On December 5, 2024, Lead Intelligent Equipment (hereafter referred to as LEAD), a global leader in new energy intelligent manufacturing solutions, announced its plan for carbon neutrality. The company aims to peak carbon emissions in its core operations by the end of 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality in these operations by the end of 2035.
LEAD Joins Global Effort with Carbon Neutrality Milestones
Addressing climate change has become a shared goal among governments and businesses. The United Nations Environment Programme’s latest “Emissions Gap Report 2024” indicates that current climate policies will lead to a global average temperature increase of over 3°C by the end of this century compared to pre-industrial levels, more than double the target set in the Paris Agreement. The urgency for action is undeniable. The recent 29th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) in Baku, Azerbaijan, reaffirmed the global consensus, with the formation of the “Baku Climate Solidarity Pact” to guide nations in bridging the gap between climate goals and tangible outcomes.
In response, LEAD announced its carbon neutrality roadmap, focusing on four key pillars: Energy Efficiency, Energy Electrification, Clean Energy Utilization, and Digitalization of Energy Management. Through technological innovation and the application of intelligent manufacturing, LEAD is committed to enhancing operational efficiency and significantly reducing carbon emissions, contributing to the global climate effort.
LEAD’s commitment includes reaching peak carbon emissions in its core operations by 2030 and achieving carbon neutrality in these operations by 2035. The company is also dedicated to reducing emissions throughout its entire value chain and providing transparent, regular updates on its progress. By turning these green commitments into measurable actions, LEAD aims to make a meaningful contribution to global climate initiatives.
Empowering Sustainability: LEAD’s Green Evolution Across the Entire Value Chain
Over the past year, LEAD completed a comprehensive carbon audit for Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions and obtained ISO 14064 greenhouse gas verification certification. The company also established an internal carbon measurement system and a transparent disclosure mechanism for setting and tracking targets. The audit revealed that the total greenhouse gas emissions from LEAD’s operations in 2023 amounted to 28,474 tons of CO2 equivalent (tCO2e). To achieve its carbon neutrality goals, LEAD is actively implementing a range of measures:
Product-Level Initiatives: LEAD is dedicated to green product innovation and optimization. By substituting materials that have high carbon footprints, reducing product consumables, and optimizing manufacturing processes, the company aims to reduce the carbon footprint of its products from the design stage onward.
LEAD is also enhancing carbon footprint measurement and verification efforts. This year, following international standards such as ISO 14067 and PAS 2050, the company calculated the carbon footprint of its flagship product, the LIB Electrode Cutting and Stacking Machine (LBECS014T). The result was a footprint of 162.57 tons of CO2 equivalent (tCO2e) per functional unit.
Operational-Level Measures: LEAD is embracing digital transformation in energy management by enhancing its carbon management systems and incorporating smart monitoring tools. LEAD has implemented smart facilities like online substation monitoring, remote monitoring for air compressors, and smart forklift management. Additionally, the company is expanding photovoltaic (PV) capacity by utilizing rooftops and carport areas at production bases for distributed solar power systems. PV capacity is expected to exceed 8.8 megawatt-hours (MWh) by 2025, with plans to cover 100% of usable rooftop areas by 2027, supporting the shift from carbon-intensive to low-carbon energy sources.
Regarding energy electrification and efficiency, LEAD promotes replacing conventional energy sources with electricity, optimizes energy mix, and conducts regular energy audits, equipment efficiency assessments, and system optimizations to maximize energy savings. The company’s fleet of engineering vehicles in China, including forklifts, pallet trucks, and aerial work platforms, is now fully electrified, further reducing operational carbon emissions. To offset residual emissions and achieve full carbon neutrality, LEAD also prudently invests in green credits. In 2024, LEAD offset 7,000 MWh of electricity-related emissions from the previous year through the purchase of International Renewable Energy Certificates (I-REC).
Addressing Indirect Emissions Across the Value Chain: Beyond internal operations, LEAD is driving sustainability across its value chain. The company is creating “full value chain + full lifecycle” new intelligent manufacturing solutions, actively assisting customers with technological transformation and low-carbon transitions. LEAD can help customers reduce energy consumption and emissions throughout the entire production by utilizing its self-developed technologies to optimize energy management, air compression, and energy monitoring systems. In addition, LEAD will gradually establish a low-carbon supply chain system by implementing carbon emission tracking mechanisms and designing green procurement strategies to strengthen carbon management across its network.
Wang Yanqing, Chairman of LEAD Group, emphasized the company’s commitment: “The new energy equipment industry plays a crucial role in the global response to climate change and the transition to sustainable energy. Earlier this year, LEAD officially joined the UN Global Compact, strengthening our commitment to sustainability. We will continue to encourage innovation and collaborate with customers, partners, and employees to drive a green transformation. LEAD is ready to lead a true green revolution in new energy intelligent manufacturing.”
