AkzoNobel Reduces Carbon Emissions by 30% with 5,600 Solar Panels! Is Pollution Severe in Chinese Factories?

Akzonobel has announced that its three decorative paint plants in China will be equipped with more than 5,600 solar panels and sourcing renewable energy for its high-performance paint plants to support its paint green production in China. By combining its strategy of producing and purchasing renewable energy, the company has not only made significant progress in the transition to clean energy at its factories in China, but has also significantly accelerated its goal of halving carbon emissions by 2030 (based on 2018).

Following the first introduction of solar renewable energy projects at Akzonobel's Shanghai and Guangzhou production sites in 2021, the company launched a second phase of solar projects in 2024, installing a total of more than 5,600 solar panels at its decorative paint plants in Shanghai, Guangzhou and Chengdu. Compared to the first phase, the newly installed solar panels have achieved significant improvements in performance, increased power generation efficiency per unit area by more than 30%, and are expected to provide the plant with approximately 3.2 million KWH of clean electricity per year, and will reduce carbon emissions by more than 30%. After the installation of the second solar panel, all renewable energy sources will meet more than 45 percent, 55 percent and 30 percent of the power needs of the Shanghai, Guangzhou and Chengdu plants, respectively.

At the same time, Akzonobel's high-performance coatings plant is also actively sourcing renewable energy to improve the utilization of renewable energy. At present, the company's high-performance coatings plants in Langfang, Changzhou and Suzhou have successfully achieved more than 90% renewable energy coverage, while the powder coatings plant in Wuhan also began to deploy renewable energy in October this year, and plans to increase coverage to 90% in the short term. In the future, the four high-performance coatings plants will work together to make steady progress towards the goal of 100% renewable energy.

In recent years, the Chinese government has formulated and implemented a series of policies, such as the 2024-2025 Action Plan on Energy Conservation and Carbon Reduction issued by The State Council, which is committed to promoting the green transformation, energy conservation and emission reduction of industrial production. Under this policy background, Akzonobel's Shanghai and Guangzhou decorative paint factories in China have respectively passed the Shanghai municipal and Guangdong provincial level "Green factory" certification, and the Suzhou factory has also won the local "green factory" title. These honors are not only a high degree of recognition for Akzonobel in the field of sustainable development, but also coincide with the green transformation wave of the booming Chinese market, showing the company's firm pace and unremitting pursuit in practicing environmental responsibility and promoting sustainable development.

China's green energy industry is developing rapidly, providing a solid foundation for the sustainable transformation of our plants. With the continuous iteration and progress of green technologies, I am confident that the company will achieve 100% renewable energy applications by 2030. We will continue to invest resources, optimize energy management and innovate traditional production methods, and strive to build an efficient and environmentally friendly production environment to better serve the local market. Xudong Zhang, Manufacturing and Supply Chain Director, Akzonobel North Asia, Akzonobel Shanghai Decorative Paint Factory.

Towards 2025, Akzonobel plans to continue to invest in clean energy projects at its 15 production sites in China, including the installation of solar panels and the procurement of renewable energy. By deeply promoting the implementation of the strategy of energy conservation and consumption reduction and accelerating the green transformation of the energy structure, the company strives to create a low-carbon and more environmentally friendly green factory model, leading the paint and coatings industry to a more sustainable future.