Innovation in focus at carbon neutrality expo

Breakthroughs by private enterprises and facilitating the outbound reach of Chinese companies are the highlights at this year's Shanghai International Carbon Neutrality Expo in Technologies, Products and Achievements, which began on Thursday.

The third consecutive edition of the expo, which concludes on June 7, includes for the first time an exhibition area for private enterprises.

Up to 20 technologically advanced small and medium-sized enterprises have displayed their progress in upgrading techniques and new consumption scenarios covering industrial manufacturing, transportation and data services.

According to Zhu Minglin, deputy director of the Shanghai Municipal Development and Reform Commission, such demonstrations serve as practical references for the low-carbon transition of industries.

DHForce Technology Co Ltd, a Shanghai-based startup specializing in mobility power supply solutions, showcased three of its recently developed charging robots at the expo. The product can charge an electric vehicle in 30 minutes, addressing difficulties in old communities where charging poles cannot be easily erected.

Meanwhile, the robot can be transformed into an energy storage unit, sending power back to the grid during peak load times. The product can serve as an innovative solution for Shanghai's energy transition to build a virtual power plant, said the company's marketing director Yu Shunwu.

Also debuting at this year's expo is a series of activities facilitating the overseas expansion of Chinese companies' green businesses.

A special guideline was released on Thursday to provide companies information in nine areas, including project investment, standards certification and global green tax.

Gu Chunting, deputy head of the Council for the Promotion of International Trade Shanghai, said that green transition is a must for the outbound forays of Chinese companies, so as to improve their international competitiveness, as the world is faced with climate change challenges and a changing international trade order.

Shanghai Carbon Newture Technology Co Ltd is participating in the expo for the second time in a row.

The company has facilitated the overseas expansion of various Chinese companies, including electrical products maker Delixi and smartphone maker Oppo, by helping them calculate their carbon footprints.

The company's cofounder and CEO Huang Yanxiang said that reviewing carbon-related data has become a must for outbound Chinese companies. Otherwise, they will lose orders from Fortune 500 companies, which are increasingly becoming stricter in this aspect.

The European Union will implement the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism, widely known as carbon tariffs, from Jan 1 next year. Under such circumstances, proof of carbon footprints has become a prerequisite for entering the European market.

But the good news is, European consumers are willing to pay a premium for low-carbon products. More important, many Chinese companies have already met EU's carbon emission requirements. They have just not built the awareness to gather such data, said Huang.

According to Michael Bi, managing partner of EY Greater China Markets, companies with low-carbon technologies can attract investments themed on environmental, social and corporate governance while China heads for its carbon neutrality goals and as global industries undergo restructuring.

Additionally, these companies will gain an upper hand in terms of the making of international green rules, he said.

Bi also underlined the importance of empowering green governance with artificial intelligence. The technology can bring about overall mapping by providing a visualized system monitoring a company's dynamic carbon footprints throughout its life cycle.

AI can also provide optimized solutions for a green supply chain by integrating blockchain. It can update in real time the carbon tariffs and regulations in other markets, which are crucial for Chinese companies while expanding their footprints globally, said Bi.

Covering about 40,000 square meters, the expo has accommodated 300 industry leaders from home and abroad, including Chinese industry giant Huawei, German chemical behemoth BASF and Shanghai-based advanced manufacturing and modern services provider Orient International (Holding) Co Ltd.