As solar and other renewable energy sources continue to gain a larger share of the global power mix at a rapid pace, energy storage is emerging as a critical enabler in this transition. Meeting this rising demand is HyperStrong, a leading energy storage system integrator and service provider from China.  

At the recently concluded SNEC 2025, TaiyangNews Managing Director Michael Schmela held an exclusive conversation with Dr. Guang Yang, President of Technology at HyperStrong, to explore the evolving global landscape of energy storage and the company’s strategic roadmap amid intensifying competition.

TaiyangNews: In mature markets, solar is reaching a glass ceiling due to negative electricity prices, and there are curtailments as well as low solar capture rates. The value of solar is going down because the peaks are so strong. Battery storage brings a flexibility option that is faster and cheaper than gas. How do you see the battery storage option?

Dr. Guang Yang: I think you already touched on the essence of the issue. Renewable energy sources – wind and solar – they're intermittent. Especially for solar, there's a very obvious pattern during the daytime. Moreover, the reason we have zero or even negative electricity pricing is due to the lack of transmission capacity. That's how energy storage came into the picture. 

Founded in 2011, HyperStrong is an energy storage solution provider. We use lithium-ion batteries. We expanded our energy storage business into the international market after the pandemic. For now, we have our regional centers in Europe, in North America, in APAC, and in Middle East.

We see strong demand in the international market in the current energy environment. HyperStrong is trying to provide the most competitive product in terms of performance with high round-trip efficiency, lifetime, and availability.  

TaiyangNews: The night is long, and wind and solar don’t produce electricity at all times.  The battery storage capacity started with 2 hours, and then expanded to even 8 hours now. How much can batteries really cater to? 

Dr. Guang Yang: In the past, 2 hours were dominant. Now we see 3-hour, 4-hour, 6-hour, and 8-hour systems. I think the reason is the increased penetration of solar and wind into the grid. Negative electricity prices will become longer in such a scenario. That’s why energy storage hours are extending. These can store energy at off-peak hours and then discharge it at peak hours.

TaiyangNews: Given the dramatic growth of global storage markets across segments and regions, what solutions are you offering, and where is your main focus, especially in relation to market maturity and demand?

Dr. Guang Yang: At our booth at SNEC, you'll see our focus on ESS plus X, where X represents various applications such as oil fields, charging stations, and data centers. These span both behind-the-meter and front-of-the-meter scenarios. 

We offer a full product portfolio. Our flagship utility-scale solution is HyperBlock IV, a 20-foot containerized system. Now, we’re introducing the next-gen HyperBlock M, a compact, modular 10-foot version that offers greater flexibility. Multiple units can be configured side-by-side or back-to-back, making it ideal where space, capacity, or power constraints exist. 

For commercial and industrial (C&I) needs, we offer systems with 232 kWh or over 300 kWh capacity. For EV charging stations, we provide integrated charger + ESS solutions, starting at 69–100 kWh and scale up as needed. 

Across all use cases, we prioritize performance, people, round-trip efficiency, and product longevity – core demands from our customers. 

Different applications require tailored solutions. For instance, grid-scale scenarios need large capacity but lower power, charging stations need smaller capacity, higher power for short-duration peak shaving, and C&I demands mid-range capacity and power. We balance standardized offerings with the ability to rapidly customize solutions to meet specific customer needs, ensuring flexibility with fast response. 

TaiyangNews: What is the main USP or the main differentiator for HyperStrong vis-à-vis its competitors? 

Dr. Guang Yang: I would say there are 2 major aspects. At the product end, we focus on performance metrics rather than just cost. We emphasize round-trip efficiency, lifespan and availability. I think we have the highest performance numbers in the industry. For a high-performance product, we work closely with our vendors to ensure strict quality standards for all critical components, such as batteries and PCS. We also carry out comprehensive testing at our Beijing or Zhuhai testing centers before the components can be integrated into our system. We spend around RMB 200 million on these testing facilities.

The other aspect that differentiates us is the services we provide. We provide fast delivery. Beyond that, we work with our customers for a tailored project planning approach. We assess the historical energy data and pricing curves to recommend to our customers the most optimal ESS configurations using AI-based tools. Having deployed more than 30 GWh of our ESS systems already, we can guide our customers with capital planning by leveraging performance data. HyperStrong also provides full lifecycle support, including O&M and after-sales services.

TaiyangNews: How do you address safety, which is crucial in the battery storage industry? 

Dr. Guang Yang: Safety is our top priority. We’ve embedded multi-dimensional sensing – force, voltage, temperature, and gas – into our ESS. These sensors, combined with AI, help us detect anomalies early. We can often predict potential safety risks, such as HVAC or cell issues, up to 21 days in advance. This enables proactive maintenance, preventing incidents before they occur. 

TaiyangNews: ESG is an important topic, not just due to regulations, but also because customers and large corporates are increasingly prioritizing it. How are you addressing ESG requirements, and what concrete actions are you taking? 

Dr. Guang Yang: We fully recognize the growing importance of ESG, especially for international markets. For our own operations in China, we’ve started tracking carbon emissions and are working closely with our cell vendors to ensure full traceability. 

Whenever we establish a new production line, we prioritize energy efficiency by adopting intelligent manufacturing equipment to reduce energy consumption. We’re committed to doing everything within our means to meet ESG expectations. 

We have introduced more intelligent and energy-efficient equipment on our production lines to reduce our energy consumption and lower carbon emissions. We have already built a green factory at our Fangshan base in Beijing. It features a rooftop solar system. We are actively working to increase the share of green energy across our manufacturing processes. 

Vendor performance in ESG is just as critical. Beyond rigorous product testing, we require comprehensive ESG-related documentation and certifications from our suppliers before integrating their products into our system. We’re serious about ESG, both in our operations and throughout our supply chain. 

TaiyangNews: You are a technology-driven company. Could you talk about your roadmap? 

Dr. Guang Yang: While many focus on bigger, high-density systems, we at HyperStrong prioritize flexibility for our customers. As a system integrator and solution provider, we invest heavily in our core components – BMS, PCS, and EMS – because having control over these allows us to quickly customize and optimize systems. At the same time, we stay open to integrating third-party solutions, depending on customer preferences, as long as integration is fast and seamless. 

On the AI front, we’ve been working with data since 2011, long before AI became a trend. Today, we use AI models to simulate, optimize, and customize system control strategies for different use cases. Once deployed, we continuously collect field data to evaluate and adjust performance in real time. By combining smart component design with AI-driven, closed-loop optimization, we aim to deliver high-performing, flexible systems that maximize value for our customers. That’s what we are striving for.

TaiyangNews: In the context of solar companies expanding across the value chain, how does HyperStrong view its strategic direction? Are you focused solely on battery products, or do you plan to diversify into areas like hydrogen or cell manufacturing? 

Dr. Guang Yang: We currently don’t manufacture battery cells and have no immediate plans to do so. Our strategy isn’t to compete across the full value chain but to collaborate closely with top-tier vendors – especially cell manufacturers – to co-define battery specifications optimized for ESS. While vendors excel at making high-performance, low-cost cells, they often lack insight into system integration needs. That’s where we come in. 

Instead of trying to ‘take others’ cake,’ we believe in hand-in-hand collaboration across the ESS ecosystem – working with PCS, EMS providers, and others – to co-create the best-performing systems. Success, in our view, comes from lifting the whole industry together, not from racing too far ahead alone. That’s how we achieve a win-win. 

TaiyangNews: Looking into a crystal ball, what would have changed in the industry and for your company by next SNEC? 

Dr. Guang Yang: I think this year we talk about ESS plus X. By next year, the industry will likely shift focus to value generation for customers rather than competing solely on price. 

Vendors and integrators will increasingly recognize that their success hinges on delivering performance-driven, customer-centric solutions. Moving away from price wars to value-based competition will benefit the entire ecosystem.  

TaiyangNews: Thank you very much.