Osaka, Japan - Panasonic Corporation today announced that it has realized its first Zero CO₂ factory in China at Panasonic Energy (Wuxi) Co. Ltd. (PECW) adding to its list of facilities that emit virtually no carbon dioxide.

Panasonic has been carrying forward environmental activities in accordance with the Panasonic Environment Vision 2050, a long-term vision of environmental management formulated in June 2017 with clearly defined direction for the company to pursue for 2050. As one of the activities to promote businesses aiming for a sustainable society, the company is working globally to establish Zero CO₂ factories that do not emit the greenhouse gas during operations. The company had already realized six Zero CO₂ model factories and a Zero CO₂ showroom*² among its facilities in the world. By leveraging its know-how gained through this experience, Panasonic has now realized a Zero CO₂ factory in China.

The factory in Wuxi City, Jiangsu Province, makes secondary batteries, mainly lithium-ion batteries and nickel-metal hydride batteries. It has worked on innovation in high-quality and highly efficient manufacturing. For example, in 2018, the factory introduced an automated assembly line that replaces conventional manual and visual inspections with a dual-arm robot and an image inspection system. Specific measures to achieve a Zero CO₂ factory in China include the promotion of manufacturing with minimum energy, which uses less energy in manufacturing through innovations in manufacturing methods and processes, advanced energy-saving technologies and LED lighting. Also introduced are solar power generation systems, purchase of International Energy Certificates (I-RECs), use of carbon credits that offset CO₂ emissions from fossil fuels, and utilization of rental roof scheme. Through these measures, the factory in Wuxi is able to bring approx. 44,000 tons of CO₂ emissions to net zero in the fiscal year 2021 that ends in March 2021, the largest CO₂ reduction among the Panasonic Zero CO₂ factories that have been realized to date.

By rolling out these activities to Panasonic group companies on a global scale, Panasonic will steadily implement manufacturing without emitting CO₂, aiming for a sustainable society as set forth in the Panasonic Environment Vision 2050.

Specific activities toward realizing a Zero CO₂ factory

1. Promotion of manufacturing with minimum energy

• Establishment of an automatic production line driven by mainly dual-arm robot (from FY 2019): This increased the production capacity by 10% with the same amount of energy consumption as before, and also contributed to the reduction of the number of defective products.
• Introduction of the smart EMS (Energy Management System) automatic energy-saving control utilizing artificial intelligence (from FY 2020): This increased energy saving by 14% at most in the processes where it was introduced.
• Use of inverters for dust collectors, pumps, and exhaust fans (10 units completed since FY 2017): This reduced the number of operation frequency by approx. 10 Hz, and reduced 330 tons of CO₂ per year.
• Introduction of inverter-type compressors and vacuum pumps (3 units completed since FY 2018): This resulted in energy saving and reduced 330 tons of CO₂ per year by using inverters.
• Introduction of LED lighting (since FY 2019): At a total of 13,725 locations, fluorescent lamps, metal halide lamps, and down light lamps were replaced with LED lamps.

2. Introduction of solar power generation systems (since FY 2017, power generation capacity: 1.6 MW)

3. Purchase of I-RECs (International Renewable Energy Certificates)

4. Use of carbon credits that offset CO₂ emissions from fossil fuels

Going forward, Panasonic will also implement measures that utilize in-house developed technologies, e.g. strengthening the energy-saving activities, further utilization of renewable energy such as geothermal heat, and introduction of technologies to absorb, separate, and utilize CO₂ emitted from fossil fuels.

Notes:

• *1: Zero CO₂ factory: a factory with virtually zero CO₂ emissions through measures such as promoting energy saving, introducing renewable energy and utilizing carbon credits.
• *2: Realized Zero CO₂ model factories and a Zero CO₂ showroom: Panasonic Eco Technology Center (PETEC), Panasonic Energy Belgium N.V. (PECBE), Panasonic do Brazil Limitada (PANABRAS: total 3 factories in Sao Jose, Extrema, and Manaus), Panasonic Centroamericana SA (PCA), and Panasonic Center Tokyo.

Arctech Solar, a leading solar tracking and racking system provider, announced that it has completed the tracker production and shipment of the major tracker components from China for IBRI II project in Oman, which is invested by Saudi Arabia's leading renewables developer ACWA power. This project is not only the largest utility-scale PV plant in the Middle East to date, but also one of the world's largest PV plant boasting single-axis trackers and bifacial modules.

Considering the project was set up in the harsh tropical desert environment and equipped with bifacial modules, SkyLine(1P) tracking system, one of the most advanced innovative products of Arctech, was an ideal match to the project, what is thought to be the best combination of the two cutting edge technologies in the world. After years of R&D investment by Arctech, SkyLine trackers adapt to all types climates and terrains due to its self-learning ability and easy installation, which can greatly increase the energy yield and lower LCOE.

To overcome the challenges of the outbreak of COVID-19, Arctech adjusted its production plan and allocate resources during the Spring Festival appropriately to ensure its production in full swing and delivery on-time. Further to this, Arctech has localized part of the production orders in Saudi Arabia to meet the localization requirements and dispatched project engineers to work on-site ensuring all the projects on track, and all the benefits that come from its strong worldwide presence.

"The beginning of 2020 has been especially bumpy. However, we successfully tackled challenges by remaining focused on ensuring production capacity and resolving delivery issues. We are delighted to fulfill our commitment to customers," said Mr. Guy Rong, the president of Arctech Solar's global business. "As a reliable and solid partner of customers from various regions, we are committed to providing competitive high-quality products and sophisticated solutions through our fast-response global service network."

In 2019, Arctech made a significant breakthrough in the Middle East and North Africa, ranked fourth for the first time with occupied 8% market shares in this region, according to Global Solar PV Tracker Market Shares and Shipment Trends Report 2020 released by Wood Mackenzie Power & Renewables. To date, Arctech has a large market share in the Middle East, with a tracker record of nearly 1GW including completed and in-progress projects.

About Arctech Solar

Arctech Solar is one of the world's leading manufacturers and solution providers of solar tracking and racking systems. In the past decade, Arctech Solar has successfully set up overseas subsidiaries/business service centers in China, Japan, India, U.S., Spain, Mexico, Australia, UAE, Chile and Argentina. As of the end of 2019, the company has cumulatively installed around 24GW capacity and completed around 900 projects in 24 countries. Now, Arctech Solar is a reliable partner in the global PV tracking and racking industry. For more information, please visit www.arctechsolar.com.

JA Solar, a leading manufacturer of high-performance photovoltaic products, has announced that the power output of its solar modules under standard testing conditions has set a new industry record reaching above 525W.  

Such ultra-highly powerful PV module with 525W+ is designed to meet the customers' desire and demand for further reducing the levelized cost of energy (LCOE) and maximizing the economic value of PV systems for renewable energy generation, said the statement from JA Solar.  

The goal of this new high-power module series is to bring JA Solar's high-quality and cost-effective PV products to a whole new level for its worldwide customers. The modules will be commercially available in the second half of 2020, it stated. 

"At JA Solar, we have been focused on technological innovation, and committed to provide high-efficiency and reliable photovoltaic products for our global customers," remarked its chairman and CEO Jin Baofang. 

"Our value of 'customer centered' has driven us to achieve this breakthrough, which enables us to win recognition from both the PV Industry and our valued customers," he noted.  

"The latest breakthrough in module power output is another milestone in JA Solar's efforts to enhance product performance and boost customers' long-term economic benefits. In the future, we will continue focusing on the technological innovation of our products to drive the development of the photovoltaic industry, and allow more people to enjoy the benefits of the clean energy", he added.-TradeArabia News Service