven by new entrants and established industry players showcasing increasingly integrated, one-stop solar-plus-storage solutions.
Noticeable Dominance of Battery Energy Storage Products Across the Expo Floor Signals a Shift in SNEC 2026 Participation Trends
Compared to previous years, when the dominance of module suppliers was a common sight across the exhibition area, this year, around 6 halls were occupied by Energy Storage Solutions (ESS) providers, while only 4 halls were allocated to PV module suppliers. However, we also noticed a reduced number of PV exhibitors and vacant spaces intended for exhibition booths.
Alongside a reduced exhibitor presence, the event saw an estimated 30% drop in visitor turnout compared to previous editions. This decline was largely driven by the absence of American participants amid high U.S. tariffs dampening demand, as well as fewer attendees from India due to multiple visa rejections. Additionally, a weaker local turnout against the backdrop of expected PV installations in the range of 100-150 GW this year further contributed to the lower overall footfall.
Nearly all Tier 1 module suppliers showcased their BESS offerings at the event, something that wasn’t common until 2023. While vertical integration had already extended from polysilicon to modules by then, it has now expanded further to include energy storage solutions. Remarkably, major companies have achieved this scale within 2-3 years, positioning themselves as comprehensive, one-stop providers of solar solutions. A few notable examples include:
Modules to Energy Storage: JinkoSolar unveiled its latest TOPCon modules featuring 25.91% efficiency and SunTera series utility-scale BESS with energy density exceeding 570 kWh/m². Trinasolar launched its TOPCon-Perovskite Tandem module with 29.2% module efficiency, along with Elementa 3 utility-scale BESS with 6.25 MWh energy capacity per container. JA exhibited its integrated PV and ESS solutions for the utility and C&I segments. Canadian Solar displayed its TOPCon modules along with BESS under its e-Storage business.
Walking the exhibition floor revealed a market that is increasingly consolidating around a few clear technology pathways. In terms of PV technology, TOPCon continued to gather attention from expo visitors and market demand. Ongoing efficiency improvements have steadily narrowed the performance gap with BC technology, allowing TOPCon to maintain its cost competitiveness while leveraging its massive installed manufacturing base; however, this could shift if silver prices rise further.
Against this backdrop, BC technology is gaining momentum at an increasingly rapid pace. Not only does this technology achieve the highest efficiency among commercial products, but its silver-free design also offers a compelling hedge against precious-metal inflation, while its all-black appearance and superior aesthetics continue to resonate with premium residential and distributed-generation markets. According to industry news, AIKO has already sold out its BC stock and is expected to see profits in Q2 2026. LONGi is also advancing aggressively into BC, targeting around 70 GW of capacity by early next year. Meanwhile, TCL, which owns SunPower and has acquired DAS, has also introduced new BC modules.
In contrast, HJT technology appeared to struggle for attention at the event. One notable signal was the absence of major HJT-focused players such as Risen Energy and Huasun Energy, reflecting the challenges the technology currently faces. While HJT offers several system-level benefits, such as high bifacial gains and a low temperature coefficient, its higher production costs and the rapid progress of competing technologies have made it increasingly difficult to establish a compelling commercial advantage.
Major inverter suppliers continue to push the boundaries of efficiency while increasingly focusing on grid-forming inverters integrated with ESS capabilities. At the event, Solis presented a comprehensive portfolio of residential storage solutions, including IntelliHome, Flexhome, and FlexAIO, to cater to a wide range of voltage requirements. The company also showcased its EverCore 261 kWh ESS for C&I applications and ConsusPrime for large-scale PV installations. Meanwhile, Sungrow introduced its PowerTitan 3.0 ESS for utility-scale projects, offering flexible configurations ranging from 3.45 MWh to 12.5 MWh. The company’s solution included energy density exceeding 500 kWh/m² and a fully liquid-cooled SiC Power Conversion System. Huawei takes a different approach, featuring a 430kW smart string grid-forming Power Conversion System (PCS). The PCS voltage ranges from 550 V to 1500 V, enabling its compatibility with Li-ion and Sodium-ion chemistry.
An interesting trend that started last year and is becoming more pronounced is the use of strong, reinforced cable-based mounting solutions. The benefit of this approach is that it strongly supports dual-use land cases for commercial and agricultural PV. It also completely avoids land grading, making it less sensitive to the uneven terrain of the land parcel. Jiangsu Guoqiang Singsun Energy Co., Ltd. showcased its flexible solar mounting structure at the exhibition. The single-layer suspension cable design is intended for terrain slopes of up to 40° and spans of up to 25 m. HYPSET Solar Technology has even developed a tracking solution for its cable-based mounting solution. Regarding standard mounting solutions, Antaisolar exhibited its TAI-Universal single-axis tracker, which is compatible with 182 mm, 210R, and 210 mm modules and supports up to 120 modules per row. ESET SOLAR showcased its ESEEK-Climber Independent Single-Axis Tracking System for utility-scale applications.
Lithium-ion batteries clearly dominated the exhibition, with sodium-ion ESS emerging as a secondary focus. In addition, Chinese startups also showcased semi-solid-state lithium and lithium manganese iron phosphate (LMFP) battery technologies.
Leading players such as CATL, HiTHIUM, Jinko, Sigenergy, Sungrow, and Trina presented their lithium-ion ESS solutions. Notably, many exhibitors have transitioned from 4-hour storage systems to 8 hours, emphasizing larger-format cells, higher energy density, reduced balance-of-system (BOS) costs, and enhanced thermal management. AIDC (AI data centers) was also a buzz word among leading BESS suppliers, which showcased their BESS solutions for AIDCs.
While lithium-ion remained dominant, sodium-ion technology emerged as an alternative chemistry, signaling its progression from a demonstration stage toward early commercialization. HiTHIUM showcased its N162Ah sodium-ion cell alongside a sodium-ion ESS platform, while CATL highlighted its Naxtra platform, reinforcing growing industry interest in sodium-ion batteries.