CATL, Yibin city launch joint plan to build a citywide zero-carbon ecosystem

Shanghai (Gasgoo)- Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Ltd. (CATL) recently signed a strategic cooperation agreement with the Yibin municipal government to jointly develop a "Zero-Carbon Yibin" initiative, according to a press release CATL issued on November 24 via its WeChat account.

The partnership aims to establish a citywide zero-carbon industrial and energy ecosystem within five years, positioning Yibin as a leading demonstration zone for low-carbon and environmentally responsible development. The collaboration will center on four pillars: zero-carbon industries, zero-carbon energy systems, zero-carbon cities, and intelligent zero-carbon technologies.

CATL plans to develop a dual model combining zero-carbon manufacturing sites with "lighthouse factories," beginning with national-level pilot zones in the Sanjiang New District, Yibin High-tech Zone, and Xuzhou District's energy-storage industrial park. These pilots will gradually expand across the city. A major component of the effort is the decarbonization of high-energy-consumption industries such as chemicals and building materials. The initiative will support the creation of replicable zero-carbon factory benchmarks at companies including Tianyuan Group, Grace Group, and Push Group, accelerating the green transition of Yibin's traditional industrial base.

Leveraging Yibin's ample clean-energy resources and CATL's technological expertise, the partners will expand both centralized and distributed renewable-energy projects, including solar and biomass generation. They also plan to contribute to the coordinated development of surrounding wind and solar resources. CATL will further establish a new-energy-vehicle storage industry presence in Yibin, spanning grid-side systems, shared storage facilities, and commercial-industrial deployments to enhance the reliability and flexibility of the city's green-energy supply.

The agreement includes a broad push to electrify public transportation and expand Yibin's charging and battery-swapping infrastructure. Both parties will build swapping stations for passenger vehicles and heavy-duty trucks and develop integrated energy hubs combining solar, storage, charging, inspection, and swapping. A dedicated battery-swapping logistics corridor will be established between Mabian and Yibin's phosphate mining zone. Additional initiatives include deploying electric heavy trucks and autonomous logistics vehicles in high-volume freight areas and promoting zero-carbon solutions across river vessels, wineries, and building projects.

To support long-term governance, CATL and the city government will develop a data-driven management framework for zero-carbon urban operations. This includes a smart scheduling platform for citywide energy systems, a carbon-emissions monitoring platform, and an integrated management system for zero-carbon industrial parks. These tools aim to provide real-time oversight of energy use and emissions, reinforcing Yibin's dual-control mechanisms and advancing systematic zero-carbon urban development.

CATL has already supported 13 supply-chain partners in Sichuan in achieving carbon neutrality and continues to develop a scalable roadmap from zero-carbon factories to zero-carbon parks and, eventually, zero-carbon cities. The new agreement with Yibin marks a significant step in deepening strategic cooperation and jointly addressing climate challenges. By combining the region's clean-energy strengths with CATL's technological capabilities, the two sides aim to create replicable models for future zero-carbon development.