In the era of global carbon neutrality reshaping the energy landscape, the PV industry is navigating unprecedented opportunities and challenges. As a leading enterprise, DAS Solar is accelerating its globalization journey with remarkable momentum, propelled by the twin engines of technological innovation and ESG excellence.
In an exclusive interview with Energy Magazine, Vincent Cao, Senior Vice President of DAS Solar, provided an in-depth perspective on the company's globalization strategy. As Cao emphasized, "Going global isn't just about selling products, it's about building a sustainable global ecosystem." Through concrete actions, DAS Solar is redefining the role and responsibility of Chinese PV companies in the global energy transition.
Q: How is DAS Solar structuring its overseas market expansion and achieving localization?
Cao: DAS Solar has developed a "focused breakthroughs, comprehensive coverage" strategy for globalization. We identify core strategic markets such as Germany, Japan, and Australia as key markets. By establishing local subsidiaries, assembling localized teams, and building regional warehousing hubs, we provide high-efficiency, close-proximity service to customers. In parallel, we deepen partnerships with local collaborators to establish a sales and service network that spans the globe.
Localization is more than operational presence, it's about understanding the unique demands and cultural contexts of each target market. Take Germany for example: their rigorous standards for product quality and environmental performance led us to introduce high-efficiency modules that comply with EU standards, supported by a traceable green supply chain that overcomes technical barriers and reinforces our green credentials. In Japan, where aging rooftops present structural challenges, we promote our lightweight module solutions, enabling efficient solar adoption even on low-load-bearing surfaces.
Q: The PV industry is highly competitive, with different players excelling in technology, pricing, and service. How does DAS Solar maintain its technological edge and address the diverse demands of global markets?
Cao: In a technology-intensive industry, DAS Solar positions differentiated innovation as the strategic engine to capture the technological high ground and strengthen core competitiveness. Our technology roadmap follows the principle of "One Core, Three Branches", forging a new paradigm that integrates innovation in PV technology with all-scenario solutions.
The "One Core" refers to our mastery of advanced passivated contact TOPCon cell architecture, which forms the backbone of our technology leadership. Through persistent R&D, we have advanced TOPCon from version 1.0 to 5.0, achieving a cell conversion efficiency of over 27%. The "Three Branches" include DBC (Diamond series Back-contact) technology, TSiP (perovskite/Si tandem technology), and SFOS (silicon-based singlet fission technology). These supporting technologies position us to target the ambitious goal of 40% cell efficiency.
Meanwhile, to address varied application scenarios, we have developed a comprehensive solutions matrix across three core domains. The DAS ECO solution features flexible mounting systems that adapt to challenging terrains such as deserts, mountains, and forests, effectively minimizing ecological disruption while maximizing land utilization. The DAS Urban solution offers lightweight, modular systems tailored for commercial and residential rooftops with load-bearing limitations, enabling rapid installation and accelerating urban energy transitions. For aquatic applications, the DAS Floating solution delivers optimized floating PV systems that seamlessly integrate solar power generation with aquaculture.
We also emphasize collaboration with top academic and research institutions globally, ensuring continuous R&D excellence. Our active participation in industry associations like SSI, SPE, and BSW strengthens industry cooperation and boosts our brand influence on the world stage.
Q: With global markets tightening carbon management requirements across supply chains, what are DAS Solar's successes in this area?
Cao: In a world rapidly advancing towards carbon neutrality, we see ESG management as a strategic imperative to embed ourselves in the global value chain. Our approach centers on building a green supply chain aligned with international standards, establishing a sustainable development framework that enhances our global competitiveness.
We view greening the supply chain as foundational. By developing a digitized, end-to-end traceable supply chain system, we track carbon emissions, environmental compliance, and social responsibility metrics across procurement, production, logistics, and consumption. This transparency ensures our entire value chain meets green standards and fosters a "green alliance" with suppliers through rigorous evaluation criteria including environmental compliance, carbon reduction capacity, and labor rights.
Sourcing sustainable and compliant raw materials is our starting point. We systematically advance zero-carbon factory construction, with our Quzhou, Zhangzhou, and Jingshan bases certified as zero-carbon factories. Additionally, we've achieved international certifications like France's ECS carbon footprint, Italy's EPD, and more, with our carbon intensity ranked at 400 kg eq CO₂/kWc. We've also earned PV ModuleTech's bankability A rating and PV Tech's 2024 "Best ESG Performance PV Company," offering customers globally reliable, low-carbon products.
Q: Could you share DAS Solar's outlook for globalization and ESG development?
Cao: Our vision is holistic, combining a deeper global footprint with comprehensive ESG practices and an end-to-end solar life-cycle strategy, drawing a roadmap for global energy transition and sustainability.
On globalization, we will consolidate our positions in mature markets like Europe and the Asia-Pacific while actively expanding into emerging regions such as the Middle East, Africa, and Latin America. By localizing talent, technology, and services, we aim to integrate into regional energy ecosystems and deliver superior localized solutions.
In ESG, we remain committed to our green strategy, steadily progressing towards zero-carbon operations across global manufacturing bases. Measures like scaling up clean energy use, optimizing production processes, and implementing smart energy management systems will systematically lower our operational carbon footprint.
We're also committed to building a full life-cycle ecosystem from product development to high-efficiency deployment to end-of-life recycling. By completing this sustainable closed loop, DAS Solar is driving the PV industry toward greener, more sustainable pathways, contributing Chinese wisdom to global resource recycling and environmental preservation.
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