GCL has received a Life Cycle Assessment Verification Statement issued by British Standards Institution (BSI), an internationally authoritative certification organization, confirming a cradle-to-gate carbon footprint of 14.2756 kg of CO₂ equivalent per kilogram of granular silicon produced at its Baotou base.

According to the company, the verified result is significantly lower than the current industry average for comparable silicon products and reflects continued progress in reducing the carbon intensity of granular silicon production.

The carbon footprint assessment was conducted in accordance with international standards ISO 14040, ISO 14044, and ISO 14067, covering the full lifecycle from raw material sourcing through production and product delivery. The assessment statistic indicates that through continuous technological optimization and the application of clean energy, GCL has successfully maintained carbon emissions during production at an industry-leading level.

Granular silicon is a key upstream material in the photovoltaic supply chain, where energy consumption and carbon intensity are increasingly under scrutiny as manufacturers respond to tightening environmental requirements and decarbonisation targets. GCL said improvements in production processes, equipment efficiency and energy management have supported a cradle-to-gate approach to emissions management, contributing to a lower carbon footprint for its granular silicon products relative to industry benchmarks.

GCL has obtained carbon footprint certifications for its granular silicon products in several jurisdictions, including China, France and Germany. According to previously published data from France’s Agency for Ecological Transition (ADEME), the carbon footprint of granular silicon produced at the Baotou base was assessed at 14.441 kg CO₂e/kg.

Based on its effective annual capacity of 480,000 tonnes of granular silicon, GCL estimates that the use of granular silicon could result in electricity savings of approximately 19.5 billion kWh per year compared with conventional rod silicon, equivalent to a reduction of around 10.48 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions annually, based on internal calculations.

GCL will continue to invest in green technology research and work with partners across the photovoltaic value chain to support emissions reduction and sustainability goals.

Moving forward, GCL will further scale up investment in green technology R&D and foster industry-wide collaboration to reduce carbon emissions across the entire value chain. The company aims to serve not only as an enabler supporting clients and partners in reaching their carbon neutrality targets, but also as a proactive creator of green value.