GoodWe at 15: Powering a Smarter, Greener Energy Future – James Hou, General Manager of Southeast Asia & South Asia

Q1. As GoodWe celebrates 15 years, how do you see the future of smart and sustainable energy in the SEA & SA region? What are the key priorities for the company’s growth in this market?

The region is experiencing rapid growth in solar adoption driven by rising energy demand, supportive government policies, and an increasing focus on energy independence and resilience. We expect to see accelerated adoption of smart solar-plus-storage solutions, and more integrated, flexible systems that empower both homes and businesses to optimize their energy use. We’re also focused on collaborating closely with partners to deliver tailored solutions that meet the unique needs of each country—whether it’s residential, C&I, or utility applications.

Q2. GoodWe has a growing presence globally. Could you share how the SEA & SA team is collaborating with local partners and customers to drive clean energy adoption and strengthen GoodWe’s footprint in the region?

GoodWe has been steadily expanding across Southeast Asia and South Asia, and a major part of that success comes from strong, on-the-ground collaboration with our local partners and customers. Our approach is very partnership-driven. We work closely with distributors, EPCs, and installers to ensure they have the right technical knowledge, product training, and marketing support to confidently promote and deploy our solutions to end customers.

Q3. A highlight of the celebration is the visit to GoodWe’s intelligent manufacturing base. Could you share how digitalization and smart manufacturing are driving greater efficiency, quality, and sustainability in your operations?

Digitalization is embedded in GoodWe production, ensuring that our products are delivered with high reliability, consistent quality, and a reduced environmental footprint.

• Quality control

Quality has always been GoodWe’s top priority. Beyond ISO 9001 certification, we implement even stricter in-house standards supported by a comprehensive quality-management loop. We rigorously qualify suppliers to ensure all incoming materials meet our criteria, and every product is manufactured in-house under a precise quality control plan. Our products undergo continuous reliability testing, third-party calibration for measurement accuracy, full traceability through ERP and MES systems, and final open-box audits. Only products that meet all requirements are approved for shipment.

• Renewable energy utilization

Our manufacturing bases operate with a strong commitment to sustainability. We integrate rooftop PV systems and energy storage solutions into our own facilities, enabling us to use a high proportion of clean energy in our operations. By adopting smart energy management, we maximize on-site renewable energy utilization and reduce carbon emissions, making our production more environmentally responsible.

• Intelligent manufacturing to streamline processes

We apply digital tools such as intelligent warehousing and MES to optimize workflow and improve operational efficiency. These technologies shorten production cycles, enhance flexibility, and enable data-driven decision-making across the entire manufacturing chain.

Q4. GoodWe’s success is powered by its people and partnerships. As you celebrate 15 years, how do you plan to continue fostering innovation, collaboration, and shared success within the company and the wider solar community?

At GoodWe, we value the spirit of “win-win.” Collaboration and knowledge-sharing are deeply embedded in our culture, and we continue to strengthen these through technical workshops, joint marketing initiatives, and co-creation programs with our partners. These efforts help spark innovation and deepen our relationships across the industry.

Another core value at GoodWe is “respect people and reward strivers.” We are committed to fostering an environment where initiative, creativity, and meaningful contributions are recognized. By empowering our local teams and giving partners the space and support to innovate, we ensure that new ideas, agile execution, and high-quality service continue to thrive across SEA and South Asia.

Q5. GoodWe champions sustainability and zero-carbon ecosystems—how are these principles reflected in your product development and operations, and how does the LEED Gold–certified Suzhou headquarters reinforce these goals? Do you plan to replicate this model globally?

Our new global headquarters, which began operations last year, has now received LEED Gold recognition, following one year of performance monitoring. The headquarters has met the strict requirements of the LEED v4 “Building Design and Construction: New Construction and Major Renovations” category, confirming outstanding performance in areas such as energy efficiency, water conservation, materials use, and indoor environmental quality.

This 21-story, 16,000 m² building integrates Building-Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV) on facades and rooftops, and utilizes GoodWe’s own inverters, battery systems, and smart energy-management technology. The facility produces its own power through solar applications, but also uses solar water heating, ground-source heat pumps and other renewable energy systems. With the addition of features like smart shading, natural ventilation, and high-efficiency insulation, the building reduces overall energy use by over 50%.

GoodWe’s global headquarters was designed to embody the company’s mission and our goal of transforming every building into its own power plant, a concept closely aligned with the “energy prosumer” idea that our CEO Daniel has emphasized on many occasions.

Beyond the headquarters, GoodWe’s Guangde manufacturing site and our EcoSmart Home demonstration facility also stand as real-world examples of zero-carbon buildings. The factory is on track to achieve full zero-carbon status by 2030. The EcoSmart Home integrates solar tiles, a balcony solar-storage system, a bi-directional charger, a heat pump, and a DC/AC hybrid architecture, generating around 10,000 kWh of clean energy each month. We remain committed to extending this approach and embedding sustainable practices across our future facilities.