Europe's Energy Transition Drives Three Key Tech Trends, Highlighting the Role of High-Voltage Liquid Cooling

Reading Time 3 Mins

Driven by the EU's Green Deal aiming for a 45% renewable energy share by 2030, Europe's energy landscape is transforming. Clear, strong trends in energy storage deployment, system voltage, and cooling technology are shaping the next generation of power conversion equipment.

Trend 1: Energy Storage Enters the "Hundred-Gigawatt Era," with C&I Sector Surging

European energy storage deployment is accelerating, with cumulative capacity approaching 100 Gigawatts (GW). Analysis suggests a need for up to 14.6 Terawatt-hours (TWh) of weekly flexible capacity by 2050 for a decarbonized grid. Total storage capacity is expected to exceed 200 GW by 2030, with electrochemical storage projected to add 128 GW/300 GWh from 2020-2030. The Commercial & Industrial (C&I) segment is a major growth driver, with European shipments reaching 4.0 GWh in H1 2025, a 93% year-on-year increase.

Trend 2: HVDC Becomes Core to Grid Modernization, with 1500VDC Gaining Traction

High-Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) technology is crucial for integrating large-scale renewables and enhancing grid interconnections. The global HVDC transmission system market is expanding at a CAGR of about 9.0%, while the HVDC converter market for 2025-2034 is forecast to grow at a CAGR of 35.9%. The shift towards 1500VDC and higher voltages is key for efficient, high-capacity power transmission and management.

Trend 3: Liquid Cooling Expands from Data Centers to Energy Infrastructure

The need to manage heat in high-power-density equipment is driving cooling innovation. The European data center liquid cooling market, expected to grow from $6.76 billion in 2024 to $20.55 billion by 2035, demonstrates its advantages. This trend is extending to energy infrastructure. For continuous high-power applications like charging and storage conversion, liquid cooling offers more efficient, quieter, and reliable thermal management, ideal for urban and complex industrial environments.

Maxwell Solution Introduction

To address these trends, Maxwell introduces its 1500VDC Liquid-Cooled DC/DC Charging Module. It features an advanced liquid cooling system for reliable, quiet operation at full continuous power.

Key Specifications:

Power & Voltage: Rated 60 kW, with a wide 200-1500VDC output voltage range.

Input: Voltage range 450-920VDC, max input current ≤82A.

Output: Max output current 160A.

Peak efficiency: ＞97%

The Maxwell module MXR150060BL-DC with high-power output reduces the need for parallel units, lowering costs. The efficient liquid cooling addresses thermal challenges in high-density energy storage and charging systems, enhancing reliability and deployment flexibility. It is suitable for C&I storage, solar-storage-charge integration, and heavy-duty EV charging, supporting Europe's 2030 renewable energy goals