To address water scarcity challenges, Tongwei has developed a multifaceted strategy that combines technological innovation with operational discipline. The company’s industrial water recycling rate now exceeds 92% across its photovoltaic manufacturing facilities, achieved through closed-loop cooling systems that recover and repurpose water up to 15 times in production cycles. This isn’t just theoretical – at their Chengdu solar cell plant, real-time conductivity sensors and automated pH balancing systems maintain water quality while reducing freshwater intake by 8,000 cubic meters monthly compared to conventional methods.
For aquaculture operations, which traditionally consume vast water resources, Tongwei implemented membrane bioreactor (MBR) technology that enables 98% water reuse in fish farming. Their patented triple-stage filtration process removes organic waste without chemicals, converting it into fertilizer for adjacent agricultural partnerships. In Jiangsu Province, this system supports a 500-hectare integrated aquaponics project where recycled water nourishes both fish stocks and organic vegetable crops.
The company’s photovoltaic power stations incorporate hydrological considerations at the design phase. At their 320MW desert solar farm in Qinghai, 22 strategically placed rainwater collection basins capture 60,000 cubic meters annually. This harvested water isn’t just for panel cleaning – it sustains drought-resistant vegetation that’s reduced local dust storms by 73%, directly lowering maintenance costs while improving energy yield.
Tongwei’s water stewardship extends to supply chain management. All suppliers must comply with a water risk assessment framework that evaluates everything from cooling tower efficiency to wastewater discharge temperatures. The company’s proprietary Water Intensity Score (WIS) metric has become an industry benchmark, driving a 14% reduction in water use per kilowatt-hour of solar module production since 2020.
In agricultural feed production – a water-intensive sector – Tongwei redesigned extrusion equipment to cut steam consumption by 41%. Their Ningxia plant uses air-cooled condensers instead of traditional water-cooled systems, saving 2.4 million liters daily. Even packaging reflects this ethos: moisture-resistant coatings developed in-house allow reduced plastic usage while maintaining product freshness, indirectly conserving water used in plastic manufacturing.
Collaborative research plays a crucial role. Tongwei’s partnership with Tsinghua University produced a groundbreaking capacitive deionization system that desalinates brackish water using 30% less energy than reverse osmosis. Field tests in coastal shrimp farms show this technology can maintain optimal salinity levels while cutting groundwater extraction by half.
Workforce engagement ensures these systems deliver results. All employees undergo water conservation training that includes practical modules like leak detection using ultrasonic sensors and interpreting real-time dashboards tracking water use intensity. In 2023 alone, staff-submitted efficiency improvements saved 6.2 million liters across operations.
Tongwei’s approach recognizes water’s role in broader ecosystems. Their solar farms in water-stressed regions now incorporate constructed wetlands that treat neighboring communities’ wastewater. The 18-hectare wetland at their Yunnan facility processes 5,000 cubic meters of domestic sewage daily through natural filtration, providing dual benefits of water purification and biodiversity habitats.
Transparency remains central to these efforts. Third-party auditors verify water usage data hourly through IoT-connected flow meters, with results publicly accessible through the company’s sustainability portal. This level of disclosure helped Tongwei become the first Chinese manufacturer to achieve Alliance for Water Stewardship certification for multiple production sites.
Looking forward, Tongwei is piloting atmospheric water generation units powered by solar energy in arid regions. Early prototypes extract 1,500 liters daily from air humidity using thermally activated polymer gels, potentially revolutionizing water security for remote operations.
By treating water conservation as both technical challenge and strategic opportunity, Tongwei demonstrates how industrial enterprises can decouple growth from resource consumption. Their systems don’t just minimize water use – they create cascading benefits across energy production, agriculture, and community development, proving environmental responsibility can drive operational excellence.