German tire giant Continental has launched a green energy project at its Hefei plant, located in the Hefei National High-tech Industry Development Zone. 

The initiative features a 14.4-megawatt photovoltaic (PV) system paired with a 40-megawatt-hour energy storage facility — the largest client-side energy storage project in Hefei, capital of east China's Anhui province. It underscores the zone's commitment to China's carbon peak and neutrality goals, fostering a modern energy ecosystem and driving green transformation across local industries and enterprises.

The Continental Tires 14.4MW Photovoltaic and 40MWh Energy Storage Open Day and Grid Connection Ceremony. [Photo/WeChat ID: hefeigaoxinfabu]

The Hefei plant, the first and only wholly foreign-owned tire production base in China by Germany's Continental, has expanded its renewable energy capacity through this second-phase upgrade. Operating under a "self-generation and consumption, surplus grid feed-in" model, it enhances the efficiency of clean energy consumption.

The energy storage facility. [Photo/WeChat ID: hefeigaoxinfabu]

"The synergy between solar power and energy storage will reduce annual carbon dioxide emissions by 25,872 tons, equivalent to the carbon absorption of 270,000 newly planted trees," said the general manager of Continental Tires (China).

The project is expected to generate at least 14.7 million kWh of electricity in its first year. Combined with the first-phase PV system built on a 15,200-square-meter rooftop solar array installed in 2014, the plant's total PV capacity now reaches 28.5 MW. Its annual solar power output exceeds 25.95 million kWh, supplying approximately 20% of the plant's total electricity demand.

As one of China's first national pilot zones for carbon peaking, the Hefei National High-tech Industry Development Zone is building a green and low-carbon development ecosystem driven by institutional innovation, technological empowerment, and policy support. 

Moving forward, the zone will further empower industries through open application scenarios, enhance administrative efficiency, and foster an inclusive innovation environment to deepen the integration of emerging sectors with green technologies, foster high-end manufacturing clusters, and boost the growth of new quality productive forces.