Key takeaways:
LONGi’s early commitments to RE100 and SBTi have evolved into a comprehensive ESG governance framework, shaping decisions across production, supply chain management, and product lifecycle design.
The company has achieved 47.5% renewable electricity usage across its operations, aiming for 100% through a mix of rooftop PV, PPAs, and certified green power sources
Through initiatives such as supplier ESG audits, community energy projects, and global partnerships with organizations like UNHCR, LONGi emphasizes traceability, social responsibility, and energy equity as integral to its long-term sustainability vision
As part of TaiyangNews’ inaugural Sustainability Report 2025, Managing Director Michael Schmela spoke with leading photovoltaic (PV) manufacturers to understand how the industry’s major players are addressing sustainability and ESG goals amid market shifts, overcapacity, and increasing global scrutiny.
LONGi, one of the world’s largest PV manufacturers and among the earliest Chinese companies to join the RE100 initiative, has been at the forefront of integrating sustainability into its corporate and operational strategy. Through its participation in international frameworks and its adoption of ESG governance systems, LONGi represents a mature approach to aligning profitability with environmental and social responsibility.
In this interview, LONGi’s Vice President and Chief Strategy & Sustainability Officer, Haimeng Zhang, discusses the company’s long-term ESG roadmap, its ‘LIGHT’ sustainability philosophy, progress toward 100% renewable electricity, and how responsible supply chain management, product innovation, and global partnerships form the foundation of its sustainability agenda. The conversation offers insight into how one of the PV industry’s global leaders navigates the intersection of technology, transparency, and corporate responsibility in an evolving energy landscape.
TaiyangNews: LONGi was among the first Chinese PV manufacturers to commit to RE100 and has looked into ESG very early. What motivated LONGi to lead in this space early on, and how have these commitments shaped your broader ESG strategy?
LONGi: Since entering the photovoltaic (PV) industry in 2006, LONGi has firmly believed that solar energy is a powerful tool for humanity to combat climate change. Technological innovation has significantly reduced the cost of solar power, enabling a more affordable path toward carbon neutrality. After 25 years of continuous innovation, LONGi has largely achieved this goal –delivering a multiplier effect where 0.4 kWh of energy input in manufacturing results in the generation of 45 kWh of green electricity. This strong sense of mission has driven LONGi to proactively engage in ESG practices early on, aiming to contribute to global sustainable development through its own actions.
At the same time, solar is a globally emerging industry, and LONGi’s business spans over 160 countries and regions. This global footprint has made us deeply aware of the importance of sustainable development to long-term corporate competitiveness. By joining international initiatives and strengthening trust with global customers, LONGi enhances its competitive edge in the market. That’s why we were among the first to join RE100 and have continued to explore comprehensive ESG practices in depth.
These early commitments laid a solid foundation for LONGi’s ESG strategy, clarifying our goals and direction in environmental protection, social responsibility, and corporate governance. For instance, by joining RE100, we began early efforts to track the use of renewable electricity in our production processes. Through the SBTi initiative, we established a carbon accounting and verification system that spans our entire value chain. Meanwhile, LONGi continues to align with international standards to improve ESG governance frameworks and disclose sustainability performance. In 2023, we established the Strategy and Sustainability Committee to enhance the Board of Directors’ involvement in sustainability planning and ensure ESG principles are embedded in corporate decision-making and daily operations.
TaiyangNews: Can you elaborate on your ‘LIGHT’ sustainability philosophy (Lead, Innovative, Green, Harmonious, Trustworthy) and how it is operationalized across LONGi’s global operations?
LONGi: ‘Lead’ represents LONGi’s commitment to leading the development of clean energy, driving the global energy transition, and setting industry benchmarks.
‘Innovative’ highlights LONGi’s continuous investment in R&D to overcome technological bottlenecks in photovoltaics – such as achieving a world-record 35% efficiency with its silicon-perovskite tandem cells – enhancing product performance and energy efficiency to support sustainable development through innovation.
‘Green’ reflects LONGi’s integration of environmental principles throughout the entire product lifecycle – from manufacturing and usage to recycling – striving for low-carbon and eco-friendly practices at every stage. For instance, many of LONGi’s products have received carbon footprint certifications, and all solar products meet the standard of being 100% recyclable.
‘Harmonious’ stands for LONGi’s emphasis on harmonious coexistence between the company, society, and the environment. We actively fulfill our corporate social responsibilities – for example, at COP28, we partnered with UNHCR to promote climate action, energy equity, and a green transition.
‘Trustworthy’ reflects our adherence to strong business ethics, consistent product quality, and reliable services – earning the trust of customers, partners, and society at large.
LONGi is committed to integrating the LIGHT philosophy across its business activities. In product and service innovation, LONGi continues to launch more sustainable offerings – such as high-efficiency, low-energy-consumption solar products – to meet growing global demand for clean energy. The company has set clear targets for carbon emissions reduction and renewable energy usage, embedding them into its long-term development strategy. In manufacturing, LONGi implements energy-saving initiatives and optimizes its energy mix to reduce carbon emissions during production.
In global supply chain management, LONGi requires suppliers to sign the LONGi Supplier CSR Code of Conduct and provides ESG training, thereby extending the principles of sustainability throughout the entire value chain.
TaiyangNews: What are the key sustainability priorities LONGi has identified as most material through its 2024 ESG assessment as part of its 8th ESG report – and how do these differ from the first ESG report? (Follow up:) And how do these shape strategic decision-making today compared to the early days?
LONGi: LONGi’s 2024 ESG Report identified 5 key topics through a double materiality assessment: product quality and safety, climate change mitigation, energy efficiency improvement, green supply chain development, and enhanced product lifecycle management.
Compared to our first ESG report, the 2024 edition follows the ESG disclosure standards of the Shanghai Stock Exchange, applying a double materiality approach rather than focusing solely on impact materiality. The report places greater emphasis on risk and opportunity analysis, as well as on setting quantifiable and measurable targets. As the company continues to grow and adapt to a changing external environment, LONGi has placed increased focus on emerging sustainability topics, such as green supply chain transformation, product recycling, and human rights due diligence. In earlier stages, the emphasis was more on environmental management within our own operations and product quality.
These disclosed topics also influence strategic decision-making through LONGi’s ESG governance mechanisms. For example, to meet its ambitious renewable electricity usage targets, LONGi has increased investment and partnerships in renewable energy projects. In supply chain management, LONGi has introduced rigorous ESG standards for suppliers and conducted capacity-building trainings, thereby promoting suppliers’ sustainability performance and ensuring the entire supply chain moves toward a greener and low-carbon trajectory.
TaiyangNews: LONGi has committed to reaching 100% renewable electricity usage. How are you progressing toward this RE100 goal, and what are the biggest challenges you have seen so far in achieving it?
LONGi: LONGi has achieved a high proportion of renewable electricity usage across multiple manufacturing sites, reaching an overall rate of 47.5%, which positions the company as an industry leader. In addition, through technological upgrades and the deployment of energy management systems, LONGi continues to improve its energy efficiency.
The key challenges in achieving 100% renewable electricity usage include ensuring a stable supply of renewable energy, especially in regions where such resources are limited, and addressing the cost premium of renewable electricity, which adds pressure to the production costs of solar products. Furthermore, we must continue to optimize our energy management systems to ensure that renewable electricity is utilized efficiently across various stages of production.
TaiyangNews: The 2024 report shows a 37% year-on-year reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions. What concrete strategies or technologies contributed most to this achievement?
LONGi:
Utilizing renewable electricity from the grid and purchasing green power certificates to increase the share of renewable energy;
Launching energy efficiency improvement projects, including the use of AI algorithms in production to optimize resource allocation and enable dynamic calibration;
Deploying intelligent energy management systems in factories to monitor and optimize energy use across production processes;
Promoting employee awareness and training on energy conservation practices;
Installing rooftop PV systems on factory buildings to generate and consume solar power on-site.
Based on LONGi’s historical greenhouse gas emissions profile, Scope 2 emissions account for over 95% of the company’s operational emissions, with electricity consumption being the dominant source. Therefore, optimizing the renewable electricity mix and enhancing energy efficiency have become core focus areas in LONGi’s decarbonization efforts. LONGi achieved a 37% year-on-year reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions in 2024 through a combination of green electricity substitution, production process optimization, and energy efficiency improvements. A major contributor was our proactive use of renewable electricity – 47.5% of our total electricity consumption in 2024 came from renewable sources. We expanded rooftop PV installations across multiple manufacturing sites.
In parallel, we improved equipment efficiency and upgraded production lines, particularly in crystal growth and wafer cutting processes. We also strengthened energy management through digital systems, enabling real-time data monitoring and refined control of energy consumption. These comprehensive measures reflect LONGi’s firm commitment to decoupling emissions growth from business expansion.
TaiyangNews: Does LONGi's approach to product lifecycle carbon footprint and the use of carbon certification (e.g., EPDs, ISO 14067) give you a competitive edge in global markets? And if yes, how?
LONGi:
Certified product carbon footprints (ISO 14067) and EPDs published.
Supports entry into carbon-regulated markets (e.g., EU, Korea).
Helps customers fulfill their Scope 3 and procurement targets.
Enhances LONGi’s brand as a low-carbon technology leader.
LONGi’s systematic management of product lifecycle carbon emissions – combined with third-party certifications such as ISO 14067 carbon footprint verification and Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) – gives us a significant edge in international markets. These tools allow us to meet growing demands for transparent, low-carbon products, particularly in the EU, where carbon footprint data is becoming a prerequisite for market entry.
By conducting cradle-to-gate assessments and obtaining authoritative validation, we help our customers meet their own ESG and decarbonization targets. This strengthens LONGi’s position as a preferred supplier for green energy projects and enhances the competitiveness of our high-efficiency modules in carbon-sensitive regions.
TaiyangNews: LONGi is the first in the industry to receive ISO 20400 certification for sustainable procurement. What lessons have you learned in building a responsible, resilient supply chain – and how do you enforce ESG standards across tiered suppliers?
LONGi: LONGi has established a 3-tier supplier management structure consisting of ‘Decision-making Level–Leadership Level–Execution Level’. The Board of Directors’ Strategy and Sustainability Committee is responsible for strategic decision-making, the Group's Strategy Management Committee provides leadership and supervision, and the Supply Chain Management Center handles the day-to-day implementation, with supporting departments collaborating for the efficient development of supply chain management activities.
LONGi integrates sustainable procurement throughout the procurement lifecycle, promoting the adoption of green development principles by upstream and downstream enterprises in the supply chain.
The company is committed to driving the green transformation of the industrial chain. In the ‘LONGi Supplier Code of Conduct’, signed by suppliers, LONGi calls on industrial chain partners to prioritize environmental protection. Key suppliers are required to obtain ISO 14001 Environmental Management System certification, and the ‘Sustainable Procurement Policy’ and ‘Sustainable Procurement Guidelines’ advocate for green procurement. The company pledges to minimize the negative impact of raw materials used, actively collaborates with upstream suppliers and other stakeholders to promote the use of circular, renewable, and third-party verified raw materials, and avoids sourcing materials from regions critical to biodiversity through origin tracing.
In 2024, we conducted questionnaire-based and on-site audit due diligence for 123 new suppliers and 136 qualified suppliers. We performed 71 on-site audits for 48 key suppliers, accounting for 73% of BOM material procurement value. During these audits, we identified a total of 1,768 issues, including 133 environmental issues and 870 social issues. Furthermore, we engaged third-party auditors and LONGi's ESG team (all auditors are SA8000 internal auditor certified) to conduct specialized ESG audits for silicon material and module component suppliers.
We have formulated a 2024-2028 Supplier ESG Capacity Building Plan, aiming to gradually increase the proportion of procurement spending from key Tier 1 suppliers participating in the capacity building program to 95% between 2025 and 2028. As of the end of the reporting period, this proportion stood at 73%, representing an 18-percentage-point increase compared to 2023. In addition, LONGi has launched the 'LONGi e-Learning Supplier Platform', which provides systematic training and professional technical support to continuously promote the concept of sustainable development and assist suppliers in enhancing their ESG management capabilities. During the reporting period, 228 suppliers were encouraged to register and use the platform.
TaiyangNews: How are you ensuring traceability and transparency for your products, especially in light of growing regulatory scrutiny around supply chain due diligence in Europe and the US?
LONGi: LONGi, adhering to ISO 9001:2015 and SEIA (Solar Energy Industries Association) standards, and referencing traceability inspection criteria from clients and third-party organizations, has built its own supply chain traceability system from the ground up. LONGi enforces rigorous traceability management standards and has established a three-tier control mechanism of ‘commitment - verification - admission’.
LONGi proactively invited third-party organizations to conduct professional traceability audits across its entire production chain, covering over 10 factories involved in module, cell, ingot, and wafer production. The third-party organizations conducted detailed and professional on-site inspections of the traceability system, validation of traceability logic, and sampling verification.
In 2024, we piloted the TSS online traceability service, which provides clients with fully transparent and visible end-to-end traceability. This service covers all of our company's bases, extends vertically to the silicon supply chain, and delves horizontally into non-silicon main materials. It has significantly enhanced the timeliness of traceability services, offering clients a prompt and rapid traceability experience. We will continue to optimize and enhance the effectiveness of our traceability system and processes, aiming to achieve customer satisfaction through efficient and high-quality traceability services.
TaiyangNews: You’ve introduced several cutting-edge products like record efficiency Hi-MO X10 modules and TaiRay wafers. How do you balance sustainability, innovation, and performance in R&D decisions?
LONGi:
Product quality always comes first.
Innovation ensures products to cater to diverse scenarios.
Sustainability ensures our responsibilities to the environment and society.
TaiyangNews: Your partnership with UNHCR exemplifies LONGi’s commitment to energy equity. What impact have you seen so far from projects like the solarization of UN hubs in Uzbekistan or support for girls’ education in Pakistan? (Follow-up question:) And what role does energy equity play in the long run for you?
LONGi: LONGi has donated and installed 700 kW of high-efficiency solar modules, significantly reducing the Logistics Center’s reliance on traditional power grids and substantially cutting operational costs. It is projected to generate nearly 1 million (989,933) kWh of electricity annually, which will help UNHCR achieve its goal of reducing GHG emissions from core relief items and emergency operations by at least 30% by 2030.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has released the UNHCR Supply Strategy 2024-2030 and is committed to reducing GHG emissions from core relief items and emergency responses by at least 30% by 2030. Within this climate-humanitarian nexus, LONGi has signed an agreement with the UNHCR in 2023 to establish a 3-year (2024-2026) global partnership to drive renewable-powered humanitarian supply chains.
For Pakistan’s girl empowerment program, under the support of LONGi and other partners, we have achieved remarkable results. For example, we supported 142 refugee village schools in enrolling 56,512 refugee students, with female students accounting for 42%.
We trained 919 teachers (1/3rd female) in professional development programs, including digital learning training for 375 teachers, to improve teaching quality and support national curriculum implementation.
We equipped all 142 schools with learning management systems and laptops/tablets, benefiting 56,512 students through blended learning and enhancing their learning motivation.
We conducted 20 community awareness activities reaching 3,674 community members, focusing on education rights for both boys and girls, child protection, prevention of gender-based violence, and prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse.
LONGi is working to enhance school infrastructure, with a dedicated focus on dismantling barriers to girls’ education. We firmly believe every child deserves equal access to learning, regardless of gender, ethnicity, or socioeconomic background. While challenges remain formidable, tangible progress in refugee children’s educational outcomes has been achieved. These efforts have yielded positive results, providing refugee children and youths with equitable learning opportunities and infusing renewed hope and momentum into Pakistan’s education landscape.
TaiyangNews: And what role does energy equity play in the long run for you?
LONGi: Energy equity is a core principle for LONGi, playing a pivotal role in its long-term strategy and global impact. It brings both challenges and opportunities.
First of all, it definitely aligns with LONGi’s mission, to ‘make the best of solar energy to build a green world’.
It fulfills our sustainable development goal to make clean energy affordable for all.
It opens market opportunities for us to promote a global energy just transition.
It drives technology innovation to adapt to diverse scenarios with green power.
TaiyangNews: LONGi emphasizes ‘global sharing’ as part of its sustainability model. Can you discuss how that plays out in your community investment and humanitarian programs beyond UNHCR?
LONGi:
In Mozambique, we transform the abundant solar energy in Southern Africa into green electricity to power water pumps, offering a vital source of clean water to local maternity clinics.
We have constructed a photovoltaic-powered water tower and a 0.86 kW rooftop photovoltaic project for the maternity clinic in Linga Linga Village, Mozambique, aiming to assist the local maternity clinic in obtaining clean water sources. Since the system was put into operation, the clinic has delivered 58 babies (17 per month on average), safeguarding maternal and infant health through clean energy and providing a sustainable solution for improving public health conditions.
In Brazil, LONGi carried out the ‘Sun Corridor’ PV project in favelas to support human rights protection through clean energy technology.
We worked with Revolusolar, a non-governmental organization in Brazil, to donate 60 high-efficiency PV modules to communities that lack a stable power supply and construct distributed solar systems on rooftops. The project has benefited 50 households. Over the past 3 years, it has generated over 70,000 kWh of electricity. It provides solutions for lighting, medical equipment operation, and power supply for daily life during power outages, and relieves the burden of local people by reducing energy costs.
Through such a sustainable way, we safeguard residents' rights to energy access, healthcare, and an adequate standard of living, and inject green momentum into human rights protection in favelas.
We harness sunlight to empower energy equity with steadfast responsibility while using solar technology to build a more inclusive and sustainable future.
With ‘Affordable for All’ as our goal, we promote a fair and just global energy transition through green technology innovation. In areas such as health and well-being, biodiversity conservation, and quality education, we empower community sustainable development with the power of green technology, practicing corporate social responsibility and sustainability.
TaiyangNews: The solar sector is in a consolidation phase. What does that mean for how you treat your employees in these difficult times?
LONGi:
LONGi always prioritizes talent development as the key driver for corporate growth.
While facing current obstacles, we are trying to provide more support to our employees through our talent cultivation program to empower them.
Taking a people-centered approach, the Company has developed a multidimensional employee care system covering benefits, health management, career development, and living support based on local conditions, cultural traditions, and staff preferences at all operation sites, aiming to enhance employees’ sense of belonging and happiness.
We encourage diversity in the workplace, and we have joined Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs), initiated by UN Women and UN Global Compact.
TaiyangNews: You currently hold an EcoVadis Gold Medal and have improved your MSCI and CDP scores. What’s next on your roadmap regarding major ESG indices and certifications you are still missing or would like to improve?
LONGi: In 2024, LONGi's MSCI rating rose to BBB, achieving the highest score globally in the semiconductor industry for A+H shares and ranking first in the photovoltaic industry. For the first time, LONGi was honored as the ‘Industry's Most Improved Company’ by S&P Global CSA and was included in the S&P Global Sustainability Yearbook (China Edition) 2025. Achievements such as the EcoVadis Gold Certification (top 5% globally), CDP Water Security A- Leadership Rating and CDP Supplier Engagement Leader, and FTSE Russell ESG Rating 3.8 score (industry-leading) comprehensively demonstrate LONGi's global benchmark status and industry leadership in ESG governance. Looking ahead, we are prioritizing progress in areas that align with global frameworks such as the TCFD, TNFD, SBTi, and CSRD.
In terms of ratings, we aim to further improve our Sustainalytics score and regain the highest MSCI ESG rating in the photovoltaic industry. We are also preparing for CSRD-aligned disclosure in the future. By executing this roadmap, we aim to keep the ESG Rating Leadership profile in the global solar industry.
TaiyangNews: Are there any areas where you believe LONGi’s sustainability performance is underrecognized or misrepresented in current ESG ratings?
LONGi:
Green electricity procurement beyond on-site generation is undervalued.
Supply chain ESG audits and screening systems are not fully captured in some ratings.
Some metrics over-rely on disclosure quantity rather than quality or substance.
Actively engaging with raters for better representation of verified initiatives.
While ESG ratings are improving in transparency, we believe some areas of LONGi’s performance remain underrecognized. One key example is the treatment of our green electricity transition. In some rating methodologies, only on-site generation is fully acknowledged, whereas our broader efforts through long-term green power purchase agreements and credible I-RECs are undervalued, despite their role in achieving 47.5% renewable electricity coverage in 2024.
Another area is supply chain governance. We have established robust ESG risk screening and audits covering critical suppliers, but this is sometimes overlooked in ESG assessments that rely primarily on public disclosure volume rather than substance. We continue to engage actively with rating agencies to close these perception gaps and enhance qualitative understanding of our initiatives.
TaiyangNews: You’ve achieved a ‘zero-carbon factory’ status for the Jiaxing base and have plans for more. What’s the blueprint for replicating this success across your other manufacturing facilities?
LONGi:
4 pillars: renewable energy, efficiency, full accounting, third-party verification.
Replication roadmap prioritizes sites with green electricity availability.
Use of verified offsets for residual emissions.
Part of LONGi’s broader ‘Solar for Solar’ and decarbonization strategy.
LONGi’s Jiaxing base was certified as our first ‘zero-carbon factory’ by SGS in accordance with the PAS 2060 standard, representing a benchmark for future replication. The replication blueprint focuses on 4 components: 100% renewable electricity usage, continuous improvement in energy and process efficiency, full carbon accounting (Scope 1, 2, and key Scope 3), and third-party verification.
We begin with baseline carbon assessments and renewable electricity planning, followed by targeted process improvements such as smart lighting, waste heat recovery, and electrification of thermal processes. Residual emissions are offset using high-quality, verifiable carbon credits. We’re prioritizing replication in regions with developed renewable energy infrastructure and are working toward zero-carbon status in additional sites by 2025.
TaiyangNews: Nearly half your power needs were supplied by renewables in 2024. What’s the schedule as you strive for 100% renewable target, and how do you want to achieve it?
LONGi:
2024 renewable electricity usage: 47.5%.
Mix of rooftop solar, PPAs, and renewable certificates (I-RECs, GECs).
Green power planning embedded in new site design.
In 2024, LONGi achieved 47.5% renewable electricity usage, and we remain on track to reach 100% renewable electricity across all global operations, in line with our RE100 commitment. This target will be achieved through a mix of on-site solar deployment, off-site Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs), and the use of credible renewable energy certificates such as I-RECs and GECs.
We are aligning green electricity planning with site development and capacity expansion to ensure new factories are designed with renewable integration in mind.
TaiyangNews: You have recently joined the Solar Stewardship Initiative (SSI), which strives to provide transparency for the supply chain. What are your next steps as part of this membership?
LONGi:
Align internal systems with SSI audit protocols and standards.
Participate in working groups to help shape industry-wide metrics.
Pilot SSI-aligned ESG audits in key sites and supplier facilities.
Strengthen traceability and responsible sourcing practices.
Complement existing supplier ESG assessment and risk control mechanisms.
Joining SSI marks an important step in reinforcing LONGi’s commitment to responsible and transparent supply chains. In 2025, LONGi is actively undergoing SSI’s dual ESG and traceability audit. Our immediate focus is to align with SSI’s ESG audit protocols and contribute to the development of a globally harmonized solar industry sustainability standard. We will actively participate in working groups to help shape metrics and practices that reflect the realities of upstream suppliers in Asia.
LONGi also intends to pilot the implementation of SSI-aligned audits at select manufacturing sites and upstream partners. The insights gained will help us not only enhance traceability but also support industry-wide progress in responsible sourcing. This initiative complements our broader approach to supplier ESG performance management, risk-based due diligence, and engagement.
TaiyangNews: We are seeing somewhat of a rollback in ESG in countries / regions that have been leading here, e.g., the European Union delaying through its Omnibus bill targets for the CSDDD. What does that mean for you?
LONGi: It is an opportunity for LONGi to review our supply chain management.
TaiyangNews: Looking ahead to 2030, how do you see LONGi’s role evolving in the global energy transition, and what would you most see as your legacy as the Chief Sustainability Officer?
LONGi: Next 25 years, solar for all.
