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PR Newswire

JinkoSolar Announces Results of 2022 Annual General Meeting

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SHANGRAO, China, Dec. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd. (“JinkoSolar” or the “Company”) (NYSE: JKS), one of the largest and most innovative solar module manufacturers in the world, today announced that results of the Company’s 2022 annual general meeting (the “2022 AGM”).

The following ordinary resolutions (Resolutions 2 – 5 as set out in the Notice of the 2022 AGM published by the Company on November 23, 2022) were duly passed by a majority of the Company’s shareholders entitled to vote at the 2022 AGM, and therefore were approved in accordance with the Third Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association of the Company (the “Articles of Association”):

2. The re-election of Mr. Haiyun Cao as a director of the Company;
3. The ratification of the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers Zhong Tian LLP as auditors of the Company for the fiscal year of 2022;
4. The authorization of the directors of the Company to determine the remuneration of the auditors of the Company; and
5. The authorization of each of the directors of the Company be authorized to take any and all action that might be necessary to effect the foregoing resolutions 1 to 4 as such director, in his or her absolute discretion, thinks fit.

The following ordinary resolution (Resolution 1 as set out in the Notice of the 2022 AGM published by the Company on November 23, 2022) failed to receive votes from a majority of the Company’s shareholders entitled to vote at the 2022 AGM, and therefore was rejected in accordance with the Articles of Association:

1. The re-election of Mr. Kangping Chen as a director of the Company.

Upon the effectiveness of the results of the 2022 AGM, the board of directors of the Company consists of six directors, including three independent directors.

About JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd.

JinkoSolar (NYSE: JKS) is one of the largest and most innovative solar module manufacturers in the world. JinkoSolar distributes its solar products and sells its solutions and services to a diversified international utility, commercial and residential customer base in China, the United States, Japan, Germany, the United Kingdom, Chile, South Africa, India, Mexico, Brazil, the United Arab Emirates, Italy, Spain, France, Belgium, Netherlands, Poland, Austria, Switzerland, Greece and other countries and regions.

JinkoSolar has 14 productions facilities globally, 21 overseas subsidiaries in Japan, South Korea, Vietnam, India, Turkey, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, the United States, Mexico, Brazil, Chile, Australia, Canada, Malaysia, UAE, and Denmark, and global sales teams in China, the United States, Canada, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Japan, Australia, Korea, India, Turkey, Chile, Brazil, Mexico and Hong Kong, as of September 30, 2022.

To find out more, please see: www.jinkosolar.com

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains forward-looking statements. These statements constitute “forward-looking” statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and as defined in the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as “will,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “future,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “estimates” and similar statements. Among other things, the quotations from management in this press release and the Company’s operations and business outlook, contain forward-looking statements. Such statements involve certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in JinkoSolar’s filings with the SEC, including its annual report on Form 20-F. Except as required by law, the Company does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

For investor and media inquiries, please contact:
In China:
Ms. Stella Wang
JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd.
Tel: +86 21-5180-8777 ext.7806
Email: ir@jinkosolar.com

Mr. Rene Vanguestaine
Christensen
Tel: +86 178 1749 0483
Email: rvanguestaine@ChristensenIR.com

In the U.S.:
Ms. Linda Bergkamp
Christensen, Scottsdale, Arizona
Tel: +1-480-614-3004
Email: lbergkamp@ChristensenIR.com

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Source: JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd.

PR Newswire

Vipshop Retains an A from MSCI ESG Ratings for Its Efforts in Sustainability

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GUANGZHOU, China, Dec. 23, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — Vipshop Holdings Limited (NYSE: VIPS), one of China’s leading online discount retailers, recently announced that its ESG-related performance has been recognized by major rating agencies in the capital market. The company retained an “A” from MSCI ESG Ratings in 2022, above the average for the e-commerce sector. The discount retailer also obtained a score of 46 in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI), as a top player in the global retail sector, with outstanding performance in the rating components for Product Packaging and Supply Chain Management.

Vipshop Headquarters Building
Vipshop Headquarters Building

This year, Vipshop strengthened its ESG-related efforts on all fronts. In terms of the environment, the company has established a special leadership team to ensure the effective implementation of its energy conservation and carbon reduction plans by developing a comprehensive environmental management system and a top-down operation mechanism. The company expanded its big data resources, and streamlined the platform support systems, logistics and warehousing, to help brand partners and suppliers improve their operational efficiencies and curb energy consumption, alongside an integration of their decreased energy use with their carbon reduction efforts across the value chain.

In the third quarter of 2022, for the first time, the company conducted a systematic assessment of the feasibility of a sustainable and green carbon reduction roadmap, taking a holistic look at decarbonization opportunities along the value chain. It implemented the use of new lightweight and environmentally-friendly color bags, cutting plastic consumption by 123 tons, while continuing to increase the utilization of clean energy, with the total power generation capacity of photovoltaic power plants rising by 11.4% year-on-year.

Seeking to create a better working environment, the company provides equal work opportunities for all employees and stimulates their potential through a comprehensive career enhancement system, with the aim of achieving mutual benefits for Vipshop and its employees. In 2021, the company’s investment in employee training increased by 68.57% year-on-year, with total training hours exceeding 130,000. As for social responsibility and public service, Vipshop has deepened its efforts in the empowerment of women, rural revitalization, pandemic prevention and control, community integration, and volunteer services through a series of flagship public service projects including the V-Love Mothers, V-Love Charity Program, V-Love Workshop and VIP Love Aid for Agriculture programs, with total investment having reached RMB470 million as of the end of the third quarter of this year.

Taking a look at corporate governance, according to the ESG report released by the company in July 2022, Vipshop had created a three-tier social responsibility management structure consisting of an ESG working group, a focal point and an executor to clearly identify and assign social responsibility management tasks at all levels. As an important part of its CSR management practices, the company attaches importance to the expectations and demands of stakeholders and integrates them into its daily operations.

In line with meeting China’s goals to achieve carbon peak by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2060, ESG has been taken on substantial importance in the Chinese market and has become a new benchmark for appraising the quality and sustainable development capabilities of Chinese companies.

According to A Leapfrog Moment for China in ESG Reporting white paper produced collaboratively by the World Economic Forum and PwC China, China’s listed companies are increasingly familiar with both the challenges and benefits of ESG reporting. ESG reporting in China is at an inflection point, with a surge of activities from regulators, exchanges, investors and corporate leaders.

The boom in ESG management in China has boosted the overall ESG performance of Chinese companies. MSCI-ESG Ratings data shows that, in recent years, more Chinese companies have emerged among the top performers with A-AAA ratings. In the foreseeable future, Chinese companies and the Chinese market may have a more profound impact on global ESG development.

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PR Newswire

Chris Lee Sings the Promotional Song for BBC’s Frozen Planet II, a Co-production with MIGU Video

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BEIJING, Dec. 16, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — Now, 11 years later, the annual BBC Earth series, Frozen Planet II, co-produced by MIGU Video, will be exclusively aired on the Chinese online video platform at 10:00 am Beijing time on December 17. The music video of the international promotional song for the series, Send Them Home, co-created by famous Chinese pop singer Chris Lee and award-winner German composer Hans Zimmer, will first premiere on MIGU Video and MIGU Music on December 16, giving audiences everywhere an opportunity to enjoy the elements of nature in the music.

Chris Lee sings the promotional song for Frozen Planet II, a co-production of BBC and MIGU Video
Chris Lee sings the promotional song for Frozen Planet II, a co-production of BBC and MIGU Video

Lee has long devoted herself to the cause of environmental protection and served as both the Sichuan Panda Ambassador and Earth Hour China Ambassador, roles that gave her a platform from which she has called on the public to pay attention to climate change and build environmental awareness in practice. Lee’s unremitting efforts at raising the alarm about the need for environmental protection fit perfectly with the central idea of Frozen Planet II. On the track, Send It Home, she interprets the intended message of the documentary’s various episodes, expressing the fascination she feels as she observes the diversity of nature and of the creatures that inhabit the world’s coldest regions, while evoking the spirit of reverence and respect for nature… and reminding us of how important it is to protect those revered creatures and the environment that they need to survive.

Frozen Planet II is another masterpiece from BBC’s powerful Earth series. The film crew spent three years traveling to 18 countries and regions around the world, using the most advanced photography to make the six episodes – Frozen Worlds, Frozen Oceans, Frozen Peaks, Frozen South, Frozen Lands, and Our Frozen Planet, each of which allows viewers to experience the wonder of our planet’s frozen realms from different perspectives. Going further than Series 1, the lineup of episodes explores the frozen worlds beyond the Poles – witnessing the unknown natural mysteries in our high mountains, frozen deserts, snowbound forests, and ice-cold oceans, while documenting in vivid detail the wildlife in each chilly habitat and the evolution of the local natural ecology. The changing frozen planet is a recurring theme highlighted by the series, which will also showcase how regions covered in ice and snow for millennia have been altered as a result of global warming. Through the documentary, viewers can learn about the severe effects of these unprecedented changes on the local habitat, raising their awareness of the significance of these frozen areas in Earth’s ecology as well as of the critical importance of environmental conservation.

In addition to the six-part series, every Wednesday at noon starting on December 21, China Mobile MIGU, which has exclusive rights to the series, will release 6 mini episodes of Frozen Planet II, to which Winter Olympic champion Wang Meng, women’s football goalkeeper Zhao Lina and singer Wu Jiacheng, among other guests, have been invited and where they will lend their voices to the animals in the documentary such as the king penguins, skeleton shrimps and wolves that populate the habitat, bringing to life the best and most vivid moments that belong to each of these species.

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PR Newswire

Rebound Plastic Exchange to support Malaysia achieve its Plastics Sustainability Roadmap by 2030

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Rebound Plastic Exchange, a quality assured global trading platform for recycled plastics, will ensure transparency whilst facilitating cross border trade to unlock circularity worldwide.

ABU DHABI, UAE, Dec. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — Rebound Plastic Exchange, a global B2B digital trading platform for recycled plastics, is ready to support Malaysia achieve its national sustainability targets by 2030. Implemented by the Ministry of Environment and Water (KASA), the Malaysia Plastics Sustainability Roadmap aims to phase out problematic single-use plastics against a 76% average collected-for-recycling rate by 2030, with long-term aims to achieve a 100% recycling rate for plastic packaging by 2050[1]. Rebound Plastic Exchange promises quality assurance and trust by vetting the members and listings posted onto the marketplace, thus helping the industry achieve its targets and keep plastic out of the environment.

Malaysia became the leading destination for the world’s plastic following the China ban in 2018. Its adherence to the Basel Convention gives Malaysia more leeway to curb plastic waste, incentivizing verified feedstock to enter its territories though contaminated plastics still find their way to the country despite the new UN rules[2]. Plastics can in fact be recycled into usable products, however 81% of the material value of plastics is lost in Malaysia due to failure to recover the material[3]. 

Maryam Al Mansoori, General Manager, Rebound Plastic Exchange, said, “ASEAN countries boast a significant portion of the global plastic feedstock, positioning the region as a leading processor for recycled plastics with Malaysia at its head, should it seize the opportunity to undergo pivotal changes in the industry, towards greater plastic recycling.”

Meanwhile, PETRONAS Chemicals Group (PCG) officiated its partnership with ExxonMobil under a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to pilot advanced plastic recycling methods using cutting-edge technology for large-scale implementation[4].

It is estimated that up to 70%[5] of the existing installed recycling capacity in Malaysia is used for imported plastic waste, demonstrating the need for a range of solutions to support circular plastic waste management as Malaysia remains in the top 10 ocean polluters due to mismanaged plastic waste. Out of a total 1.41 million tonnes, currently, 1.07 million tonnes[6] of domestic plastic are disposed per year in Malaysia, resulting in only 24.2%, or 340,000 tonnes of recycled plastics overall.

Active buyers and sellers on Rebound Plastic Exchange come from over 21 countries, helping source plastic feedstock at the preferred price ranges. Industry members, whether buyers or sellers of recycled plastics, can register on Rebound Plastic Exchange free of charge and access a global marketplace for quality assured feedstock.

1. RPX Market Research Report: Insights into the Recycled Plastic Landscape in the ASEAN Region 
2. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-malaysia-environment-plastic-idUSKBN2BG0ZL
3. https://www.malaysiakini.com/announcement/626174
4. https://www.thestar.com.my/business/business-news/2022/09/20/pcg-inks-mou-with-exxonmobil-on-plastic-recycling-in-malaysia
5. RPX Market Research Report: Insights into the Recycled Plastic Landscape in the ASEAN Region 
6. RPX Market Research Report: Insights into the Recycled Plastic Landscape in the ASEAN Region

PR Newswire

Rebound Plastic Exchange ready to unlock new opportunities for recycled plastics in Hong Kong

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Rebound Plastic Exchange, a quality assured global trading platform for recycled plastics, will ensure transparency whilst facilitating cross border trade to unlock circularity worldwide.

ABU DHABI, UAE, Dec. 9, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — Rebound Plastic Exchange, a global B2B digital trading platform for recycled plastics, is ready to enter the Hong Kong market in full swing following its increased activity across the Middle East, North America, Latin America, India, Southeast Asia and Europe. The global marketplace promises quality assurance and trust by vetting the members and listings posted onto the marketplace, thus helping Hong Kong and the industry achieve its targets and keep plastic out of the environment.

In 2016, Hong Kong exported nearly 1.78 million tonnes[1] of recycled plastic waste to China, most than any other country in the world. In 2020, plastics still made up 21% of the city’s total municipal solid waste (MSW), though with a 27% increase in locally recycled plastics[2] . The Hong Kong Legislative Council then passed the Waste Charging Scheme in 2021 with hopes to reduce per capita waste disposal by 45% and increase recycling rates by 55%[3]. As the highly anticipated scheme is about to begin in 2023, and with the new Waste Blueprint for Hong Kong 2035 entering into force, Rebound Plastic Exchange is ready to enable the city to unlock more investment opportunities to support its growing recycling targets and initiatives.

Maryam Al Mansoori, General Manager, Rebound Plastic Exchange, said, “Recent data shows plastic waste represents approximately 20% of municipal solid waste disposal in Hong Kong. [4] This statistic could very well be leveraged as the world’s plastics market is forecasted to reach $46.6 bn by 2025.”

Rebound Plastic Exchange’s increased activity in Hong Kong will only complement the regional government’s commitments towards the Basel Convention’s Amendments on the trade of plastic and thus unlocking the world’s plastics, one country at a time. Active buyers and sellers on Rebound Plastic Exchange come from over 21 countries, helping source plastic feedstock at the preferred price ranges.

Industry members, whether buyers or sellers of recycled plastics, can register on Rebound Plastic Exchange free of charge and access a global marketplace for quality assured feedstock.

[1] https://ourworldindata.org/grapher/plastic-exports-to-china

[2] https://www.wastereduction.gov.hk/sites/default/files/msw2020.pdf

[3] https://www.wastereduction.gov.hk/en/index.htm

[4] https://www.gov.hk/en/residents/environment/waste/management/prsplastic.htm

PR Newswire

The digital transformation of the world’s footwear sector is imminent

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  • The Sustainable Shoe Manufacturing Technology Seminar showcases Taiwan’s smart manufacturing capabilities
  • With the worldwide demand for quality footgear set to grow, the Sustainable Shoe Manufacturing Technology Seminar  grabs the attention of the Vietnamese market as Taiwan’s leading manufacturers share their experience 

HO CHI MINH CITY, Vietnam, Nov. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — Taiwan’s shoe-making industry entered into a period of sustained digital transformation during the pandemic, with total exports reaching a remarkable US$93.71 million in 2021, up 23.19% when compared with the previous year. The Taiwan Sustainable Shoe Manufacturing Technology Seminar was held on the second day (November 17) of the International Shoes & Leather Exhibition – Vietnam. Five leading shoe brands were invited to share their sustainable digital application experience and talk about the effect of Taiwan’s intelligent manufacturing on the international market.

The Sustainable Shoe Manufacturing Technology Seminar
The Sustainable Shoe Manufacturing Technology Seminar

Asia is the world’s footwear production and manufacturing center and Vietnam is one of the world’s top five footwear manufacturing countries, with a strong demand for shoe-making equipment and an imperative for digital transformation. At the Forum, Delta Electronics will lead the lineup of speakers with a presentation on IIoT applications for intelligent footwear manufacturing, followed by Minz elaborating on the comprehensive integrated application of the internet and intelligent manufacturing in smart shoe-making equipment. Yu Sheng Technology will demonstrate how to double production by incorporating digital management tools into traditional shoe manufacturing equipment, while New Yuming Machinery will give an example of how AI can fit into the picture by explaining how automated optical inspection (AOI) is applied to the footwear process. Finally, Sincere Pioneer Enterprise will demonstrate how to use smart visual configuration to reduce the carbon footprint created by the show-making process.

A report from Transparency reveals that the global footwear market is expected to achieve sales of more than US$278 billion by 2025, with product category expansion and emerging markets penetration the key to growth. The Sustainable Shoe Manufacturing Technology Seminar is a part of Taiwan’s “Smart Machinery Overseas Promotion Program”, which is designed to enhance the international image of Taiwan and assist manufacturers in taking advantage of overseas business opportunities. Mr. Tran Ngoc Liem, Vice President of VCCI (Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry), noted that Taiwan and Vietnam have been engaging in frequent and meaningful exchanges, especially as it concerns the post-pandemic digital transformation experience. We are looking forward to a closer cooperation between the two markets.

PR Newswire

Masdar-led consortium strengthens partnership to advance landmark 4 GW green hydrogen program in Egypt

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  • UAE’s Masdar, Hassan Allam Utilities, and Infinity Power sign framework agreement with Egyptian state-backed entities for the development of green hydrogen and derivatives’ production facilities
  • First plant scheduled to be operational by 2026; consortium targeting capacity of 4 GW by 2030, and an output of up to 480,000 tons of green hydrogen per year
  • Agreement highlights UAE’s support for Egypt’s clean energy objectives; follows Masdar’s historic announcement of 10 GW wind project in country

ABU DHABI, UAE, Nov. 17, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — Masdar, the UAE’s flagship clean energy company, and its consortium partners, Infinity Power Holding and Hassan Allam Utilities, announced that they have signed a framework agreement with leading Egyptian state-backed organizations on the development of a 2 gigawatt (GW) green hydrogen project in the Suez Canal Economic Zone (SCZONE).

The Masdar-led consortium signed two Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) in April with Egyptian entities, related to the development of two green hydrogen production plants in the country, one in the SCZONE and the other on the Mediterranean. The consortium is targeting an electrolyzer capacity of 4 gigawatts (GW) by 2030, and an output of up to 480,000 tonnes of green hydrogen per year.

Yesterday’s agreement was signed on the sidelines of the 2022 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP27) in the presence of HE Dr Sultan Al Jaber, UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, Special Envoy for Climate, and Chairman of Masdar, HE Dr Mohamed Shaker El-Markabi, Egypt’s Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy and HE Hala Al-Said, Egypt’s Minister of Planning and Economic Development.  HE Dr Thani Al Zeyoudi, UAE Minister of State for Foreign Trade, and HE Mariam Al Kaabi, UAE Ambassador to Egypt were also present.

The signatories were Mohammad Abdelqader El-Ramahi, Director for Asset Management, Technology and Green Hydrogen, at Masdar, Amr Allam, Chief Executive Officer of Hassan Allam Utilities, and Mohamed Ismail Mansour, Chairman of Infinity Power Holding. CEOs from the state-backed organizations also attended the event.

H.E. Dr Sultan Al Jaber, UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, UAE Special Envoy for Climate, and Chairman of Masdar, said, “Today’s announcement serves to strengthen the ties between the United Arab Emirates and the Republic of Egypt and highlights our two nations’ commitment to delivering zero-carbon energy solutions. This 4 GW green hydrogen program follows Masdar’s announcement last week of a 10-gigawatt wind project in Egypt, also with our partners Hassan Allam Utilities and Infinity Power Holding – both will support Egypt’s decarbonization objectives. Through Egypt’s hosting of COP27, our two countries have also been able to exchange expertise and share insights that we will take forward and build on in the UAE when we host COP28 next year.”

Mohamed Ismail Mansour, Chairman, Infinity Power, said, “We are honored to be working on our first ever Green Hydrogen project, as a part of the consortium with Masdar and Hassan Allam Utilities. The project is expected to facilitate economic growth for the country as well as help position Egypt as a Green Fuel Hub, propelling the country forward on its journey in becoming a green economy. We look forward to being a part of many such projects in the future.”

Amr Allam, CEO of Hassan Allam Holding, said, “Such strategic partnerships between Hassan Allam Utilities, Masdar, and Infinity Power provide more opportunities that support Egypt’s transition towards a green economy and promote sustainable development across the country. We are proud to contribute to the development of green hydrogen production facilities in Egypt while leveraging the country’s abundant natural resources.”

Nayer Fouad, CEO, Infinity Power, said, “We are always working towards expanding our portfolio of services across all technologies of sustainable energy production. This is a milestone event for us at Infinity Power, and we look forward to continuing to build upon our efforts with more Green Hydrogen projects as we move forward towards making the vision of a sustainable Africa a reality.”

Mohammed Jameel Al Ramahi, CEO, Masdar, said: “Today’s announcement takes us a vital step closer to advancing this massive collaborative project, which stands to bolster Egypt’s energy independence and enable the production of high-value green hydrogen derivatives for export, like green ammonia. With the first green hydrogen molecule set to be produced by 2026, it is imperative we continue to maintain momentum to ensure timely completion of this groundbreaking undertaking.”

As per the agreement, the consortium will enter into a binding framework agreement with the SCZONE, the Egyptian New and Renewable Energy Authority (NREA), Egyptian Electricity Transmission Company (EETC), and The Sovereign Fund of Egypt (TSFE). The agreement sets out the key terms and conditions for the green hydrogen development program with a focus on the first phase of the program.

In the first phase of the project, the consortium will establish a green hydrogen manufacturing facility in the SCZONE, scheduled to begin operations by 2026. The electrolyzer facilities in the SCZONE and on the Mediterranean could be extended to up to 4 GW by 2030 to produce 2.3 million tonnes of green ammonia for export as well as supply green hydrogen for local industries.

Egypt enjoys abundant solar and wind resources that can allow for the generation of renewable power at a highly competitive cost, a key enabler for green hydrogen production and is located within proximity to markets where demand for green hydrogen is expected to grow the most, providing a robust opportunity for export.

Masdar, Infinity Power and Hassan Allan Utilities last week announced they had signed an agreement to develop a 10 GW onshore wind project in Egypt – one of the largest wind farms in the world. Once completed, the wind farm will reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 23.8 million tonnes a year – equivalent to 9 percent of Egypt’s current output

Egypt is targeting renewables to make up 42 percent of its energy mix by 2035, while Egyptian authorities are reportedly working to revise the country’s renewable energy strategy to include green hydrogen.

Africa could capture as much as 10 percent of the global green hydrogen market, helping to create up to 3.7 million jobs and adding as much as US$120 billion to the continent’s gross domestic product (GDP), according to a report issued jointly by Masdar and its Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW) platform at COP27 last week.

Active in more than 40 countries across the world, Masdar is invested in a portfolio of renewable energy assets with a combined value of more than US$20 billion and a total capacity of more than 15 GW. In December, it was announced that Abu Dhabi National Energy Company PJSC (TAQA), Mubadala Investment Company, and Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) will partner under the Masdar brand to create a truly global, clean-energy powerhouse intended to spearhead the drive to net-zero carbon by 2050 while cementing the UAE’s leading role in green hydrogen. 

PR Newswire

CGTN: How to protect wetland and build a shared future for all life on Earth?

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BEIJING, Nov. 6, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — More than a billion people across the world depend on wetlands for their livelihoods – that’s about one in eight people on Earth. However, these lands are Earth’s most threatened ecosystem.

According to the United Nations, 35 percent of the world’s wetlands have disappeared since 1970.

Themed “Wetlands Action for People and Nature,” the 14th Meeting of the Conference of the Contracting Parties (COP14) to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands is being held from November 5 to 13, with its main venue in China’s Wuhan, and a parallel session in Geneva, Switzerland, in both in person and online formats.

This meeting gives us an opportunity to raise awareness, strengthen cooperation, and scale up wetlands action across the world, Chinese President Xi Jinping hailed on Saturday when delivering his speech via video at the opening ceremony of the events.

Xi vowed China will pursue modernization of harmony between humanity and nature, promote high-quality development in the wetlands conservation cause and promote international exchanges and cooperation.

What China has done?

With four percent of the world’s wetlands, China has met the diverse needs of one-fifth of the world’s population for wetland production, living, ecology and culture.

In his speech, Xi noted that historic achievements have been made in wetlands conservation in China. The country has increased the area of wetlands to 56.35 million hectares, put in place a protection system and enacted a Wetlands Conservation Law, according to Xi.

Since it acceded to the Ramsar Convention in 1992, China has established and improved its legal framework for wetland protection as well as systems for protection management, project planning, and investigation and monitoring. It has also fulfilled its obligations under the convention and continued to expand international cooperation in this regard.

The central government has spent 19.8 billion yuan (about $2.73 billion) on over 4,100 projects to advance wetland protection and restoration across the country since 2003.

China now has 64 wetlands of international importance and 29 wetlands of national importance, as well as 901 national wetland parks.

Last month, China released a plan for wetland protection for the 2022-2030 period, aiming to increase its wetland protection rate to 55 percent by 2025, while increasing the number of wetlands of international importance and national importance by 20 and 50, respectively.

The Chinese president also introduced China’s further plan of incorporating 11 million hectares of its wetlands into the country’s national park system, adding a national wetlands conservation plan and major conservation projects will be implemented.

Path to global ecological conservation

The Chinese president Saturday urged efforts to build global consensus on prizing wetlands, advance the global process of wetlands conservation and enhance people’s well-being globally by leveraging the role of wetlands.

China will build an international mangrove center in Shenzhen and supports the convening of a conference of the World Coastal Forum, Xi announced.

According to China’s white paper on biodiversity conservation, the country has provided support for more than 80 developing countries in biodiversity conservation under the framework of South-South cooperation.

China has also made ecological cooperation a key part of Belt and Road cooperation. In 2021, China launched “the Belt and Road” Green Development Partnership Initiative with 31 partner countries, calling for international cooperation to achieve a green and sustainable economic recovery and promote low-carbon, resilient and inclusive economic growth post-epidemic.

Moreover, China has taken an active part in international conferences and activities, including the United Nations Summit on Biodiversity and the Leaders’ Summit on Climate, giving impetus to biodiversity conservation and sustainable development.

These cases are a microcosm of China’s concrete steps to promote global ecological cooperation, with the notion of building a shared future for all life on Earth as the underpinning.

https://news.cgtn.com/news/2022-11-05/Xi-addresses-COP14-on-wetlands-conservation-1eIkUeITohW/index.html

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Solar Cell Pioneer Wins the €1 Million Millennium Technology Prize

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HELSINKI, Oct. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — The 2022 Millennium Technology Prize has been awarded to Scientia Professor Martin Green of the UNSW Sydney, Australia, for his innovation that has transformed the production of solar energy.

The €1 million global award for technology, conferred every two years, recognised Green’s leadership in the development of the Passivated Emitter and Rear Cell (PERC). Since its development in 1983, the PERC has gone on to become the most commercially viable and efficient silicon solar cell technology for use in solar panels and for large-scale electricity production, accounting for almost 90% of the global solar cell market. 

Green developed the PERC with his team by improving the quality of both the top and the rear surface of standard silicon solar cells.  When sunlight – in the form of particles called photons – enters a cell, it excites the electrons within the silicon. In this excited state, electrons can move through the cell, creating electric current.

The improved surface of the PERC allows the electrons to maintain this excited state – or move freely – for longer, resulting in greater and more efficient energy generation. The PERC has helped increase the conversion efficiency of standard solar cells by over 50% in relative terms from 16.5% in the early 1980s to 25% in the early 2000s.

The innovation has greatly reduced the costs of using solar panels, making solar energy more affordable than fossil-based alternatives. PERCs can also provide an energy supply to homes without them needing to be connected to a grid, ensuring a reliable power supply for remote communities.

Sauli Niinistö, President of the Republic of Finland and Patron of the prize, conferred the Millennium Technology Prize upon Green at a ceremony in Helsinki today.

Professor Green said: “It is a great honour to have been selected to receive such a prestigious prize. It not only recognises my contribution to photovoltaics [the conversion of light into electrical power], but also the achievements of my students and research colleagues at UNSW, as well as those of the broader photovoltaic research and commercial community.

“I believe the Prize will increase my credibility as a spokesperson for what needs to be done to address climate change. We need to switch from fossil fuels to renewable energy to sustain the trajectory of human civilization on our shared planet. The pace of change is accelerating and the world will shift to solar and wind energy over the coming decade. I believe a huge transformation of historic significance is underway.”

Green and his team are currently working on combined cell technologies to reach 40% solar cell efficiency by exploring options such as stacking cells on top of each other. 

Green said: “Solar cells are increasingly being used to replace large power stations that use fossil fuels. In 2021, 20 countries or regions including Australia, Chile, Germany, Greece, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, Vietnam and California (US) generated between 8% to 25% of their total electricity supply from solar energy, with this number growing quickly. 

“The rapid cost reductions in solar energy that my work has facilitated have come just in time, right at the point when the importance of acting immediately to address climate change has become overwhelmingly obvious.”

Professor Minna Palmroth, Chair of the Board of Technology Academy Finland, said: “Professor Green’s innovation has already and will continue to greatly enhance the quality of life for billions of people globally and enhance environmentally sustainable development, from national power grids to private housing.” 

Professor Päivi Törmä, Chair of the International Selection Committee of the Millennium Technology Prize, said: “PERCs can help us provide low-cost energy solutions and mitigate climate change. Continued research on solar cells is needed to replace their constituents that have limited supply, such as silver, with more abundant alternatives.” 

The 2022 ceremony celebrating Green’s innovation will be held alongside the Millennium Innovation Forum, also hosted by Technology Academy Finland, which runs from October 25-26. The Forum brings together internationally renowned experts to discuss how technology can solve the world’s greatest challenges. 

Speakers include Bellingcat’s investigative journalist and Executive Director, Christo Grozev, who implicated the Russian government in the poisoning of opposition leader Alexei Navalny and is currently investigating war crimes being committed by Russia in Ukraine. It also features Tim O’Reilly, Web 2.0 forerunner and Silicon Valley expert; and Marissa Mayer, ex-CEO of Yahoo, and Google’s 20th employee and first female engineer.

The innovation forum’s session on diversity in research and development will be hosted by Finland’s Research and Innovation Council, which is chaired by Finnish Prime Minister.

There will be a press conference with Professor Martin Green at 9:00 am EEST (UTC+3) on 25th October 2022, embargoed until 25th October 2022, 6.30 PM EEST (UTC+3). Professor Green will also deliver a lecture at 5:10 pm EEST (UTC+3) on 26th October 2022.

For more information, press conference details or interview requests, please contact:

Saiansha Panangipalli
Email: saiansha@curzonpr.com and millenniumprize@curzonpr.com;
Tel: +91 99715 74820

Q/A with Martin Green about PERC:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1M5qSa2GnIdH0clWpOHDXIxWZdKeiVUqx/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=107249428655872742154&rtpof=true&sd=true

Watch and download a video and photos about Professor Martin Green, the 2022 Millennium Technology Award prize winner: here.

About the Millennium Technology Prize:

The €1 million Millennium Technology Prize is the preeminent award focused on technological innovations for a better life. This includes work that improves human well-being, biodiversity, and wider sustainability. Overseen by the Technology Academy Finland, it was first awarded in 2004 and its patron is the President of the Republic of Finland. Winners are selected by a distinguished international panel of experts from academia and industry. Innovations must be backed up by rigorous academic and scientific research and fulfill several criteria, including promoting sustainable development and biodiversity, generating applications with commercial viability, and creating accessible socio-economic value.

Past winning projects range from DNA sequencing that helped to develop COVID-19 vaccines, to ethical stem-cell research and versatile, affordable smart technology. For other information, visit https://millenniumprize.org/. 

The previous winners of the Millennium Technology Prize are:         

  1. 2004 – Sir Tim Berners-Lee for the World Wide Web;
  2. 2006 – Professor Shuji Nakamura for the production of the first successful blue LED, the final step in creating a brilliant white LED;
  3. 2008 – Professor Robert Langer for his work in controlled drug delivery, the underlying technology behind mRNA vaccines. 
  4. 2010 – Professor Michael Grätzel for third generation dye-sensitized solar cells, which promise electricity-generating windows and low-cost solar panels;
  5. 2012 – Joint winners: Professor Shinya Yamanaka, for ethical stem cell research and Linus Torvalds for the Linux open-source operating system, which has become the basis of Android smartphones, tablets, digital television recorders and supercomputers the world over;
  6. 2014 – Professor Stuart Parkin, for developing increased data storage density, which has enabled a thousand-fold increase in the storage capacity of magnetic disk drives;
  7. 2016 – Dr Frances Arnold, for her work on directed evolution, which mimics natural evolution to create new and better proteins in the laboratory, and is being used to create green alternatives to fossil-based raw materials;   
  8. 2018 – Dr Tuomo Suntola, for atomic layer deposition (ALD), that enables manufacture of nanoscale thin material layers for microprocessors and digital memory devices, which has helped revolutionize smartphones.
  9. 2020 – Joint winners: Professor Shankar Balasubramanian and Professor David Klenerman, for the Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) technology that can accurately determine the complete DNA sequence of an organism at a low-cost and in super-fast times and has helped researchers identify the underlying factors in individuals that contribute to their immune response to COVID-19.

About the Millennium Innovation Forum:

The Millennium Innovation Forum brings together people from business, academia, and the public sector to discuss new solutions to global problems. This year’s forum is hosted by Jason Palmer, presenter of The Intelligence podcast published by The Economist. Sessions include Diversity in RDI, Green Transition, Digital Transformation and Resilience. For information on speakers, sessions and watching the forum and Professor Green’s lecture online, visit: https://millenniumprize.org/events/millennium-innovation-forum/

To request press accreditation for attending the Millennium Innovation Forum, visit: https://e.eventos.fi/events/tapaus/millennium-innovation-forum/mif-media

About Technology Academy Finland:

Technology Academy Finland (TAF) awards the global €1 million Millennium Technology Prize and runs associated events and initiatives. It provides an international meeting ground for corporate life, academia, and policymakers, and promotes Finland’s position in the global community.

The following files are available for download:

PR Newswire

ReneSola Power Announces Acquisition of Emeren

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STAMFORD, Conn., Oct. 11, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — ReneSola Ltd (“ReneSola Power” or the “Company”) (www.renesolapower.com) (NYSE: SOL), a leading fully integrated solar project developer, today announced the acquisition of Emeren Limited (“Emeren”), a United Kingdom-based utility-scale solar power and battery projects developer in Europe. The acquisition transaction was completed on October 10 through an all-cash deal with an earn-out provision.

Emeren is currently comprised of over 22 employees and has been a strategic partner of Renesola Power to co-develop ground-mounted solar and storage projects in Italy since 2021. Emeren has over 2.5 GW of pipeline under development (at different development stages) including over 2 GW of solar projects and over 500 MW of storage projects.

Mr. Yumin Liu, ReneSola Power Chief Executive Officer, said, “ReneSola Power is committed to accelerating solar development in Europe, the largest market in our global presence. The timing of this acquisition is excellent as it increases our project pipeline in Europe at a time when solar power purchase agreement prices have increased dramatically due to a supply shortage and favorable regulatory conditions. Further, the prestigious reputation, financial profile, and industry experience of Emeren are valuable assets to ReneSola Power as we expand our business footprint into Italy and other European countries. The acquisition is expected to generate healthy EBITDA immediately.”

Guido Prearo, CEO of Emeren, added, “I’m very excited about this acquisition as it offers unique synergies. ReneSola Power’s significant project development expertise and resources will enable us to grow stronger and more dynamic and benefit our partners and trusted clients. At the same time, we bring in-depth knowledge of the Italian market and other key European solar markets. I am confident we will achieve our solar development and storage milestones in the next few years and contribute significantly to ReneSola Power’s long-term growth.”

About ReneSola Power

ReneSola Power (NYSE: SOL) is a leading global solar project developer and operator. The Company focuses on solar power project development, construction management and project financing services. With local professional teams in more than 10 countries around the world, the business is spread across number of regions where the solar power project markets are growing rapidly and can sustain that growth due to improved clarity around government policies. The Company’s strategy is to pursue high-margin project development opportunities in these profitable and growing markets; specifically, in the U.S. and Europe, where the Company has a market-leading position in several geographies, including Poland, Hungary, Minnesota and New York. For more information, please visit www.renesolapower.com.

About Emeren Limited

Emeren is a developer of utility-scale solar power and battery storage projects with a geographically diversified pipeline in various stages of development. Currently, the Company has over 2.5GW of projects under development (mid- to early- stage), all backed by institutional investors’ capital. Emeren has leveraged on trusted partnerships with tier-1 international financial and industrial players in order to deploy top-notch financial solutions. For additional information about the Company, follow Emeren on LinkedIn or visit www.emeren.co.uk.

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Source: ReneSola Ltd.