As emerging technologies such as 5G, Internet of Things (IoT), cloud computing, and artificial intelligence (AI) are rapidly commercialized, the digital transformation in various industries is prospering.

February 4, 2021

5 Min Read
Technology and Industry Trend: Huawei Launches Top Ten Trends of Site Power

As emerging technologies such as 5G, Internet of Things (IoT), cloud computing, and artificial intelligence (AI) are rapidly commercialized, the digital transformation in various industries is prospering. The epidemic and carbon neutrality goals further accelerate the transformation towards a smart society. What does it mean to the site power? What will happen if the energy technologies are combined with the power electronics technologies and digital technologies?

To answer these questions, Peng Jianhua, President of Huawei Site Power Facility Domain, in January 28th, Shenzhen, China, together with industry guests, provided the speech to predict the top 10 trends of site power.

Figure 1: Ten trends of site power Ten trends of site power

Figure 2: Peng Jianhua, President of Huawei Site Power Facility Domain Peng Jianhua, President of Huawei Site Power Facility Domain

Trend 1: Power Digitalization

The full power link from power generation, conversion, storage, to use will be digitalized. The entire energy network will change from the traditional watt flow to watt+bit collaboration, driving the digital transformation of site power from points, chains, and networks with the concept of Bit Manage Watt. The convergence of digital technologies and energy technologies will make energy networks visible, manageable, controllable, and optimizable.

Trend 2: "Zero-Carbon" Network

Clean energy application and energy saving have become the mainstream around the world. In the future, the full link of power generation, load consumption, and power conversion and storage will be green, efficient, and energy-saving. From the top-level network planning and design, construction and capacity expansion, to the reconstruction and optimization, digital O&M and energy efficiency management, and zero-carbon evaluation, a zero-carbon network will be realized through the integration of power electronics, digital, and AI technologies. The rapid development of core technologies, high-efficiency technologies, and digital technologies also makes zero-carbon networks possible.

Trend 3: Lithium for All

Thanks to its long lifespan and continuous technology development, lithium batteries gradually replace lead-acid batteries in large-scale application in various industries around the world. Batteries that solely serve as emergency backup power can no longer meet diversified requirements in various scenarios. They are hoped to become a comprehensive energy supply. After the power electronics and digital technologies are combined, the local BMS and cloud BMS will collaborate with each other. With the help of AI and big data technologies, common lithium batteries will become intelligent and cloud-based. Lithium batteries will be safer, applicable to more scenarios, and with more efficient O&M, maximizing the value of site energy storage.

Trend 4: Telecom Site to Social Site

5G has entered different industries. As a result, a large number of digital sites are emerging. Varied scenarios require more flexible and diversified sites. Traditional sites with the single function of communication connection will evolve to social sites with comprehensive functions, maximizing the site value.

Trend 5: Energy Supply Diversification

The diversification of energy supply is embodied in three aspects: First, the diversification of power supply sources. Solar energy will gradually shift from supplementary to primary. Second, the diversification of application scenarios. Site power is no longer just the power source of IT or CT equipment. Instead, it changes to ICT converged power supply and begins to power people's livelihood and production. Third, the diversification of deployment modes. For example, centralized solar power plant, campus power supply and small-sized micro-grid power supply, distributed power supply and hybrid power supply, and household PV power supply.

Trend 6: Full Link Intelligence

With the gradual digital transformation of the energy industry, the traditional siloed architecture and isolated management of energy subsystems will evolve towards integrated smart energy. The software-defined subsystems for power generation, conversion, storage, distribution, consumption, and temperature control will use AI algorithms to achieve full-link collaboration and optimal power supply systems.

Trend 7: Simple and Convergent

As a large number of sites will be deployed, IT and CT services are further integrated at one site and the power supply and battery will be combined. The AC and DC power modes are integrated in one power supply. Therefore, multiple power systems will become one. Sites will evolve from equipment rooms to cabinets and poles, reducing the footprint and power consumption. The site power efficiency will be further improved and the electricity fee will also decrease, achieving low carbon emission throughout the entire network and realizing simplified power supply during the lifecycle.

Trend 8: Multi-mode Architecture

With the diversification of energy supply and equipment types, site power will develop towards a multi-mode coordinated architecture. The system architecture will support multiple energy input and output modes, multi-mode scheduling control and management. The system will evolve by modular overlay. One power supply system applies to multiple scenarios and realizes converged power supply for different services and devices.

Trend 9: Autonomous Driving

Autonomous driving is the development theme of site power in the future. First, the application of AI technologies will simplify energy O&M, implement remote O&M, self-learning, and automatic O&M, and improve O&M quality and efficiency. Second, the intelligent IoT connection technologies and intelligent sensing technologies will enable digital management of site power. The original management of dumb devices will be eliminated. With digital sensors and the intelligent management platform, all components and devices in the energy network can be sensed and interconnected.

Trend 10: Safe and Reliable

The reliability, security, privacy, and resilience of hardware and software become necessary requirements. In addition to high-reliability design and manufacturing, predictive maintenance is supported at the hardware side to consolidate the reliable foundation. In terms of software, layered control and defense functions are added to software, making the energy industry more safe and reliable.

Deep insights into the industry trends help better adapting to future challenges. By releasing the top 10 trends, Huawei aims to help build a greener and better connected world, and bridge the energy divide. In the future, Huawei will continue to adhere to openness and cooperation and work with industry customers, partners, and third-party organizations to promote innovations and achieve win-win outcomes in the digital power era.

Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd

This content is sponsored by Huawei.

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