Astronergy aims for 8 zero-carbon factories by 2028; SPIC’s 140 MW agri-PV project uses in-house HJT modules; Jiutian New Energy’s PV ribbon facility starts production in Taiyuan; Folungwin’s PV equipment fab begins operations in Changzhou.

Astronergy plans 8 zero-carbon factories by 2028: PV module manufacturer Astronergy has released its Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Report of 2023. According to the report, the company’s carbon emission intensity decreased by 7.12% Year-over-Year (YoY) in 2023, saving 2708.47 tons of standard coal, 15.7684 million kWh of electricity, and 69,000 cubic meters of water. Its energy intensity decreased by 34.18% YoY, and water intensity decreased by 25.43% YoY. Harmless waste recovery rate increased by 14.65%, achieving zero landfill of waste. In 2023, Astronergy created its 1^st zero-carbon factory—Yancheng Zero Carbon Factory, reducing 42,221.37 tons of CO2 emissions. In March of this year, Astronergy started construction on its 2^nd zero-carbon factory at the Jiuquan Base and is expected to be completed by the end of July. The company plans to certify 8 zero-carbon factories by 2028.

Earlier this month, Astronergy’s plans for a 12 GW n-type solar cell and module manufacturing base were revealed by a document from the Natural Resources and Planning Bureau of Fengyang County (see China Solar PV News Snippets).

SPIC supplies HJT modules for 200 MW agri-PV project: Stated-owned power company State Power Investment Corporation (SPIC) has announced that the 140 MW 1^st phase of its 200 MW agri-PV ground solar power plant has been grid-connected. The project is located in Xinyu City, Jiangxi Province. The company says that all the solar modules used in this project are its in-house developed high-efficiency heterojunction (HJT) modules. At its current capacity of 140 MW, the plant is said to be equipped with 15.5 hours of energy storage.

Last week, SPIC announced initiating construction on more than 200 clean energy projects in China (see China Solar PV News Snippets).

Jiutian New Energy’s new PV ribbon facility starts production: PV materials supplier Jiutian New Energy has announced that the 1^st production line of its new PV ribbon manufacturing facility is now online. Located in Taiyuan City, Shanxi Province, the plant has a planned annual production capacity of 13,000 tons of PV ribbon. It is expected to generate RMB 1 billion ($138.24 million) in annual revenues once at full capacity. The 1^st production line is equipped with 25 round wire tinning machines, 4 high-speed interconnectors, 2 rolling mills, and auxiliary equipment. Jiutian New Energy stated that it is advancing the construction of the 2^nd production line, which is expected to start production at the end of June.

Folungwin’s wet cleaning and fluffing equipment fab online: Solar manufacturing equipment supplier Folungwin has announced the start of its PV equipment manufacturing facility in Jintan District, Changzhou City, Jiangsu Province. The project has a total investment of RMB 1 billion ($138.24 million) and plans to build 200 wet cleaning and fluffing equipment production lines. The wet cleaning and fluffing equipment produced at this facility is mainly used for monocrystalline silicon wafers. Capable of producing nearly 1,300 sets of various types of PV equipment per year, the facility is expected to generate revenues of RMB 2 billion ($276.3 million) annually once fully operational.