Sidel’s China plant unveils solar PV-installation for green factory initiative

Packaging supplier Sidel says its plant in Beijing, China, rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) system has now achieved full grid connection.

Thousands of PV panels now form a blue armour-like array across the facility, gleaming under the sunlight. With an installed capacity of 2.1 MW, Sidel Beijing’s solar system is expected to generate 4,394,700 kWh annually – meeting 60% of the plant’s daily operational electricity needs and reducing CO2 emissions by 2,452 tonnes per year.

Through the innovative ‘self-consumption with surplus feed-in’ model, 35% of the clean energy generated will be fed back into the municipal grid via smart power networks after fulfilling on-site demand. This enables optimised allocation and efficient utilisation of green energy, transforming every ray of sunlight into sustainable power.

As a signature project to China’s ‘Dual Carbon’ strategy implementation, the installation features LONGi Hi-MO7 high-efficiency modules with 615W panel power and a conversion efficiency of 23.1%.

Started up in 2008, now as a Beijing-certified green factory, Sidel says its environmental efforts go far beyond solar energy, encompassing an intelligent Energy Management System (EMS) and Building Automation System (BAS) for precise energy control; a retrofit programme for equipment frequency conversion to reduce consumption; low-temperature distillation technology to minimise effluent from acid-wash passivation; continuous optimisation of water recycling systems saving hundreds of tonnes annually; upgraded lighting that cuts power use while improving employee comfort; and on-site EV charging stations to promote greener commuting and lower carbon footprints.