TaiyangNews Managing Director Michael Schmela caught up with Director of Energy Storage at Hopewind, Damon Wu, as part of the TaiyangNews & SNEC 2024 – Solar Leadership Conversations series. They delved into Hopewind's journey and future prospects in the renewable energy sector at the SNEC Exclusive.
Hopewind, established in 2007, began its journey in the wind sector before expanding into solar and energy storage. According to Wu, the company is now a leading global manufacturer of wind converters and has been at the forefront of solar technology since 2010, with energy storage becoming a significant focus since 2017.
"Our main business focuses on new energy sectors such as wind, solar, energy storage, and hydrogen production. We have shipped to over 100 countries and 150 gigawatts of various electronic devices worldwide," shared Wu.
Wu emphasized that Hopewind's product offerings are diverse, ranging from string inverters to advanced energy management software platforms. The company's use of silicon carbide (SiC) technology for converter circuits, while expensive, offers significant benefits by increasing switching frequency, reducing field volume, and enhancing power density.
"At Hopewind, we know when to use SiC and when to use IGBT to balance cost and performance," Wu explained, highlighting the company's decade-long experience with these technologies.
In a recent TaiyangNews event, Hopewind showcased a 65-amp ultra-high MPPT current capacity inverter, a testament to their commitment to innovation. "PV modules are evolving to higher power, and our inverters must keep pace," noted Wu. He anticipates even higher MPPT currents in the future, providing greater flexibility in PV system design.
The conversation also touched on the growing need for ancillary services and grid flexibility. Wu explained that Hopewind's inverters and energy storage systems offer grid-forming features, which are essential for maintaining grid stability as more renewable energy sources come online."For both main grids and microgrids, grid-forming inverters operate like a voltage source, providing stability in the face of fluctuating loads," Wu elaborated.
Discussing market dynamics, Wu revealed that Hopewind's domestic market faces stiff competition and falling prices, but the company remains a leader with advanced products like its 2.5 MW storage systems. For the international market, Wu expressed optimism, noting significant opportunities in Southeast Asia and Europe. "Overseas markets will be a priority for us in the next two to three years," he stated.
Hopewind is also preparing for global expansion with its Hopewind Cloud version 4.0, a digital energy operation solution incorporating IoT, blockchain, cloud computing, and big data. "We have met GDPR requirements, ensuring our platform is secure and ready for international deployment," Wu confirmed.
Looking ahead, Wu is confident about Hopewind's growth prospects despite the industry's challenges. "We are putting a lot of energy and resources into overseas markets to ensure sustained growth," he concluded.
Click here to watch the SNEC Exclusive full interview with Damon Wu on the TaiyangNews YouTube Channel.