Flexible PV Empowers New Path for Green Transformation of High-Energy-Consumption Copper Industry Workshops [[SMM Copper Industry Conference]]

On April 23, at the CCIE-2025SMM (20th) Copper Industry Conference and Copper Industry Expo—Low-Carbon Energy Transition Forum for the Copper Industry, hosted by SMM Information & Technology Co., Ltd. (SMM), Shanghai Nonferrous Metals Trading Center, and Shandong Aisi Information Technology Co., Ltd., with Jiangxi Copper Corporation and Yingtan Inland Port Holdings Co., Ltd. as the main sponsors, Shandong Humon Smelting Co., Ltd. as a special co-organizer, and Xinhuang Group and Zhongtiaoshan Nonferrous Metals Group Co., Ltd. as co-organizers, Ding Xiaoli, Marketing Manager of Shanghai Pincheng Jingyao PV Technology Co., Ltd., elaborated on the lightweight energy transition solution for PV applications—"Metal + PV" lightweight energy transition solution for Jingyao PV.

Carbon Neutral Energy Structure Transition: New Energy Will Account for Over 80% in the Future

►High Energy Consumption Characteristics of the Copper Industry

Nonferrous Metals (Copper)—A Typical Energy-Intensive Industry

The smelting process consumes extremely high energy, with electricity consumption per mt of copper reaching 2,500–3,000 kWh. The comprehensive energy consumption for producing 1 mt of copper cathode is approximately 1.2 mt of standard coal, significantly higher than many industrial products (steel energy consumption per mt is about 0.6 mt of standard coal). The total energy consumption of China's nonferrous metals industry accounts for about 5% of the national total, with copper, aluminum, lead, and zinc being the major contributors. The energy intensity (energy consumption per unit GDP) of copper smelting is 3-5 times the average level of the manufacturing industry.

►Carbon Reduction Pathways for the Copper Industry

Combining technical feasibility and economic viability, the "Green Electricity + Recycling + Intelligence" model will become mainstream.

►PV Green Electricity: A Key Driver of the Energy Revolution

Policy Drivers: Dual controls on energy consumption and carbon emissions, Energy Law of the People's Republic of China.

Economic Drivers:

Currently, electricity costs account for 15%-40% of the total costs in various operational stages of the copper industry. By adopting PV power generation, electricity costs can be reduced to approximately 0.1 yuan/kWh (taking a 100,000 m² PV rooftop as an example, with a comprehensive system efficiency of 82%, an annual average power generation of 12 million kWh, a total operation period of 25 years, and a unit price of 2.8 yuan/W (including modules & EPC), the electricity cost is approximately 0.1 yuan/kWh). The cost of copper cathode production can be reduced by 250–300 yuan per mt (assuming copper prices are 50,000 yuan/mt: electricity prices decrease by 0.1 yuan/kWh).

Industry Green Benchmark: Over 25 years, cumulative power generation of 300 million kWh; saving over 130,000 mt of standard coal; reducing carbon emissions by over 350,000 mt; reducing sulfur dioxide emissions by over 130,000 mt; equivalent to planting 800,000 trees.

Three Major Pain Points in the Green Transformation of Copper Plant Facilities

Pain Point 1: Load Issues ⇒ What if the roof load is insufficient? The industry developed early, and most early-stage plants have undergone years of production, leading to aging roof structures and insufficient load capacity.

Pain Point 2: Adaptation Issues ⇒ Curved roofs and traditional modules are incompatible. Due to production processes, there are many functional zones, with significant differences in roof types and materials across different areas.

Pain Point 3: Maintenance Issues ⇒ Dust accumulation affects PV power generation. During operations, the copper industry releases particulates and corrosive gases, increasing operational and maintenance costs.

Pain Points of Traditional Modules and Industry Scenario Applications

Addressing Pain Points

Core Technological Advantages

Enhancing water resistance, improving power generation stability, and extending service life.

Additionally, the presentation covered unique competitive advantages created by an innovative industry chain, core technological advantages (polymer chain group modification technology, resin-fiber interface strength improvement technology, nano-hybrid modification and surface treatment flame-retardant technology, nano-oxide coating self-cleaning technology), performance advantages of PV modules based on material advantages, authoritative national certifications, the lightweight PV module product system of Pincheng Jingyao, installation solutions, company qualifications and honors, technical patents, and related application cases.

» Click to view the special report on the CCIE-2025SMM (20th) Copper Industry Conference and Copper Industry Expo.