CLOU was founded in 1996 and has nearly 30 years of experience in smart grids and battery energy storage. It is part of the Midea Group, a Fortune Global 500 company, and is also listed by BloombergNEF as a Tier-1 energy storage manufacturer and power conversion systems (PCS).

Currently, the company is consolidating its presence in Europe after just a year of operations in the region, securing major energy storage agreements with a clearly defined strategy. 

Additionally, it already has over 4 GWh in operation in Chile and the United States, experience it now seeks to bring to the European market. “We are strongly committed to continued growth in Europe,” says Hayat Kebir Tio, CLOU’s General Manager for Europe, in an exclusive interview with Strategic Energy Europe during Intersolar 2025.

The executive confirms that CLOU recently signed contracts for 240 MWh in Poland and 96 MWh in Greece, two markets where it sees significant growth potential. These figures reflect the company’s firm commitment to becoming a key player in the continent’s energy transition.

A Strategy Based on Four Priority Regions

The company has structured its expansion plan around four strategic countries: Germany, Poland, the United Kingdom, and Spain. This segmentation allows CLOU to adapt to the specific regulations and demands of each market.

“Poland is one of the most active markets, with advanced regulation that favors the implementation of new technologies. By contrast, in Spain, we’re waiting for regulatory conditions to become more favorable,” explains the executive. She notes that the United Kingdom is the benchmark market in the region, thanks to its maturity.

To strengthen its European presence, CLOU relies on highly qualified local personnel, combining commercial and technical teams in each of these regions. Additionally, it has a dedicated support team in China focused exclusively on the European market.

The Impact of Blackouts on Storage Demand

The recent blackout on the Iberian Peninsula marked a turning point for the sector. “Regardless of the country or the company, everyone is aware that storage is one of the key solutions to prevent the problems caused by an unstable grid,” says Hayat Kebir, noting that the blackout was one of the most talked-about topics at this year’s Intersolar.

In fact, after the blackout, companies in Poland reached out to CLOU’s partners seeking immediate solutions to avoid disruptions in critical services. “It was the final push needed to fully commit to storage,” she emphasizes.

Will 2025 be the Year of Batteries?

Despite growing awareness of the need for energy storage and higher attendance in the battery halls at Intersolar, Hayat remains cautious. “We are still in an upward trend, but without support from governments in terms of regulation, auctions, and incentives, I don’t think 2025 will be the breakthrough year. We are still paving the way,” she comments.

Nonetheless, long-term prospects are clear. CLOU aims to replicate in Europe the success it has achieved globally, where it already has more than 8 GWh in operation or in the process of delivery, including the United States and Chile, where CLOU already has more than 4 GWh in operation.

“Our goal is to bring all that expertise to Europe and secure a strong position in terms of market share,” concludes the General Manager, making it clear that the company’s ambition is to play a leading role in the continent’s energy transition.

New Solutions Presented at Intersolar 2025

During the trade show, CLOU unveiled two distinct solutions. First, a 233 kWh cabinet with integrated PCS for the commercial and industrial (C&I) market; and second, Utility Scale solutions with 5 MWh containers available in both AC and DC configurations.

“Our strategy is to offer a complete package. We develop our own energy management systems (EMS) and create open solutions that can integrate with third-party PCS, bringing value to the entire project chain,” says the executive.

She also explains that the adoption of these solutions varies by market. “Spain, for example—and this is also partly due to my own background in the sector—has always been more oriented toward C&I solutions. These are the types of projects currently operating in Spain and Portugal since last year, some reaching 2 MWh, composed of 215 kWh or 233 kWh cabinets,” she details.

In contrast, she points out that “the rest of the European countries are more focused on stand-alone or grid-connected solutions, often hybridized with solar or wind plants. There are countries where C&I solutions are not as attractive, but in others, they at least provide some market certainty.”