Solar & ESS Blog
LONGi Makes a Decisive Entry into Energy Storage with Majority Acquisition of PotisEdge
In a move that could reshape its strategic direction for the next decade, LONGi Green Energy — the world’s largest solar-wafer manufacturer — has taken majority voting control of rising energy-storage integrator PotisEdge, signaling the company’s most significant pivot since becoming a dominant force in global PV manufacturing.
According to a regulatory filing published on 13 November by the Shaanxi Administration for Market Regulation, LONGi will secure approximately 62% (61.9998%) of PotisEdge’s voting rights through a combination of equity acquisition, capital injection, and entrusted voting arrangements. The deal provides LONGi with an immediate and mature entry point into the fast-expanding global ESS (Energy Storage Systems) sector — at a moment when the solar module industry is grappling with oversupply, collapsing margins, and escalating price pressure.
For LONGi, which has spent years strengthening its leadership in monocrystalline wafer and module production, the move reflects a necessary shift. After experiencing seven consecutive quarters of losses and reporting a 2024 net loss of CNY 8.6 billion, the company is under mounting pressure to diversify and secure a new growth engine beyond solar panels. Its earlier venture into hydrogen has yet to achieve meaningful commercial traction, making energy storage the most viable path forward.
Who is PotisEdge — and Why Does It Matter?
Founded in 2015, PotisEdge has rapidly evolved into one of China’s most technologically advanced ESS integrators, developing full-stack in-house capabilities across:
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iCCS (integrated Centralized Cell Safety Monitoring/Management System)
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PCS
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TMS
The company has filed nearly 350 patents, ranks #2 globally among DC-side storage system integrators, and is top six in China within the C&I (commercial and industrial) storage segment. With 31 GWh of global capacity and over 10 GWh of grid-connected deployments, PotisEdge is already one of China’s most active ESS exporters.
Just weeks before the LONGi transaction, the company signed a major 2 GWh residential storage agreement with Australia’s Club Solar, highlighting its rising influence in overseas markets.
PotisEdge’s rapid expansion has attracted more than 30 strategic investors, including CRRC Capital, GoodWe, and Maxwell, making it one of the highest-valued independent firms in the Chinese storage ecosystem.
Why LONGi Is Pivoting Now
China’s energy storage sector is booming. In the first three quarters of 2025 alone, the industry generated CNY 493.1 billion, with profits surging 38% year-on-year — vastly outpacing revenue growth. The shift reflects a broader industry truth: as global solar penetration rises, the value is migrating from simple generation to dispatchable, storage-enabled clean power.
LONGi’s acquisition of PotisEdge positions it to compete directly with established storage giants such as CATL and BYD, as well as module manufacturers like JinkoSolar, Trina Solar, Canadian Solar, and JA Solar, all of whom have already expanded into ESS.
This deal effectively makes LONGi the last of China’s major module brands to formally commit to energy storage — but it may prove to be the most strategically timed.
A Critical Turning Point for LONGi
The integration of PotisEdge’s technology platform, global channels, and ESS manufacturing expertise will be essential for LONGi to stand out in an increasingly competitive market. Success could solidify LONGi’s position not only as a solar manufacturer but as a full-spectrum clean-energy provider.
The acquisition marks a significant shift for China’s largest solar company:
the future is no longer just about solar generation — it is about pairing solar with scalable, safe, and intelligent storage.