Problem
Lei Zhang founded Envision Energy as a wind turbine manufacturer in 2007. By 2022, it had become the second largest wind turbine manufacture in China, and was increasingly selling its products abroad. But Lei was also taking steps to address new challenges of the renewables transition. In 2018, Envision purchased Nissan's battery company, AESC. In 2020, it formed a new company called Envision Digital that was collaborating on a smart city project with Singapore. And in 2022, Envision was about to launch the world's first net-zero industrial zone in the Ordos in Inner Mongolia. In a fast-changing energy environment, was Lei making the right moves to position Envision to be ready for the future?
Session Preparation
Read the case and consider the following assignment questions:
I. What is the source of Envision's success to date?
II. Evaluate the Ordos project. How does it fit with the smart city initiative in Singapore?
III. What is Lei's vision for the green energy transition? Is he right?
IV. Is climate change likely to affect your business in the near-to-medium future?
V. Has your business taken steps to mitigate climate-related risk?
VI. Is your business involved in discussions about current or future policies related to climate change?
VII. Has your business set any specific carbon emissions goals or guidelines?
i. Yes
ii. No
iii. Not sure
VIII. Has your business adopted a net-zero target?
i. Yes
ii. No
iii. Not sure
IX. Is climate change likely to affect your business in the near-to-medium future?
i. Yes
ii. No
iii. Not sure
X. Has your business taken steps to mitigate climate-related risk?
i. Yes
ii. No
iii. Not sure
XI. Is your business involved in discussions about current or future policies related to climate change?
i. Yes
ii. No
iii. Not sure
XII. Has your business set any specific carbon emissions goals or guidelines?
i. Yes
ii. No
iii. Not sure
XIII. Has your business adopted a net-zero target?
i. Yes
ii. No
iii. Not sure.