Tongwei Solar follows a holistic ESG approach to sustainability
The company aims to reduce carbon intensity by 19.5% by 2025 and source 100% of its electricity from renewable energy sources by 2030
It also has set a target to achieve carbon-neutrality by 2030
The Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) framework encompasses a wide range of functions, including climate change and pollution (under the Environmental pillar), the company’s relationships with stakeholders (under Social), and how a company is led and managed (under Governance). Therefore, a company striving for high ESG ratings must implement holistic sustainable development strategies that positively impact the environment, economy, people, and progress.
Tongwei Solar, a vertically integrated photovoltaic (PV) company with a presence in polysilicon, ingot, wafer, solar cell, and PV modules, has been releasing an annual ESG report since 2020. These reports align with several international ESG disclosure standards, such as the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD), and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs). Specifically, the company has committed to 15 of the 17 internationally recognized UN SDGs. At the TaiyangNews Solar & Sustainability 2024 Conference, Minglan Peng, ESG manager at Tongwei Solar, presented the company’s comprehensive approach to ESG compliance and its latest achievements (see Tongwei Solar's presentation here).
ESG Strategy and Structure
According to Peng, the core principles of ESG are deeply embedded in the company’s DNA, aligning with its 42-year-old corporate strategy, vision, purpose, and management philosophy. To support this, Tongwei Solar says it has established an ESG management system consisting of ESG professionals, the CEO, the director of its community, and technical experts from various functional departments and business units. This system ensures that all business lines are covered under the company’s ESG framework.
Tongwei Solar’s 10 sustainable development commitments, published in 2023, address 5 key areas of its business: business ethics, environmental protection, human rights and labor, supply chain management, and conflict minerals. Based on these commitments, the company has set specific, measurable ESG targets, which translate into 13 sustainable development goals, according to Peng.
Under its environmental targets, the company aims to save up to 45,259,000 tons of water by 2024, reduce carbon intensity by 19.5% by 2025 compared to the 2020 baseline, and source 100% of its electricity from renewable energy (RE) sources by 2030. Additionally, the company has set a target to achieve carbon-neutrality by 2030.
For its social targets, Tongwei Solar aims for 100% supplier ESG risk identification and assessment, zero personnel injuries, no fire or explosion incidents each year, and more. In terms of governance, the company commits to conducting 100% internal audits on anti-corruption measures and staff audits. To align with its carbon neutrality goal, Tongwei says it has maintained a Greenhouse Gas (GHG) inventory, verified by BSI, for 3 consecutive years, covering Scope 1, Scope 2, and Scope 3 carbon emissions, which account for more than 99% of its total GHG emissions.
Regarding the evolving trends in international standards for product carbon footprint certifications, the company’s products – silicon, cells, and modules – are certified under various regional and international standards, including Evaluation Carbone Simplifiée (ECS), Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), and ISO 14067 product carbon footprint certification. Beyond a low-carbon footprint and green supply chain, Tongwei ensures labor traceability throughout its supply chain, reinforcing its commitment to being a responsible PV company, explained Peng.
At the conference, the company also highlighted its vertically integrated supply chain, with a capacity of 450,000 tons of high-purity polysilicon annually, and solar cell and PV module production capacities of 20 GW and 75 GW, respectively.
Based on these best practices and consecutive ESG report publications, Tongwei Solar has performed well across all ESG standards, says Peng.
By 2023, with an investment of RMB 1.5 billion in environmental protection and green factory certifications for 7 factories, the company claims it achieved 76.95% renewable energy (RE) usage in total electricity consumption. It also ensures 91.72% recycled water usage and a 98.06% recycling rate for non-hazardous waste.
The company has achieved a 100% OHAS examination coverage rate for employees, a 100% product qualification rate, and a 100% client complaint resolution rate.
Governance Performance
Tongwei Solar has actively participated in 8 international initiatives related to sustainable development, including UNGC, RE100, UN Women, COP28, the China ESG Alliance, SBTi, and more. The company has also earned high ESG ratings from third-party agencies such as Sustainable Fitch, S&P Global, MSCI, CDP, and EcoVadis.
Peng concluded that Tongwei Solar’s commitment to sustainability is evident in its robust ESG strategy and performance, with clear goals for environmental impact, social responsibility, and strong governance.
On April 10 and 11, 2025, TaiyangNews will hold the TaiyangNews Solar Technology Conference India 2025, an in-person event in New Delhi. It will bring together technologists and scientists working on creating a resilient solar manufacturing industry in India. Registrations are open here.
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