Huawei: Enabling Transparent and Sustainable BESS Supply Chains

Driving Decarbonisation in Energy Storage

As a global technology leader, Huawei Technologies is at the forefront of the energy transition. In 2024, the company identified a critical strategic need: to quantify and communicate the environmental performance of its Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) solutions in line with growing market expectations and evolving regulatory requirements.

Customers, particularly in Europe and Asia, were increasingly demanding verifiable, transparent lifecycle data as part of procurement decisions. With the EU Battery Regulation on the horizon, Huawei sought a trusted partner to help build a robust, internationally recognised LCA foundation that could both meet compliance obligations and inform a long-term decarbonisation strategy.

Building an LCA Roadmap for Scalable Impact

Huawei partnered with Minviro to develop a comprehensive Carbon Footprint of Batteries - Industrial (CFB-IND), following the JRC CFB-IND guidelines for Huawei’s BESS product line. The intent of aligning with the JRC CFB-IND guidelines was to ensure Huawei is prepared and at the forefront of reporting to the anticipated CFB-IND regulation that is being developed by the EU Commission. The project leveraged Minviro’s XYCLE platform to model environmental impacts across the full cradle-to-gate value chain, including battery system production, material inputs, upstream logistics, and embedded energy use.

To meet Huawei’s strict data security requirements, Minviro deployed its team directly to Huawei’s offices in China. All modelling and report execution were carried out on-site, ensuring complete confidentiality and data integrity. The final report and underlying model files remain stored exclusively within Huawei’s secure internal systems, a clear reflection of Minviro’s commitment to serving clients with flexibility, trust and precision.

This engagement went beyond reporting. It laid the foundation for Huawei’s strategic positioning as a low-carbon technology provider, preparing the company to align seamlessly with emerging market expectations and regulatory frameworks.

Enabling Upstream Data and Traceability

A key pillar of this project was the collection and integration of primary data on critical battery components, including upstream raw materials for cathode, anode, and cell production, from Huawei’s complex upstream supply chain. This work enabled Huawei to build traceability into its supply chain, enhancing data quality and transparency.

By mapping upstream material flows and integrating verified datasets, Minviro supported Huawei in identifying emissions hotspots across the BESS supply chain. This created clear opportunities to target decarbonisation interventions, including lower-carbon sourcing strategies and process optimisation.

Creating Strategic Value for Future Markets

Minviro supported Huawei through a comprehensive decarbonisation roadmapping exercise, focused on identifying opportunities to reduce carbon emissions across the product life cycle, from design and material selection to manufacturing and supply chain management.

We worked closely with Huawei’s design and engineering teams to integrate life cycle thinking into early-stage product development. This included trade-off analysis between energy density, modularity, and durability, allowing teams to prioritise designs that deliver both performance and environmental benefits.

Through detailed LCA modelling, we evaluated the carbon hotspots across the material inputs of BESS. The roadmapping highlighted opportunities to switch to lower-carbon materials, increase recycled content, and engage suppliers with verified carbon-reduction pathways.

The outcomes of the LCA work provided Huawei with more than technical numbers; they offered strategic clarity. With this new visibility, Huawei was able to:

• Demonstrate alignment with the upcoming EU regulatory requirements for industrial batteries.
• Equip customers with credible carbon footprint information for their own disclosures.
• Strengthen its positioning as a trusted partner in global clean energy markets.

“Working with Minviro gave us a clear understanding of our product’s footprint and the actions needed to align with future regulatory and market demands.”
- Representative, Huawei BESS Programme (2024)

Powering the Energy Transition

Huawei and Minviro’s collaboration demonstrates how strategic lifecycle thinking can help technology companies move beyond compliance and shape the future of low-carbon energy.

By combining advanced LCA modelling with on-site delivery, data security assurance, and strategic decarbonisation planning, Huawei is future-proofing its supply chain and enhancing transparency with downstream partners.

This collaboration reflects a shared commitment to measurable climate impact and market leadership in the clean energy transition.