Envision Energy

Envision
Company typePrivate
IndustryWind power
Founded2007
FounderLei Zhang
HeadquartersShanghai, China
Productswind turbines，
energy management software
Websitewww.envision-energy.com

Envision Energy (Chinese: 远景能源) is a Chinese multinational corporation headquartered in Shanghai that provides wind turbines and energy management software. Envision has long-term strategic cooperations in the area of battery manufacturing with Renault, Nissan, Daimler and Honda.[1]

History

Envision was founded by Lei Zhang in 2007 in Jiangyin, Jiangsu in the east region of China. Zhang was named Top 10 Chinese innovators in 2014 by China Daily.[2] The company started full operations since 2009.[3]

In 2013, Envision installed five 2.1 MW, 110-metre-rotor turbines at the Ucuquer wind farm in central Chile.[4] It also signed software contracts with US developer Pattern Energy’s fleet and compatriot Atlantic Power’s Canadian Hills wind farm in Oklahoma[5]

In 2014, Envision is partnering with New Zealand's infrastructure fund manager Infratil to build smart infrastructure in Christchurch, New Zealand.[6][7]

In 2015, Envision launched its office in London to handle business in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa[8] Its entry into the European market was the purchase of a 25MW onshore project near Eskilstuna, Sweden.[8] It also acquired ViveEnergia's 600 MW wind energy projects in Mexico in the same year.[9][10][11]

Panorama of Envision's wind farm in Shanxi, China

In early 2016, Envision launched a new operational head office in Hamburg, Germany, which provides service to its international clients in European countries,[12] and a Global Blade Innovation Center in Boulder, Colorado,[13] which will lead the R&D of blade design in the US.[14] Envision's Ucuquer wind farm project in Chile has been selected as finalist in Inter-American Development Bank’s 360 2016 Infrastructure Awards.[15] The company also made a new investment in a renewable energy project in Montenegro along with Enemalta, Shanghai Electric Power, and Vestigo.[16] Currently, Envision is in the process of installing 5 more wind turbines in La Esperanza Wind Farm in Negrete Municipality, Chile by the end of March 2016.[17][18]

In 2018, Envision bought a majority stake of the AESC battery unit from Nissan in a deal involving also NEC and its Energy Devices division, forming Envision AESC.[19] The headquarters and development centers were promised to remain in Japan. Involved in the deal were battery manufacturing operations in Smyrna, Tennessee and Sunderland.[20][21]

In 2022, Envision signed a partnership agreement with Spain on four projects including an EV battery plant in Navalmoral de la Mata, which should have been partly paid for by government funds. Later that year the gigafactory plant was left out of public aid from the Ministry of Industriy, Commerce and Tourism entirely. Envision Energy decided to forge ahead anyway.[22] Further projects include a renewable hydrogen plant in Alcazar de San Juan and a wind energy park with turbine assembly plant in Navas del Marques. The fourth project is a digital products development center.[23]

The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024 proposed the prohibition of US defense funding for Envision batteries on security grounds.[24]

Operations

Envision 3MW at Østerild, 2017

Envision's wind R&D operations are based in its headquarters in Shanghai, in a factory complex in Jiangyin, and in an innovation center in Silkeborg, Denmark,[25] staffed by 40 engineers focusing on advanced turbine technology. There is a battery-storage R&D center in Osaka, Japan, a cloud service center in Houston, and a digital innovation center in Silicon Valley, California. In 2022, Envision opened its first green hydrogen R&D center in Boston. The company has installed over 30 Gwh wind capacity worldwide.[26][27]

In 2020, Envision is ranked No.4 among top wind turbine suppliers in the world.[28]

References

  1. ^ "Envision AESC to Build a Power Battery Factory in Spain with a Planned Capacity of 30GWh". metal.com. 2022-06-07. Retrieved 2023-04-27.
  2. ^ "Top 10 Chinese innovators in 2014". China Daily. Retrieved 7 April 2016.
  3. ^ "Zhang Lei: Chasing the wind". China Network Television. Dec 31, 2013. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved April 25, 2015.
  4. ^ "Analysis: Envison [sic] plans expansion into South America". Windpower Monthly. September 26, 2014. Retrieved April 25, 2015.
  5. ^ "Envision moves in on US market with software deal". Windpower Monthly. Retrieved 2016-01-06.
  6. ^ "Envision Energy Signs MOU for Smart Infrastructure Projects in New Zealand and Asia - Entertainment Close-up". Highbeam.com. Archived from the original on 2 April 2017. Retrieved 7 April 2016.
  7. ^ "INFRASTRUCTURE UPDATE" (PDF). Govt.nz. 17 November 2014. Retrieved April 25, 2015.
  8. ^ a b "IN DEPTH: Envision's plan to conquer Europe". Recharge Magazine. Retrieved 2015-12-08.
  9. ^ Adamczyk, Ed. "Chinese firm invests in Mexican wind power projects". United Press International. Retrieved 7 April 2016.
  10. ^ "China's Envision Energy Buys 600 MW Wind Energy Projects In Mexico". CleanTechnica. 19 October 2015. Retrieved 2015-12-08.
  11. ^ "Envision acquires 600MW in Mexico". Windpower Monthly. Retrieved 7 April 2016.
  12. ^ "Envision plans German base". reNEWS - Renewable Energy News. 16 November 2015. Retrieved 2016-02-12.
  13. ^ "Envision Energy's New Colorado Center Focuses On Turbine Blade Design :: North American Windpower". North American Windpower. 22 January 2016. Retrieved 2016-02-12.
  14. ^ Weston, David. "Envision to open US blade R&D site". Windpower Monthly. Retrieved 7 April 2016.
  15. ^ "Finalist projects of the 2016 IDB Group Sustainable Infrastructure 360º Awards". Inter-American Development Bank. Archived from the original on 2017-06-23. Retrieved 2016-02-15.
  16. ^ "Renewable energy investment project in Montenegro between Enemalta, Shanghai Electric Power, Envision and Vestigo". The Malta Independent. Retrieved 2016-02-15.
  17. ^ "Envision Energy nabs 10.5-MW wind turbine order in Chile". SeeNews.com. Archived from the original on 26 January 2016. Retrieved 19 March 2016.
  18. ^ "Wind Power Deals & Company News". Recharge Magazine. Retrieved 19 March 2016.
  19. ^ "Nissan agrees to sell car battery unit to China's Envision Group". Reuters. 3 August 2018. Retrieved 2023-03-31.
  20. ^ "Nissan To Sell Battery Division To Envision Group". Inside EVs. 2018-08-03. Retrieved 2023-03-31.
  21. ^ "Nissan to Sell Electric Battery Business to Envision Group". Global Newsroom. Retrieved 2018-08-16.
  22. ^ Murray, Cameron (2022-11-02). "Economic climate starts to bite for battery gigafactory projects in Europe". Energy Storage. Retrieved 2023-11-30.
  23. ^ "China's Envision to build EV battery plant in Spain". Automotive News Europe. 2022-07-20. Retrieved 2023-03-31.
  24. ^ Singh, Kanishka (2023-12-07). "Key provisions of the US Congress' massive defense bill". Reuters. Retrieved 2023-12-07.
  25. ^ "Chinese Envision Energy to test innovative two-bladed offshore wind turbine in Denmark". Invest in Denmark. July 8, 2012. Archived from the original on November 4, 2017. Retrieved April 25, 2015.
  26. ^ "IN DEPTH: The Envision vision". Recharge Magazine. Retrieved 2016-01-06.
  27. ^ "Envision Energy's Flowing Wind Turbine Headquarters is Inspired by Wind Energy". Inhabitat. 27 December 2011. Retrieved 7 April 2016.
  28. ^ "Global Wind Industry Had a Record, Near 100GW, Year as GE, Goldwind Took Lead from Vestas". 10 March 2021.

External links

  • Official website (in English)
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