The new Hefei Science and Technology Museum, with a 600-kW photovoltaic power station on the rooftop, is known as a zero-carbon structure that is green, intelligent, and eco-friendly. Located on the east side of Shuxi Lake, the museum is not only a landmark with cutting-edge technologies, but also an epitome of low-carbon development in the Hefei National High-tech Industry Development Zone.

An aerial view of the new Hefei Science and Technology Museum in the Hefei high-tech zone. [Photo/WeChat ID: hefeigaoxinfabu]

Intensifying energy conservation for enterprises

In recent years, the high-tech zone has made great efforts to promote green economy, focusing on photovoltaic, new energy, energy conservation, and environmental protection industries.

Sungrow Power Supply Co., Ltd. is a key national high-tech company specializing in new energy power equipment for solar, wind, and other renewable energy sources. It provides low-carbon services for industrial parks, factories, hospitals, schools, and transportation facilities in the zone.

A rendering of the GEOVIS Digital Earth Science Center. [Photo/WeChat ID: hefeigaoxinfabu]

In March, the GEOVIS Digital Earth Global Headquarters in Hefei launched its three-star green building project – GEOVIS Online. As the zone's first high-star green project in 2024, it is expected to advance green development in the local area.

The zone has helped more than 60 enterprises to transform and upgrade traditional manufacturing, so that they can better make use of their space and improve low carbon efficiencies. In 2023, four new national-level green factories opened in the zone, injecting new impetus into the region's green economy.

Setting benchmark for low-carbon parks

The high-tech zone has established a range of low-carbon and zero-carbon industrial parks in recent years, driving high-end, intelligent, and green development in Hefei.

An exterior of Sungrow Power Supply Co Ltd. [Photo/WeChat ID: hefeigaoxinfabu]

The Sungrow Industrial Park, the production base of listed new energy equipment group Sungrow Power Supply Co. Ltd., is equipped with photovoltaic inverters and energy storage systems, so as to pursue green and low-carbon development in the industrial sector.

At present, the total capacity of the grid-connected, roof-mounted photovoltaic system in the park reached 7.69 MW. As proportion use of new energy increases and energy efficiency improves, the park's electricity supply will be 100% driven by green electricity, and its energy productivity will rise by 35% in 2028.

The industrial park of the Hefei Institute of Technology Innovation of the Chinese Academy of Sciences has built 8,000 square meters of roof-mounted photovoltaic power stations with an annual power generation of about 1.2 million KWh. They can help reduce carbon dioxide emissions by about 840 metric tons. In addition, the park established an energy control system and a carbon management platform using the Internet of Things model, realizing accurate accounting and efficient management of carbon emissions as well as achieving remarkable results in digital transformation.

An aerial view of the Hefei National High-tech Industrial Development Zone. [Photo/WeChat account: hefeigaoxinfabu]

In 2023, the high-tech zone – while occupying only 1% of Hefei's land area – contributed to nearly 12% of the city's GDP, nearly 25% of the tax revenue, and nearly 42% of the profits of companies above designated size. Its operating income per unit of energy consumption ranked first in Anhui province.

Looking forward, an ecological industrial system featuring green, low-carbon, and sustainable development is expected to take shape in 2025. The zone aims to become a green economy pacesetter by 2030.