Zhong Baoshen Attends Boao Forum for Asia 2026, LONGi’s “Solar-Storage-Hydrogen” Strategy Empowers China-Australia Green Cooperation
QIONGHAI, China, March 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — From March 24 to 27, the much-anticipated Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2026 commenced in Hainan. Within the forum’s framework, the high-profile China-Australia Entrepreneur Dialogue, themed “Promoting Win-Win Cooperation for Green Development,” was held on March 25th. Zhong Baoshen, Chairman of LONGi, was invited as a representative of China’s new energy enterprises to engage in in-depth discussions with political and business leaders and academic experts from both countries, focusing on deepening economic and trade cooperation within the RCEP framework and the green transition.
During the dialogue, Mr. Zhong Baoshen noted that with the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding on Deepening Cooperation in the Implementation of the Free Trade Agreement between China and Australia in June 2024, bilateral economic and trade relations have entered a new phase. “This has directly reduced equipment and construction costs for Australian solar projects, accelerating the deployment of photovoltaic applications,” Mr. Zhong Baoshen stated. He added that LONGi is fully supporting Australia’s target of achieving 82% renewable energy in its electricity mix by 2030 through its high-efficiency Back Contact (BC) modules and Building-Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV) products. Data shows that in 2024, renewables already accounted for 46% of Australia’s electricity supply, with solar power contributing 19.6% (46.7 TWh), a role in which Chinese PV companies have played a key part.
In his remarks at the Boao Forum, Mr. Zhong Baoshen, systematically elaborated on LONGi’s latest integrated “Solar-Storage-Hydrogen” strategy to Australian partners. He emphasized that facing the challenges of grid integration in Australia and the systemic nature of the energy transition, single photovoltaic products alone cannot meet future demands. To address this, LONGi has constructed a “stable triangle” energy architecture centered on photovoltaics, energy storage, and hydrogen.
Mr. Zhong Baoshen explained that within this system, photovoltaics act as the “creator” of clean energy, lowering the levelized cost of electricity through high-efficiency technology; energy storage serves as the “stabilizer” for the power system, coordinating with green power trading to support stable grid operation and address solar intermittency; hydrogen functions as the “regulator” for long-duration, cross-seasonal energy storage and industrial decarbonization, capable of extending into hard-to-abate sectors where Australia has traditional advantages, such as shipping and mining smelting.
Mr. Zhong Baoshen stated,
LONGi has completed its strategic upgrade from a global photovoltaic leader to an integrated ‘Solar-Storage-Hydrogen’ comprehensive energy solution provider,
He noted that just this month, leveraging its exceptional bankability, LONGi was simultaneously included in BloombergNEF’s (BNEF) Tier 1 list for both PV and Energy Storage for the first time. This signifies that its energy storage business has entered the global top tier from the outset, and its ‘Solar-Storage-Hydrogen’ synergistic strategy has gained significant recognition from international markets.
Regarding China-Australia cooperation in the Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) sphere, Mr. Zhong Baoshen expressed support for establishing unified green standards between the two countries and advocated for jointly promoting the implementation of ESG financial instruments, such as green bonds and carbon credit mechanisms, to provide long-term financial support for renewable energy projects.
Technological innovation remains the key link in LONGi’s deep engagement with Australia. Mr. Zhong Baoshen emphasized LONGi’s long-standing collaboration with the University of New South Wales (UNSW). As early as 2018, both parties signed a strategic cooperation agreement to conduct in-depth research in areas like high-efficiency PV technology and renewable energy system optimization. The “Solar Cell Efficiency Tables,” led by Professor Martin Green, often called the ‘father of solar power,’ have repeatedly included world records set by LONGi. Looking ahead, LONGi will continue to deepen this technical cooperation and explore combining photovoltaics with Australia’s significant green hydrogen resource potential.
Australia is currently advancing towards its 2030 target of 82% renewable energy, requiring an estimated annual addition of 7.2 gigawatts of new renewable and gas-fired generation capacity. Mr. Zhong Baoshen stated that LONGi will not only support local utility-scale and distributed market growth with high-efficiency products but also, leveraging its full-value-chain “Solar-Storage-Hydrogen” strategy, provide the Australian market with full-scene solutions covering power generation, storage, and consumption. This aims to assist Australia’s strategic transition from traditional energy sources to green energy, injecting robust green momentum into the construction of a regional open economy.
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Zhong Baoshen Attends Boao Forum for Asia 2026, LONGi’s “Solar-Storage-Hydrogen” Strategy Empowers China-Australia Green Cooperation, source
Facts Only
The Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2026 took place in Qionghai, Hainan, China, from March 24 to 27.
A China-Australia Entrepreneur Dialogue, themed “Promoting Win-Win Cooperation for Green Development,” was held on March 25.
Zhong Baoshen, Chairman of LONGi, attended as a representative of China’s new energy enterprises.
The dialogue focused on deepening economic and trade cooperation under the RCEP framework and the green transition.
A Memorandum of Understanding on Deepening Cooperation in the Implementation of the China-Australia Free Trade Agreement was signed in June 2024.
Australia aims to achieve 82% renewable energy in its electricity mix by 2030.
In 2024, renewables accounted for 46% of Australia’s electricity supply, with solar contributing 19.6% (46.7 TWh).
LONGi supports Australia’s renewable goals with high-efficiency Back Contact (BC) modules and Building-Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV) products.
LONGi’s “Solar-Storage-Hydrogen” strategy integrates photovoltaics, energy storage, and hydrogen as a comprehensive energy solution.
LONGi was included in BloombergNEF’s Tier 1 list for both PV and energy storage in March 2026.
Zhong Baoshen advocated for unified green standards and ESG financial instruments between China and Australia.
LONGi has a strategic cooperation agreement with the University of New South Wales (UNSW) since 2018.
Australia requires an estimated 7.2 GW of new renewable and gas-fired generation capacity annually to meet its 2030 target.
LONGi plans to provide full-scene energy solutions to the Australian market, covering power generation, storage, and consumption.
Executive Summary
From March 24 to 27, 2026, the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference was held in Hainan, China, featuring a China-Australia Entrepreneur Dialogue focused on green development. Zhong Baoshen, Chairman of LONGi, participated as a representative of China’s new energy sector, discussing economic cooperation under the RCEP framework and the green transition. He highlighted the impact of the 2024 China-Australia Free Trade Agreement on reducing costs for Australian solar projects and LONGi’s role in supporting Australia’s renewable energy goals, including its target of 82% renewable electricity by 2030. Zhong introduced LONGi’s integrated “Solar-Storage-Hydrogen” strategy, positioning photovoltaics as the energy creator, storage as the stabilizer, and hydrogen as the regulator for long-term energy needs. He emphasized LONGi’s collaboration with the University of New South Wales and its inclusion in BloombergNEF’s Tier 1 lists for both PV and energy storage. The dialogue also addressed ESG cooperation, with Zhong advocating for unified green standards and financial instruments like green bonds to support renewable projects. Australia’s push for 7.2 GW of new renewable capacity annually aligns with LONGi’s offerings, which aim to provide comprehensive energy solutions to facilitate the country’s transition from traditional to green energy.
The discussions underscored the growing synergy between Chinese and Australian entities in advancing renewable energy, with LONGi positioning itself as a key player in this collaboration. The focus on technological innovation, policy alignment, and financial mechanisms reflects a broader trend of cross-border partnerships in the green energy sector.
Full Take
The narrative presented at the Boao Forum paints a compelling picture of China-Australia cooperation in green energy, with LONGi positioning itself as a pivotal player in this transition. The strongest version of this story highlights tangible progress: the 2024 Free Trade Agreement’s impact on solar costs, LONGi’s technological contributions to Australia’s renewable goals, and the strategic alignment of their “Solar-Storage-Hydrogen” framework with Australia’s energy needs. The inclusion of LONGi in BloombergNEF’s Tier 1 lists lends credibility, while the emphasis on ESG standards and financial mechanisms suggests a mature, systemic approach to collaboration.
However, the pattern scan reveals potential elements of **ARC-0024 Ambiguity** and **ARC-0043 Motte-and-Bailey**. The “Solar-Storage-Hydrogen” strategy is framed as a holistic solution, yet the specifics of its implementation—such as the scalability of hydrogen in Australia’s hard-to-abate sectors—remain undefined. The narrative also leans on the authority of LONGi’s Tier 1 status and its partnership with UNSW, which could be seen as **ARC-0012 Appeal to Authority**. While these are legitimate credentials, they risk overshadowing unresolved challenges, such as the economic viability of hydrogen at scale or the geopolitical tensions that could disrupt China-Australia trade.
The root cause of this narrative is the global push for energy transition, where nations and corporations seek to align economic interests with climate goals. The unstated assumption is that technological innovation and cross-border cooperation can overcome structural barriers—such as supply chain dependencies or policy misalignments—without friction. Historically, this echoes the pattern of “green growth” narratives, where market-driven solutions are presented as sufficient to address systemic challenges, often downplaying the role of regulatory or geopolitical risks.
For human agency, this means that while the collaboration promises jobs, energy security, and climate benefits, the costs—such as potential over-reliance on Chinese technology or the displacement of traditional energy workers—are less discussed. Second-order consequences could include Australia’s increased dependence on foreign supply chains for critical energy infrastructure, or the risk of greenwashing if ESG standards are not rigorously enforced.
Bridge questions: What safeguards are in place to ensure that this cooperation does not exacerbate geopolitical vulnerabilities? How might Australia balance its renewable ambitions with the need to diversify its energy supply chains? What metrics will determine the success of the “Solar-Storage-Hydrogen” strategy beyond corporate recognition?
Counterstrike scan: If this were part of a coordinated influence campaign, the playbook would emphasize mutual benefits while omitting geopolitical risks, using corporate authority and technological optimism to preempt criticism. The actual content aligns partially with this pattern—highlighting collaboration and innovation—but does not outright suppress counterarguments. The focus on tangible achievements (e.g., Tier 1 status, UNSW partnership) suggests a genuine strategic push rather than pure manipulation. However, the lack of critical discussion about challenges warrants scrutiny.
Patterns detected: **ARC-0024 Ambiguity**, **ARC-0043 Motte-and-Bailey**, **ARC-0012 Appeal to Authority**