GCL SI says it should observe carbon emissions from polysilicon manufacturing to module meeting and transport. Every module may have a QR code revealing its particular carbon emissions, protected by blockchain tech to forestall tampering. It says this can provide transparency in preparation for looming Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) guidelines.
GCL SI has launched a novel carbon-tracing mechanism that includes a blockchain and QR code system. The vertically built-in producer stated it should use the “carbon chain” to transparently hint its carbon footprint throughout its whole provide chain.
Each module will get a QR code revealing the carbon emissions of every manufacturing step. GCL SI stated it goals to attain full transparency of its carbon contents from the procurement, manufacturing, and transportation of its merchandise. It stated that the mix of blockchain and QR codes will present full transparency and excessive security, so knowledge can’t be tampered with.
The intention is to hint carbon emissions in every manufacturing step. That features the manufacturing of metallurgical polysilicon, over to fluidized mattress reactor (FBR) polysilicon refinement, the ingot-to-wafer-to-cell manufacturing steps, and finally, PV module meeting. GCL SI stated that it’ll ask third-party auditors to certify the carbon emissions of every of those six steps individually. The reviews from every manufacturing step shall be mixed right into a single file accessible through a QR code on the modules.
The corporate began monitoring its carbon footprint in 2019 to adjust to French market guidelines. PV merchandise designed for programs bigger than 100 kW in France should obtain a French Vitality Regulation Fee (CRE) carbon footprint certification. GCL SI enlisted certification service supplier Certisolis to examine its module manufacturing processes.
As well as, the corporate has chosen certification our bodies Ademe and CQC to certify the carbon footprint of GCL SI processes associated to uncooked supplies. With the system in place, the corporate complies with the PAS205:2011 customary, which regulates environmental assessments of merchandise.
However now it’s time to step up the trouble once more, stated GCL SI Government President Thomas Zhang.
“The carbon chain idea leverages cutting-edge blockchain expertise and strategic partnerships to create a seamless and clear carbon platform,” stated Zhang. “It’s a testomony to our unwavering dedication to sustainability and company duty. By embracing this pioneering apply, we scale back our carbon footprint and empower others to do the identical.”
Between 2021 and 2023, GCL SI agreed to lower the carbon depth of its merchandise by 70%, Zhang stated. This has been achieved by implementing numerous optimization strategies, resembling warmth insulation, air-con, and on-site PV era, to energy the manufacturing processes.
The corporate additionally switched from utilizing the standard Siemens technique to utilizing granular polysilicon made by FBR expertise. The latter expertise, Zhang stated, saves 80% extra carbon emissions than Siemens-methods polysilicon. The GCL Group has 420,000 tons of FBR silicon manufacturing capability and plans to increase additional.
The choice to introduce a carbon chain system to hint carbon emissions in a extra detailed manner alongside the provision chain was made to extra successfully adjust to French market guidelines and put together GCL SI for what the photo voltaic trade may face as soon as the European CBAM goes into power for photo voltaic modules. Zhang stated that the improvement shall be useful when CBAM guidelines may also be utilized to photo voltaic merchandise within the foreseeable future. The module producer traces the carbon content material in its modules.
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