Envision - an energy technology manufacturer and leader headquartered in China - has joined the global RE100 initiative, setting the most ambitious and earliest 100% renewable target out of member companies from Mainland China.
Led by The Climate Group in partnership with CDP, RE100 now brings together more than 190 major companies from around the world committed to 100% renewable electricity. Many of these have operations and supply chains in China.
Envision is targeting 100% renewable electricity by as soon as 2025, through technologies including wind turbines and solar PV coupled with smart energy management. The plan includes supplying renewable electricity to its battery factories located in Japan, the US, and the UK.
Underlining the business case for switching to renewables globally, the company expects to save hundreds of thousands of tons of greenhouse gas emissions each year by 2025- in turn saving tens of millions of US dollars on its electricity bills.
"The mission of Envision is to solve the challenges for a sustainable future for human beings," said Zhang Lei, CEO of Envision. He called on other Chinese companies to "join RE100."
Yuming Hui, China Director, The Climate Group, welcomed Envision to RE100: "It's a great step forward for Envision to lead by example. We hope it inspires thousands more Chinese companies to take action in their own operations - from buying certificates to installing solar PV and wind turbines, there are solutions available now."
Winds of change
Companies in the commercial and industrial sector account for approximately two thirds of the world's end-of-use of electricity. Switching this demand to renewables is transforming the global energy market and accelerating the transition to a clean economy.
While China is a leader in utility scale renewable electricity deployment, to date, renewable energy supply has been less readily available to companies in China. But the market is starting to shift - hastened by growing demand from international business.
In order to help break down the barriers Chinese companies face in switching to renewable energy, Envision will actively participate in local renewable electricity trading pilots, and work with the industry to promote China's establishment of a renewable electric trading market that is in line with international standards.
In 2017 The Climate Group became a founding member of the Green Electricity Consumption Cooperative Organisation (GECCO), to help increase corporate uptake of renewable power in China.
There is a recurring need to help suppliers resolve regulatory ambiguity on local or provincial approval for renewable energy projects in China. To find out how other RE100 members are helping on the ground, read our 'Going Beyond' report.
