Edward Chang, CEO of footwear manufacturer Great Process Vietnam, shares insights from five years of solar energy initiatives.

Great Process operates in the business-dense Bình Dương province in southern Vietnam. With clients like Icebug, Aigle, Nitro, and Paul Smith, the company produces around 1 million pairs of shoes per year, ranging from sandals to snowboard boots.

Sustainability has been one of Great Process’ core values for many years, says CEO Edward Chang. This applies both to upstream supply chains and to operations in Vietnam. Transitioning towards fossil-free solutions was in line with the company’s goals.

“At the end of 2020, David Ekelund from Icebug introduced us to a solar energy pilot project, which we decided to join.”

Five years later, several rooftops of the factory buildings are covered with solar panels. Together, they now provide 45 percent of the factory’s electricity needs – at 15 percent lower cost than power from the regular grid. The contracted solar company finances the facilities over 20 years, including maintenance and repairs.

“Due to roof structures and facility capacity, we cannot install solar panels on all roofs. In addition, local regulations require us to purchase part of our electricity from the power grid.”

Boom of solar solution providers in Vietnam

The five-year process from the pilot project to April 2025, when all facilities became operational, could have been shorter, explains Chang. The first solar company that Great Process contracted turned out to be unreliable.

“We spent more than two years with them for nothing,” says Chang, and continues:

“In recent years, solar energy companies have been registering rapidly in Vietnam, so you need to be careful to find the right partner. This is important not only for economic benefits, but also for safety.”

Solar energy as part of daily operations

Today, the solar system is a natural part of the factory’s operations. From Chang’s perspective, the main benefit is not the 15 percent cost reduction compared to the traditional power grid.

“Caring for the Earth and the environment gives us the greatest value,” says Chang.