Envision's Lei Zhang Named Sustainability Trailblazer at Reuters Awards 2026
Lei Zhang, founder and CEO of Envision, has been named Sustainability Trailblazer at the Reuters Global Sustainability Awards 2026. According to the announcement, he was recognised for leading energy system innovation that links renewable energy, intelligence and industry.
- Envision founder and CEO Lei Zhang was named Sustainability Trailblazer at the Reuters Global Sustainability Awards 2026.
- The 17th edition of the awards drew more than 700 entries, judged by an independent jury of 25.
- Zhang launched Mission GOBI in 2026, targeting 5 GW of renewable-powered AI infrastructure by 2030.
- The Galaxy Campus in Ulanqab began operating in August and houses the world's largest single AI data centre building, according to the announcement.
- At full build-out the campus is designed for up to one million PFLOPS of computing capacity.
About the award
The Reuters Global Sustainability Awards are now in their 17th year. They honour organisations and leaders who turn sustainability commitments into action and deliver measurable results. This year's edition drew more than 700 entries, which were assessed by an independent jury of 25 judges.
The Sustainability Trailblazer Award goes to business leaders who challenge the status quo with pioneering ideas and actions, show inspiring leadership and commit to long-term impact. Zhang was recognised for promoting energy system innovation aimed at driving industrial transformation and shared prosperity.
Energy as the limit for AI
As AI reshapes the global economy, Zhang argues that energy, and not only chips, will be a fundamental limiting factor for AI growth. He calls for a future energy system that is infinite, intelligent and low-cost, in which AI accelerates the growth of clean energy instead of competing with households, hospitals and industry for electricity.
For Zhang, sustainability is not only a responsibility but a path to new prosperity, according to the announcement.
Mission GOBI and the Galaxy Campus
In 2026, Zhang launched Mission GOBI, which aims to build 5 GW of AI infrastructure powered by renewable energy by 2030. In August, Envision's Galaxy Campus in Ulanqab began operating as the first flagship project of the initiative. According to the announcement, it houses the world's largest single AI data centre building.
The campus is supplied directly with renewable electricity and supported by Envision's proprietary AI energy system. It combines large-scale computing capacity, renewable energy and intelligent energy management in one integrated infrastructure architecture. At full build-out, it is designed to support gigawatt-scale AI computing, with computing capacity of up to one million PFLOPS.
By placing AI computing in regions with abundant wind and solar power, the initiative aims to use growing demand for computing to stimulate investment in clean energy. In the announcement's words, computing power follows clean energy and not the other way round.
What the recognition signals
The initiatives reflect Envision's vision, set out in 2026 under the motto "To Create a New Prosperity for Civilization". Earlier this year, Zhang was named the first entrepreneur and private sector leader to receive the Energy Institute President's Award.
According to the announcement, the Reuters award also recognises his role in advancing a new model of energy infrastructure. That model goes beyond individual technological breakthroughs and relies on scalable, system-level solutions that create environmental and economic benefits and make the advantages of AI available to a wider group of people.
