LONDON, Dec 2 (Reuters) - Clean energy company Econcern will partner with China National Offshore Oil Corp and Sinohydro to invest 863 million euros ($1.09 billion) to build four Chinese wind farms, the companies said on Tuesday.
Construction of the wind farms, which will generate around 720 megawatts (MW) of renewable energy, will begin in 2009, Netherlands-based Econcern said in a statement.
As atmospheric greenhouse gas levels from burning fossil fuels rise, increasing the threat of potentially devastating climate change, more companies are looking to invest in renewable sources of energy like wind and solar.
'Traditional energy suppliers focus on conventional models and solutions, but this is no longer sustainable in any sense,' Econcern Chairman Ad van Wijk said. 'Sustainable energy is the only long term viable option.'
Last month, BP Alternative Energy, a unit of oil group BP Plc, pulled out of a partnership in a 148.5 MW Chinese wind farm project, saying it had decided to suspend its wind power business in Asia.
Econcern's announcement comes on the sidelines of UN-sponsored climate talks in Poznan, Poland where governments are working towards a new treaty to fight climate change.
Showing posts with label sustainable energy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label sustainable energy. Show all posts
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Thursday, September 25, 2008
ANU, Chinese scientists to make cheap solar energy
Posted Wed Sep 24, 2008 1:35pm AEST Updated Wed Sep 24, 2008 3:20pm AEST
Scientists from the Australian National University are working with Chinese researchers to make solar power technology more affordable for households.
The new solar panels are being developed by the ANU's Centre for Sustainable Energy Systems in conjunction with scientists from the Tianjin University in China.
ANU project leader Professor Andrew Blakers says the new roof-mounted solar power system will be much cheaper than existing technology.
"Traditionally these kinds of systems have been built with expensive, specialist concentrator cells," he said.
"We'll be modifying and upgrading commercially available non-concentrator solar cells which should result in major savings.
"We'll also be developing more efficient techniques to reduce the influence of moving shadows which have the potential to eat into the amount of energy being generated."
The ANU's Dr Igor Skryabin says their Chinese counterparts are eager to get started.
"Their team in China is willing to extend this collaboration and it will involve the exchange of students, lectures and a broad range of educational activities," he said.
"So there are many opportunity for us and our partners."
Scientists from the Australian National University are working with Chinese researchers to make solar power technology more affordable for households.
The new solar panels are being developed by the ANU's Centre for Sustainable Energy Systems in conjunction with scientists from the Tianjin University in China.
ANU project leader Professor Andrew Blakers says the new roof-mounted solar power system will be much cheaper than existing technology.
"Traditionally these kinds of systems have been built with expensive, specialist concentrator cells," he said.
"We'll be modifying and upgrading commercially available non-concentrator solar cells which should result in major savings.
"We'll also be developing more efficient techniques to reduce the influence of moving shadows which have the potential to eat into the amount of energy being generated."
The ANU's Dr Igor Skryabin says their Chinese counterparts are eager to get started.
"Their team in China is willing to extend this collaboration and it will involve the exchange of students, lectures and a broad range of educational activities," he said.
"So there are many opportunity for us and our partners."
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Suntech Opens Sales and Business Development Office in Australia
SAN FRANCISCO and SYDNEY, April 22 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- Suntech Power Holdings Co., Ltd. , one of the world's leading manufacturers of photovoltaic (PV) cells and modules, today announced the opening of Suntech Australia that will be focused on sales and business development in Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands.
''With abundant sunlight and low population density, Australia is ideally suited to distributed solar energy generation, and well-placed to take a leading role in the development and utilization of this clean and sustainable energy solution,'' said Dr. Zhengrong Shi, Suntech's Chairmanand Chief Executive Officer. ''Australia's ratification of the Kyoto protocol and increasing State support for solar projects reflects the broader community's growing interest in renewable energy and environmental sustainability. Suntech is committed to supporting this trend through investment in Australia's solar industry, and the provision of premium quality solar products.''
Dr. Shi added, ''With our new base in Sydney and continued collaborative efforts with local and regional partners, we will strive to promote the long-term development of the solar industry in Australia, New Zealand and neighbouring Pacific Islands.''
Suntech's Australia Connections
Dr. Zhengrong Shi, an alumnus of the University of NSW, and Suntech have maintained strong connections with the Australian solar industry. Suntech and the Centre of Excellence in Advanced Silicon Photovoltaics and Photonics of the University of New South Wales Australia have enjoyed long term collaboration on the research and development of cutting-edge solar technologies that target to increase PV cell conversion efficiency and decrease solar energy cost per watt. As part of the collaboration, Suntech has provided funding for solar research projects and the two organizations have mutually shared benefits produced from such efforts. In addition, Suntech also provides funding for a number of UNSW undergraduate and postgraduate scholarships for training in the area of photovoltaic engineering.
''Coming from a scientific research background, I take great pleasure in providing opportunities for up and coming scientists in this dynamic industry,'' commented Dr. Shi. ''Suntech's relationship with the University of NSW brings a commercial focus to research projects and supports the education and development of some of the world's best talent in solar R&D. At the same time, many of the technologies developed through the collaboration can be applied in mass production and facilitate lower cost per watt production of solar energy.''
One technology coming from the research collaboration, named the Plutotechnology, is already achieving 18% to 19% conversion efficiency onmono-crystalline PV cells in pilot production - well above the industryaverage of 16%. Suntech plans to transfer Pluto technology to commercialproduction in 2008.
The contact details for Suntech Australia are:
Unit 7, 24-28 Skarratt Street North,
Silverwater, NSW 2128, Australia
Tel: +61 (2) 9648 5600
Email: sales@suntech-power.com.au
About Suntech
Suntech Power Holdings Co., Ltd. is a world leading solar energycompany as measured by both production output and capacity of solar cellsand modules. Suntech is passionate about improving the environment we livein and dedicated to developing advanced solar solutions that enablesustainable development. Suntech designs, develops, manufactures, andmarkets a variety of high quality, cost effective and environmentallyfriendly solar products for electric power applications in the residential,commercial, industrial, and public utility sectors. Suntech offers one ofthe broadest ranges of building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) productsunder the MSK product line. Suntech has sales offices worldwide and is amarket share leader in key global solar markets. For more information,please visit http://www.suntech-power.com .
''With abundant sunlight and low population density, Australia is ideally suited to distributed solar energy generation, and well-placed to take a leading role in the development and utilization of this clean and sustainable energy solution,'' said Dr. Zhengrong Shi, Suntech's Chairmanand Chief Executive Officer. ''Australia's ratification of the Kyoto protocol and increasing State support for solar projects reflects the broader community's growing interest in renewable energy and environmental sustainability. Suntech is committed to supporting this trend through investment in Australia's solar industry, and the provision of premium quality solar products.''
Dr. Shi added, ''With our new base in Sydney and continued collaborative efforts with local and regional partners, we will strive to promote the long-term development of the solar industry in Australia, New Zealand and neighbouring Pacific Islands.''
Suntech's Australia Connections
Dr. Zhengrong Shi, an alumnus of the University of NSW, and Suntech have maintained strong connections with the Australian solar industry. Suntech and the Centre of Excellence in Advanced Silicon Photovoltaics and Photonics of the University of New South Wales Australia have enjoyed long term collaboration on the research and development of cutting-edge solar technologies that target to increase PV cell conversion efficiency and decrease solar energy cost per watt. As part of the collaboration, Suntech has provided funding for solar research projects and the two organizations have mutually shared benefits produced from such efforts. In addition, Suntech also provides funding for a number of UNSW undergraduate and postgraduate scholarships for training in the area of photovoltaic engineering.
''Coming from a scientific research background, I take great pleasure in providing opportunities for up and coming scientists in this dynamic industry,'' commented Dr. Shi. ''Suntech's relationship with the University of NSW brings a commercial focus to research projects and supports the education and development of some of the world's best talent in solar R&D. At the same time, many of the technologies developed through the collaboration can be applied in mass production and facilitate lower cost per watt production of solar energy.''
One technology coming from the research collaboration, named the Plutotechnology, is already achieving 18% to 19% conversion efficiency onmono-crystalline PV cells in pilot production - well above the industryaverage of 16%. Suntech plans to transfer Pluto technology to commercialproduction in 2008.
The contact details for Suntech Australia are:
Unit 7, 24-28 Skarratt Street North,
Silverwater, NSW 2128, Australia
Tel: +61 (2) 9648 5600
Email: sales@suntech-power.com.au
About Suntech
Suntech Power Holdings Co., Ltd. is a world leading solar energycompany as measured by both production output and capacity of solar cellsand modules. Suntech is passionate about improving the environment we livein and dedicated to developing advanced solar solutions that enablesustainable development. Suntech designs, develops, manufactures, andmarkets a variety of high quality, cost effective and environmentallyfriendly solar products for electric power applications in the residential,commercial, industrial, and public utility sectors. Suntech offers one ofthe broadest ranges of building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) productsunder the MSK product line. Suntech has sales offices worldwide and is amarket share leader in key global solar markets. For more information,please visit http://www.suntech-power.com .
Sunday, November 25, 2007
China considers national strategy to boost rural energy development
www.chinaview.cn 2007-11-23 19:14:25
by Xinhua writer Wu Qiong
BEIJING, Nov. 23 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese government is drafting a new rural energy strategy to boost energy development in the vast rural regions where some 10 million people in remote areas are still suffering from energy poverty, according to the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in China.
It was revealed at the International Conference of Rural Energy Development held in Beijing on Friday, which was jointly organized by UNDP and China's Office of the National Energy Leading Group.
The UNDP said it was assisting the Chinese Office to draft the strategy, which could be released early 2008.
"We are actively carrying out researches on the draft national strategy of rural energy development," Ma Xiaohe, a top researcher with the academy of macro-economic research under NDRC, said at the conference.
Wu Guihui, deputy director of the Energy Bureau of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), said the country certainly needs such a national strategy and they are planning more research to sort out clues on the rural energy development scheme.
The UNDP in China said in a press release that the national strategy would "establish a vision for future rural energy development and increase access of the poor to sustainable energy".
No specifics about the strategy were available from any of the sources.
China's rural residents rely on coal and low-efficiency traditional biomass, such as directly burning straws and firewood, for a large share of their energy consumption.
Most of China's rural regions are not equipped with pipelines for the supply of commercial energies like natural gas and liquefied petroleum gas, which led to a small proportion of clean energy use in rural areas, according to Wu.
The current use of electricity in rural areas is also lagging far behind urban use due to the lack of infrastructure facilities. Statistics shows that China's rural population consumed less than 100 kilowatt-hours of electricity per capita in 2006, only a fourth of urban consumption.
China will further boost the development of new and renewable energies including biogas and solar energy to reduce rural reliance on traditional biomass for energy consumption, said Wu.
He said China will also extend power grids in more rural areas to enlarge electricity coverage for rural residents, and promote renewable energy technologies such as micro hydropower, wind power and solar energy at places where extension of the power grid is not economical.
Ma also called for actions to increase supply of cleaner and more qualified energies such as natural gas to meet the energy demand in rural areas.
He added that rural residents should be allowed equal access to these energies at the same prices as urbanites, or even at subsidized prices to persuade them from cutting wood and exploiting grassland for energy consumption, which was not sustainable for the whole economy.
He stressed that the government should take the major responsibility in investing in rural energy development, especially in public infrastructure construction.
Experts and officials attending the conference also agreed that power supply services such as oil and gas stations and maintenance services for facilities of new and renewable energies needed to be upgraded in rural areas.
Otherwise, they said, rural residents would be discouraged from using cleaner energies due to lack of access or lack of expertise.
They were also encouraging data about the improvement in rural energy use disclosed by experts at the conference when they tried to fix problems there.
The Chinese government has arranged a total investment up to nearly 2.6 billion yuan in rural energy development via the Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) between 2001 and 2006, said Kou Jianping, director of the energy and ecology division of the MOA.
China had built 21.75 million household biogas facilities by the end of 2006, amid efforts to promote clean energy use and improve energy efficiency in the countryside, according to Kou.
These household facilities could produce 8.5 billion cubic meters of biogas annually, equivalent to saving about 13.3 million tons of standard coal or preserving 4.5 million hectares of woodland.
Kou said the country is actively promoting straw as solid and gas energy as well as power generation with straw to make better use of existing energy resources in rural areas.
There were nearly 200,000 people working for the rural energy system in China by the end of 2005, with 170,000 being licensed farmer-technicians maintaining facilities, according to Kou.
by Xinhua writer Wu Qiong
BEIJING, Nov. 23 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese government is drafting a new rural energy strategy to boost energy development in the vast rural regions where some 10 million people in remote areas are still suffering from energy poverty, according to the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in China.
It was revealed at the International Conference of Rural Energy Development held in Beijing on Friday, which was jointly organized by UNDP and China's Office of the National Energy Leading Group.
The UNDP said it was assisting the Chinese Office to draft the strategy, which could be released early 2008.
"We are actively carrying out researches on the draft national strategy of rural energy development," Ma Xiaohe, a top researcher with the academy of macro-economic research under NDRC, said at the conference.
Wu Guihui, deputy director of the Energy Bureau of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), said the country certainly needs such a national strategy and they are planning more research to sort out clues on the rural energy development scheme.
The UNDP in China said in a press release that the national strategy would "establish a vision for future rural energy development and increase access of the poor to sustainable energy".
No specifics about the strategy were available from any of the sources.
China's rural residents rely on coal and low-efficiency traditional biomass, such as directly burning straws and firewood, for a large share of their energy consumption.
Most of China's rural regions are not equipped with pipelines for the supply of commercial energies like natural gas and liquefied petroleum gas, which led to a small proportion of clean energy use in rural areas, according to Wu.
The current use of electricity in rural areas is also lagging far behind urban use due to the lack of infrastructure facilities. Statistics shows that China's rural population consumed less than 100 kilowatt-hours of electricity per capita in 2006, only a fourth of urban consumption.
China will further boost the development of new and renewable energies including biogas and solar energy to reduce rural reliance on traditional biomass for energy consumption, said Wu.
He said China will also extend power grids in more rural areas to enlarge electricity coverage for rural residents, and promote renewable energy technologies such as micro hydropower, wind power and solar energy at places where extension of the power grid is not economical.
Ma also called for actions to increase supply of cleaner and more qualified energies such as natural gas to meet the energy demand in rural areas.
He added that rural residents should be allowed equal access to these energies at the same prices as urbanites, or even at subsidized prices to persuade them from cutting wood and exploiting grassland for energy consumption, which was not sustainable for the whole economy.
He stressed that the government should take the major responsibility in investing in rural energy development, especially in public infrastructure construction.
Experts and officials attending the conference also agreed that power supply services such as oil and gas stations and maintenance services for facilities of new and renewable energies needed to be upgraded in rural areas.
Otherwise, they said, rural residents would be discouraged from using cleaner energies due to lack of access or lack of expertise.
They were also encouraging data about the improvement in rural energy use disclosed by experts at the conference when they tried to fix problems there.
The Chinese government has arranged a total investment up to nearly 2.6 billion yuan in rural energy development via the Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) between 2001 and 2006, said Kou Jianping, director of the energy and ecology division of the MOA.
China had built 21.75 million household biogas facilities by the end of 2006, amid efforts to promote clean energy use and improve energy efficiency in the countryside, according to Kou.
These household facilities could produce 8.5 billion cubic meters of biogas annually, equivalent to saving about 13.3 million tons of standard coal or preserving 4.5 million hectares of woodland.
Kou said the country is actively promoting straw as solid and gas energy as well as power generation with straw to make better use of existing energy resources in rural areas.
There were nearly 200,000 people working for the rural energy system in China by the end of 2005, with 170,000 being licensed farmer-technicians maintaining facilities, according to Kou.
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Yingli Green Energy Added to NASDAQ Clean Edge U.S. Indexes
BAODING, China--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Yingli Green Energy Holding Company Limited (NYSE: YGE) ("Yingli Green Energy" or the "Company"), a leading vertically integrated photovoltaic ("PV") product manufacturer in China, today announced that it will be added to the NASDAQ Clean Edge U.S. Index (Nasdaq: CLEN) and the NASDAQ Clean Edge U.S. Liquid Series Index (Nasdaq: CELS) (the "Indexes"), effective with the market open on Monday, September 24, 2007.
Mr. Bryan Li, Chief Financial Officer of Yingli Green Energy, commented, "As a leading vertically integrated PV manufacturer in China, we have always been dedicated to the promotion of clean and sustainable energy and we are very honored to be added to the NASDAQ Clean Edge U.S. Index and the NASDAQ Clean Edge U.S. Liquid Series Index. We hope the Indexes will help further strengthen the development of the whole alternative energy industry."
According to NASDAQ's press release on semi-annual changes to the NASDAQ Clean Edge U.S. Indexes dated September 17, 2007, the Indexes are designed to track the performance of clean-energy companies that are publicly traded in the U.S. The Indexes include companies engaged in the manufacturing, development, distribution, and installation of emerging clean-energy technologies such as solar photovoltaics, biofuels and advanced batteries. The five major sub-sectors that the Indexes cover are Renewable Electricity Generation, Renewable Fuels, Energy Storage & Conversion, Energy Intelligence and Advanced Energy-Related Materials.
About Yingli Green Energy
Yingli Green Energy Holding Company Limited ("Yingli Green Energy") is one of the leading vertically integrated photovoltaic ("PV") product manufacturers in China. Through the Company's principal operating subsidiary in China, Baoding Tianwei Yingli New Energy Resources Co., Ltd., Yingli Green Energy designs, manufactures and sells PV modules and designs, assembles, sells and installs PV systems that are connected to an electricity transmission grid or those that operate on a stand-alone basis. With 200 MW of total annual production capacity in each of polysilicon ingots and wafers, PV cells and PV modules, Yingli Green Energy is currently one of the largest manufacturers of PV products in China.
Additionally, Yingli Green Energy is one of the limited number of large-scale PV companies in China to have adopted vertical integration as its business model. Yingli Green Energy currently plans to gradually expand annual production capacity of polysilicon ingots and wafers, PV cells and PV modules to 400 MW by the end of 2008 and to 600 megawatts by 2010. Yingli Green Energy sells PV modules under its own brand name, Yingli Solar, to PV system integrators and distributors located in various markets around the world, including Germany, Spain, China and the United States.
Mr. Bryan Li, Chief Financial Officer of Yingli Green Energy, commented, "As a leading vertically integrated PV manufacturer in China, we have always been dedicated to the promotion of clean and sustainable energy and we are very honored to be added to the NASDAQ Clean Edge U.S. Index and the NASDAQ Clean Edge U.S. Liquid Series Index. We hope the Indexes will help further strengthen the development of the whole alternative energy industry."
According to NASDAQ's press release on semi-annual changes to the NASDAQ Clean Edge U.S. Indexes dated September 17, 2007, the Indexes are designed to track the performance of clean-energy companies that are publicly traded in the U.S. The Indexes include companies engaged in the manufacturing, development, distribution, and installation of emerging clean-energy technologies such as solar photovoltaics, biofuels and advanced batteries. The five major sub-sectors that the Indexes cover are Renewable Electricity Generation, Renewable Fuels, Energy Storage & Conversion, Energy Intelligence and Advanced Energy-Related Materials.
About Yingli Green Energy
Yingli Green Energy Holding Company Limited ("Yingli Green Energy") is one of the leading vertically integrated photovoltaic ("PV") product manufacturers in China. Through the Company's principal operating subsidiary in China, Baoding Tianwei Yingli New Energy Resources Co., Ltd., Yingli Green Energy designs, manufactures and sells PV modules and designs, assembles, sells and installs PV systems that are connected to an electricity transmission grid or those that operate on a stand-alone basis. With 200 MW of total annual production capacity in each of polysilicon ingots and wafers, PV cells and PV modules, Yingli Green Energy is currently one of the largest manufacturers of PV products in China.
Additionally, Yingli Green Energy is one of the limited number of large-scale PV companies in China to have adopted vertical integration as its business model. Yingli Green Energy currently plans to gradually expand annual production capacity of polysilicon ingots and wafers, PV cells and PV modules to 400 MW by the end of 2008 and to 600 megawatts by 2010. Yingli Green Energy sells PV modules under its own brand name, Yingli Solar, to PV system integrators and distributors located in various markets around the world, including Germany, Spain, China and the United States.
Friday, September 21, 2007
China's New Road Map for the Development of Energy and Technology
Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress and the president of the Chinese Academy of Science Lu Yongxiang said on September 19 that energy is the basis of China's sustainable economic and social development and the national competence. It's time to establish a sustainable energy system in China. To set up a strategic road map for China's development of energy and technology remains an important pledge toward the establishment of a sustainable energy system and achieving an optimal energy structure.
On the same day, at the Symposium of the Sustainable Energy Development Strategy held in Beijing, Lu put forward his road map for the Development of China's energy and technology. He outlined three short-term, mid-term and long-term objectives.
Short-term objectives (till 2020): Emphasis should be put on developing energy-saving and clean energy technology; improving ways energy is efficiently utilized; striving for breakthroughs in zero emissions, Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle (IGCC) and so on; developing key technologies to capture, store and use carbon dioxide plus provide demonstrations of these technologies; pushing forward highly efficient coal liquefaction technologies toward demonstration stages and consequent applications; actively developing renewable energy technologies and finally; further developing non-traditional fossil energy technologies.
Mid-term objectives (around 2030): Priority should be given to promoting nuclear energy and renewable energy as primary sources. China must strive to make breakthroughs in the following areas: fast neutron reactor technology, highly efficient solar conversion technology, Intelligent Energy Grids and so on.
Long-term objectives (around 2050) China must establish a system for sustainable energy development that will basically meet the overall energy demand for China's economic and social development and reduce the country's degree of dependence on fossil energy to less than 60 percent, thus turning renewable energy into one of the leading energy resources. Expanding application and commercialization of renewable energy technology and seeking breakthroughs in fusion energy technology are also included.
Lu Yongxiang stated that, the CAS, as our nation's strategic technological force, should focus on developing core technologies revolving around energy-saving and advanced, clean, renewable or alternative energy. The CAS will look to the future and make proper arrangements for research core areas that may exert significant influence on the future.
(China.org.cn by Zhang Ming'ai, September 20, 2007)
On the same day, at the Symposium of the Sustainable Energy Development Strategy held in Beijing, Lu put forward his road map for the Development of China's energy and technology. He outlined three short-term, mid-term and long-term objectives.
Short-term objectives (till 2020): Emphasis should be put on developing energy-saving and clean energy technology; improving ways energy is efficiently utilized; striving for breakthroughs in zero emissions, Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle (IGCC) and so on; developing key technologies to capture, store and use carbon dioxide plus provide demonstrations of these technologies; pushing forward highly efficient coal liquefaction technologies toward demonstration stages and consequent applications; actively developing renewable energy technologies and finally; further developing non-traditional fossil energy technologies.
Mid-term objectives (around 2030): Priority should be given to promoting nuclear energy and renewable energy as primary sources. China must strive to make breakthroughs in the following areas: fast neutron reactor technology, highly efficient solar conversion technology, Intelligent Energy Grids and so on.
Long-term objectives (around 2050) China must establish a system for sustainable energy development that will basically meet the overall energy demand for China's economic and social development and reduce the country's degree of dependence on fossil energy to less than 60 percent, thus turning renewable energy into one of the leading energy resources. Expanding application and commercialization of renewable energy technology and seeking breakthroughs in fusion energy technology are also included.
Lu Yongxiang stated that, the CAS, as our nation's strategic technological force, should focus on developing core technologies revolving around energy-saving and advanced, clean, renewable or alternative energy. The CAS will look to the future and make proper arrangements for research core areas that may exert significant influence on the future.
(China.org.cn by Zhang Ming'ai, September 20, 2007)
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