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The World Economic Forum Annual Meeting, commonly known as the Davos Conference, began on January 20th in Davos, Switzerland. This year’s event, with the theme “Collaboration for the Intelligent Age,” brought together nearly 3,000 leaders from over 130 countries to discuss critical global and regional issues. Zhong Baoshen, Chairman of LONGi, and Eric Luo, Vice President of LONGi, represented the Chinese solar photovoltaic (PV) sector at the conference. They shared updates on the solar energy industry’s progress and its future direction with political leaders and business executives. On the afternoon of January 21st, Zhong Baoshen participated in the “Ideas Hub” session titled “Solar: Beating All Expectations” where he delivered a speech. Eric Luo also took the stage, offering insights from a leading solar PV company’s perspective and discussing how the rapid growth of the solar PV industry is playing a crucial role in advancing global climate objectives. He also said, “The future of solar energy will not only exceed expectations but also become a key force for the harmonious development of the global economy and environment. Let us work together to contribute more possibilities to the realization of the global net-zero goal.” Zhong Baoshen highlighted the significant growth of the photovoltaic industry, emphasizing its key role in driving the global energy transition. He stated, “From 1954 to 2022, it took 68 years to surpass the first terawatt, while the second terawatt was achieved in just two short years. This highlights the rapid development of the solar industry in recent years. The International Energy Agency (IEA) forecasts that by 2030, the global installed capacity of solar PV is expected to exceed 4,000 gigawatts (GW). However, I personally believe it will surpass 5,000 GW.” The cost of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems has dropped dramatically, now being about 1/820th of what it was in 1975. Eric Luo highlighted the impressive achievements of LONGi in 2024, including setting world records for monocrystalline silicon solar cells with 27.30% efficiency and crystalline silicon–perovskite tandem solar cells with 34.6% efficiency. He emphasized that LONGi’s continuous innovation in technology has not only improved efficiency but also reduced the levelized cost of electricity (LCOE), helping to drive the global effort toward net-zero emissions. Zhong Baoshen noted that solar PV capacity is set to grow rapidly in the coming years, far exceeding previous expectations. Solar PV has become a key driver of the global energy transition, playing a crucial role in reshaping the energy landscape worldwide. In addition to technological advancements, LONGi has been leading innovation in smart manufacturing. At the 2024 Davos Conference, LONGi’s Jiaxing Base became the first “Lighthouse Factory” in the solar industry. Eric Luo shared that LONGi has integrated new technologies like the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), big data, artificial intelligence, and digital twins into the factory, with over 30 successful digital applications. This shift from traditional manufacturing to intelligent manufacturing highlights the potential of digital transformation in solar PV production. A decade ago, the energy sector faced the “Energy Trilemma,” which suggested that it was impossible to achieve a balance between environmental protection, economic viability, and energy security. However, thanks to advancements in solar PV technology, this challenge has been overcome. Today, solar PV is one of the most reliable, affordable, and sustainable energy sources in the global energy system. Solar PV is not only helping meet the world’s growing energy needs but is also enabling the adoption of other green technologies like energy storage, green hydrogen, and green ammonia. This widespread use of solar energy is accelerating the global push for deep decarbonization, contributing significantly to efforts against climate change and supporting the achievement of global sustainability goals. Looking ahead, Eric Luo believes that solar energy will increasingly be integrated with technologies like energy storage, transportation, architecture, and smart grids. For example, combining solar energy with energy storage can help solve the issue of intermittent power generation, ensuring a steady electricity supply. Moreover, Building-Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV) is an emerging trend, where solar energy is incorporated into buildings to meet their energy needs and provide surplus power to the grid for more efficient energy use. Eric Luo mentioned, “Through continuous innovation in the integration of these technologies, we can attract more industries to collectively drive the global energy system towards a more intelligent and sustainable future. Solar photovoltaics will pave the way for a cleaner, more efficient, and more reliable energy future for humanity.” The solar photovoltaic sector has undergone a complete transformation, driven by the collective efforts of the global industry, impacting applications, technology, cost efficiency, and smart manufacturing. |
