By hannover-web.com On October 17, at 8:30 PM, train number 17038 departed from Shaoguan East Station, transporting a shipment of photovoltaic panels to Tibet. This marks a significant breakthrough for the transportation of photovoltaic products via rail in Guangdong Province and represents another step by the China Railway Guangzhou Group to support national “dual carbon” goals and the Western Development strategy.
In the first quarter of this year, the marketing teams of the Guangzhou Railway Group proactively engaged with the Guangdong Provincial Department of Industry and Information Technology, the Energy Bureau, and other industry authorities. Their aim was to gain a deeper understanding of the photovoltaic industry chain, its distribution, policies, and development plans. They conducted extensive research, visiting 60 photovoltaic companies to gather insights on production, supply, sales logistics, and to identify potential railway cargo sources and logistics needs. Based on these findings, targeted measures for increasing solar product shipments were developed.
The research revealed that the photovoltaic industry tends to cluster together, with production and sales concentrated in specific areas, making rail transport an ideal option due to the long distances involved and compatibility with railway equipment. In recent years, the scale of the photovoltaic industry in Guangdong has expanded significantly, with key manufacturers such as Mingyang Smart Energy, Highview, and Liansu.
In late July, the freight department of the railway learned that Mingyang Smart Energy needed to ship a batch of photovoltaic products to Tibet. The freight team quickly formed a dedicated group within the Guangzhou-Shenzhen railway logistics center to engage with the customer on specific transportation needs. They tailored a logistics plan that included door-to-station service with careful consideration of transport pricing, loading strategies, routes, and insurance for potential damage.
Timely delivery is particularly critical for photovoltaic projects, as delays can prevent companies from receiving electricity price subsidies, and the large shipment sizes necessitate strict scheduling for product departures. “During the initial discussions, the customer expressed concerns that rail transport might delay delivery and affect construction timelines,” mentioned Li Shaofeng from the marketing department of the Guangzhou-Shenzhen Railway Logistics Center. “To alleviate these worries, we requested a point-to-point schedule for October to ensure on-time delivery.”
Furthermore, given the high value and fragility of photovoltaic products, even slight tilting of packages during transport could lead to damage. Consequently, the Guangzhou-Shenzhen Railway Logistics Center meticulously developed a loading plan based on the specifications of the solar panels and enforced strict operational standards during loading and unloading to ensure maximum safety.
“Previously, when we used road transport, the safety of our goods was our top concern. If this railway collaboration proves successful, we’ll be looking to ship thousands of tons of future orders by rail as well. We hope to establish a long-term partnership with the railway,” said Manager Zhang from Mingyang Smart Energy.
The Guangzhou Railway Group has indicated that moving forward, they plan to promote this full-process logistics model for solar products via rail. They will continue to engage with key manufacturers, including those in the solar industry, to design one-stop logistics solutions that leverage the advantages of rail transport—such as its capacity, cost-effectiveness, and environmental benefits—to help reduce logistics costs and better serve the high-quality development of Guangdong’s manufacturing sector.
