Supporting Europe's Energy Transition: An Interview with Dirk Kaisers--"We Support Our Customers Throughout the Entire Project Lifecycle”

Interview by Martin Heinrichs for ew Magazin für Energiewirtschaft (ew). Originally published in German in Issue 7–8/2026 and translated into English by Daqo Group for its international audiences.

As Europe expands renewable energy, reinforces its power grids and responds to growing electricity demand from industry, e-mobility and data centers, reliable and adaptable power distribution infrastructure is becoming increasingly important. In this interview, Dirk Kaisers, Country Manager for Germany at Daqo Electric Europe, discusses Daqo's approach to the German and wider European markets—from SF₆-free medium-voltage switchgear and modular, factory-tested substations to local engineering coordination, customer service and long-term support.

We Support Our Customers Throughout the Entire Project Lifecycle

ew: Daqo Group has been providing solutions for the energy industry for more than 60 years. What are the main product areas you offer for the energy sector?

Dirk Kaisers: Our portfolio covers equipment and integrated systems for power distribution, control, automation and energy management. Key areas include medium- and low-voltage switchgear, transformers, busbar systems, prefabricated substations, E-House solutions, intelligent components and digital energy-management platforms.

These solutions are used in power generation, grid infrastructure, renewable energy, energy storage, data centers, and industrial and commercial facilities. Many energy projects now require coordinated electrical systems rather than stand-alone products, so we combine manufacturing and engineering capabilities to adapt solutions to local grid conditions, standards and operating requirements. 

Daqo's industrial base includes four research institutes, 32 manufacturing companies and more than 17,000 employees. Our products and projects now span more than 80 countries and regions, giving us experience across different power systems and project environments.

ew: Daqo is exhibiting at The smarter E Europe 2026. What new developments will you present there?

Dirk Kaisers: At The smarter E Europe 2026, we will focus on solutions for greener, faster and more reliable power infrastructure.

One highlight is the DQS Air Series SF₆-free ring main unit. It uses dry-air insulation and vacuum interruption, providing an alternative to conventional SF6 equipment as Europe tightens requirements around fluorinated gases. With KEMA-tested switchgear and short lead times for selected configurations, Daqo can help customers move toward SF6-free distribution while maintaining reliability and project schedule certainty. Its compact, sealed design is intended for reliable, low-maintenance operation and is well suited to the European market.

We will also present containerized substation solutions for photovoltaic and battery energy storage system (BESS) projects. Transformers, medium- and low-voltage switchgear, monitoring and auxiliary systems can be integrated, wired and tested before shipment. This helps reduce onsite interfaces, installation work and commissioning time.

Our display will also include dry-type and energy-saving oil-immersed transformers, as well as solid-state transformer technology as a future-oriented development for data centers, renewable integration and smart-grid applications.

ew: How do you assess market development in Germany and Europe, and what solutions do you offer specifically for these markets?

Dirk Kaisers: Germany and Europe are moving into the next phase of the energy transition. Renewable capacity is growing, but grid connection capacity, network reinforcement, storage and electrification are becoming equally important. New loads from industrial electrification, e-mobility and data centers are also increasing demand for resilient distribution infrastructure.

This creates demand for solutions that are quick to deploy, reliable under changing load profiles and aligned with stricter environmental expectations. For Germany and Europe, Daqo is focusing on SF₆-free medium-voltage equipment, integrated distribution systems, prefabricated substations, digital monitoring and automation.

We see strong value in modular, factory-tested designs because they can reduce onsite complexity and improve project execution. At the same time, Europe is not one uniform market. Standards, grid practices and customer expectations differ by country and application, so we adapt configurations and service models to local requirements.

ew: The opening of Daqo's Frankfurt office in April 2026 marked an important milestone. What goals and priorities will Daqo pursue in Germany and Europe going forward?

Dirk Kaisers: The opening of our Frankfurt office is an important step in building a long-term local presence. Germany is one of Europe's key energy and industrial markets, and Frankfurt provides a practical base for serving customers in Germany and the wider region.

Our objective is to bring sales, engineering coordination, technical support and after-sales service closer to customers. This allows us to discuss requirements earlier, respond faster and align documentation, compliance and delivery processes more closely with European expectations.

The local company will also support regional partners, service resources and project coordination. The goal is to combine Daqo's manufacturing and engineering capabilities with local market knowledge and long-term customer support.

ew: What services do you offer for the German and European energy market, and how is sales organized in Germany and Europe?

Dirk Kaisers: We support customers from early technical consultation and product selection through engineering coordination, delivery management and after-sales service. Depending on the project, this may include equipment configuration, interface coordination, documentation support and coordination with Daqo's manufacturing and engineering teams.

Sales and commercial execution are handled through Daqo International, the Group's international business platform, while the Germany-based team provides local customer communication, technical coordination and market support. In wider European markets, we combine direct engagement with selected regional partners. Major projects and strategic accounts are coordinated directly, while partners help expand local coverage and provide market-specific support.

This structure gives EPCs, developers, utilities and industrial customers a clearer route to the right Daqo specialists, while strengthening local representativeness as our European business grows.

ew: Where do you see your unique selling points compared with solutions from other market players in Germany and Europe?

Dirk Kaisers: What distinguishes Daqo is the breadth of our electrical distribution portfolio and our ability to coordinate several product areas as one technical package. Medium- and low-voltage equipment, transformers, automation and energy-management systems can be planned together, reducing interface complexity for customers and supporting more efficient project delivery.

Another advantage is manufacturing flexibility. For selected products and configurations, manufacturing lead times can range from four to seven weeks, depending on technical scope and project requirements. This can be important for grid connections, renewable projects and construction schedules where time certainty matters.

Daqo has also built international experience through decades of joint ventures and technology cooperation with companies such as Siemens, Sécheron, Eaton and Moeller. This has strengthened our understanding of international technologies, standards and quality systems.

A recent AI data-center project in France is a good example. Daqo supplied clean-air gas-insulated ring main units, transformers, low-voltage switchgear and high-density prefabricated PowerPod units. The project required system integration, continuity of supply and coordinated delivery, demonstrating our ability to execute complex electrical packages for demanding European applications.

Original article: https://en.daqo.com/Ftp/1.pdf