As the world’s leading supplier and manufacturer of solar panels and storage, Jinko Solar has made it its mission to optimize the energy portfolio and enable a sustainable future as it continues to achieve milestones toward renewable-powered, net-zero production. Recently, the company unveiled its Neo Green solar panels, a new addition to its N-type TOPCon Tiger Neo panel series. These panels are innovatively sustainable, produced in facilities awarded the Zero Carbon Factory certification by TÜV Rheinland.
“We are extremely proud to release our first Neo Green panels produced in factories that use electricity from renewable sources, a strong expression of our efforts to fulfill our commitment to sustainability,” commented Dany Qian, Jinko Solar’s vice president. “Our biggest impact on the environment will always come from providing customers with sustainable products and solutions that accelerate a greener future, reflecting the shared values of our customers, partners, and investors.”
The development of Neo Green panels is an undeniable achievement that couldn’t have been accomplished without Jinko Solar’s robust commitment to renewable-powered, net-zero production.
Jinko’s Renewable, Net-Zero Commitment
In 2019, Jinko Solar became the first solar module manufacturer to join the RE100 pledge, a corporate global initiative of industry leaders dedicated to transitioning to 100% renewable energy by 2050.
“As the world’s largest solar module manufacturer, ‘net-zero emissions’ have become ingrained in Jinko Solar’s essence,” Qian said about joining the initiative.
Since joining the pledge, the company has transitioned over 50% of its operations to run on renewable energy, with 12 of its factories running on a mix of hydro, solar, and wind energy and an additional three — in Chuxiong and Leshan in China, and Malaysia — running entirely on renewables.
“It is proving the business case that well-managed companies can reduce the greenhouse gases that are causing the climate crisis while simultaneously reducing their energy costs,” said Qian of this feat. “Now that renewable energies are more mainstream and the cost of the energy is far lower, ecological responsibility can be good business.”
In 2021, Jinko Solar expanded its commitment to net zero by joining the Science Based Targets initiative, an organization that aids in developing emission reduction pathways for businesses.
With the SBTi, Jinko Solar has pledged to reach net-zero operations by 2050. It recently became the first photovoltaic company to have its net-zero targets approved by the organization, signifying that the company is on a clear path toward its goals.
“Our commitment to joining the SBTi extends beyond internal measures,” said Qian. “While RE100 showcases our rigorous self-regulation, SBTi signifies a broader responsibility that encompasses our entire supply chain. As a prominent player in the solar industry, Jinko Solar recognizes the need to play a more significant role in addressing climate challenges.”
The Path to Net-Zero Innovation
Since pledging renewable and net-zero production, Jinko Solar has made significant milestones toward sustainability. By the end of 2022, adjustments made to its facilities — including the installation of 102.07 megawatts of roof-mounted solar panels — had reduced its companywide CO2 emissions by approximately 32,800 tons.
In 2023, the company’s Leshan facility became the world’s first wafer factory to receive TÜV Rheinland’s Zero Carbon Factory certification, demonstrating that the factory has undertaken significant energy-saving, emission-reducing, and carbon-eliminating measures to reduce its carbon outputs to net-zero emissions.
“With our eyes set on achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, we’re not only transforming our business, but also contributing to global climate solutions,” Qian shared.
This achievement has not only brought the company closer to RE100 and SBTi goals, but also set the stage for the new N-type Neo Green panels, an innovatively sustainable solar module produced in Zero Carbon Factory-certified facilities.
These Neo Green panels boast an impressive initial 5 gigawatt capacity, representing the company’s extensive research and development into sustainable panels that serve as a true alternative to those traditionally produced.
In addition to its eco-friendly Neo Green panels, Jinko Solar has announced that it will continue to expand its use of recycled materials and plans on gradually reducing plastics in its packaging. This represents a clear expansion of the company’s cradle-to-cradle approach to manufacturing — a production approach that promotes the circularity of a product by ensuring all of its materials are reusable or recyclable.
In 2017, Jinko Solar became one of only two photovoltaic manufacturers to be Cradle to Cradle Certified for its Eagle modules, with several other models receiving carbon footprint verification from TÜV Rheinland — a similar cradle-to-grave life cycle analysis.
“We are very proud to receive this certification from TÜV Rheinland. It is a strong endorsement of our efforts over the years to improve the energy efficiency of our products and execute our carbon emission reduction plans, said Hao Jin, JinkoSolar’s chief technology officer.
“Our green achievements demonstrate that we are heading in the right direction and we will continue to further support our customers and end users who are conscious about their environmental impact and promote practical ways of reducing their carbon footprint.”
Jinko Solar: The Eco-Friendly Industry Leader
As a global leader in the renewable energy industry, Jinko Solar understands the importance of setting an example for eco-friendly business practices and sustainable products. With the company experiencing over 75% year-over-year sales, Jinko Solar continues to prove that major companies can embrace sustainability without sacrificing record-breaking growth.
In a time when global carbon emissions continue to reach new highs, Jinko Solar hopes to show the two-thirds of the world’s largest companies without a net-zero plan that it’s feasible with the help of collaboration and a united mindset.
As Jinko’s Qian states, “Our commitment to emissions reductions goes beyond our immediate industry. We aim to inspire collaboration across various sectors, promoting a global mindset that unites us as a single global village. Our goal is to pave the way for a cleaner, greener future across industries on a global scale.”