Jinko Solar and Manchester City’s Powerful Multiyear Partnership

As the world’s leading manufacturer and supplier of solar panels and storage solutions, Jinko Solar has made it its mission to enable a sustainable future, and its recent multiyear partnership with Manchester City has brought this mission to the Premier League — and the world.

Based in Manchester, England, Man City is among the world’s most popular football clubs and has taken the lead in embracing a variety of sustainable initiatives like waste and energy reductions. Earlier this year, the club announced plans for a large-scale renewable energy project to accelerate its path toward becoming net-zero carbon by 2030. Its recently announced partnership with the solar giant Jinko Solar will help achieve these plans.

“We are delighted to announce this new global partnership with Jinko Solar,” said Kaitlyn Beale, vice president of global partnership sales at City Football Group, in a press release. “Manchester City and Jinko Solar are two leading organizations that put an emphasis on innovation in our respective fields. Both organizations are committed to creating a lasting change and empowering better lives, and we look forward to Jinko Solar joining our journey as we aim to create a more sustainable future.”

In addition to bringing Jinko Solar and the importance of renewable energy to a global stage, this partnership will aid Manchester City in transforming its training facility, the City Football Academy, into “one of the largest producers of renewable energy in world football.”

Manchester City’s Massive Solar Project

Manchester City has made massive investments in solar energy and is expected to install over 10,000 solar panels throughout the Etihad Campus to generate up to 4.39 megawatt hours of renewable energy per year. With the club already reducing its electrical consumption by over 1.1 million kilowatt hours in the past year, this project is another major step toward its net carbon zero initiatives and energy self-reliance, building off the club’s longstanding practice of purchasing 100% renewable energy. 

“As we look ahead on our road map to being net carbon zero by 2030, we know that the production and consumption of renewable energy has an incredibly important role to play, which is why we are delighted at the prospect of installing over 10,800 solar panels at our home in Manchester,” said Pete Bradshaw, the club’s director of sustainability.

With the help of Jinko Solar, the City Football Academy — which has already achieved a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Gold standard certification — will be fitted with 3,830 panels to be installed on frames over footpaths and pitch-side areas. Manchester City also plans to place over 3,000 panels on Joie Stadium, the 7,000-capacity home to Manchester City Women, and an additional 3,942 panels on the roofs of other facilities throughout the campus, like the First Team and Academy Building. 

Once completed, the Etihad Campus will generate enough electricity to power over 2,000 homes, cementing Manchester City as a sustainable pioneer and one of football’s largest producers of renewable energy. 

By bringing Jinko Solar into the fold, the club can promote renewable energy to Man City fans through the shared lens of sustainable innovation. As a global leader in solar sustainability, efficiency, affordability, and research and development, Manchester City couldn’t have chosen a better partner. 

“This “champion to champion” collaboration celebrates excellence in sports and renewable energy, paving the way for a brighter, more sustainable future,” said Gener Miao, Jinko Solar’s chief marketing officer. “Together with Manchester City, we are dedicated to advancing sustainability and showcasing how renewable energy can lead to a healthier planet. We eagerly anticipate the positive impact we will create on this exciting journey.” 

Jinko Solar: A Shining Partner

Jinko Solar is one of the world’s largest solar suppliers, accounting for 1 out of every 8 solar panels installed on Earth. Given this status as a renewable energy leader, Jinko maintains a robust set of sustainability standards that are in line with Man City’s. 

“As the world’s largest solar module manufacturer, ‘net-zero emissions’ have become ingrained in Jinko Solar’s essence,” said Jinko Solar’s Vice President Dany Qian.

Not only is the company committed to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050, it’s also the first in the solar industry to have several of its factories receive a zero-carbon certification due to concentrated emissions-reducing measures throughout the manufacturing process. By fitting its factories with over 100 megawatts of solar panels, Jinko has reduced its CO2 emissions by 32,800 metric tons and continues to take innovative approaches to further these reductions, making it the perfect partner on Manchester City’s path to net carbon zero.

As an ambassador of green energy, Jinko Solar is also no stranger to large-scale partnerships. Earlier this year, the company announced it would supply 1.1 million of its Tiger Neo modules to the Witznitz Solar Park in Lobstädt, Germany. This solar park is expected to produce enough energy to power 200,000 houses, making it one of the largest in Europe.

“Rapidly expanding green energy production in Germany and Europe is the only way forward to sustainably increase electricity supply and to lower carbon emissions,” Frank Niendorf, general manager of Jinko Solar Europe, commented. 

With the company’s mission of enabling a sustainable future, securing a partnership with Manchester City sets a global example for the transition to renewable energy and will teach fans about the importance of embracing green practices — especially when the English Premier League preseason matches alone have shown to result in almost 20,000 metric tons of carbon emissions.

During a time when global energy demand continues to rise, collaborations like this exemplify the importance of innovative solutions and illustrate the amplification of a cause when two industry titans come together. 

As Qian puts it, “Our commitment to emissions reductions goes beyond our immediate industry. We aim to inspire collaboration across various sectors, promoting a global mindset that unites us as a single global village. Our goal is to pave the way for a cleaner, greener future across industries on a global scale.”