Beijing, May 4 (Xinhua) - China plans to finish 100 gigawatts of wind power capacity and expand its renewable energy consumption to 40 per cent of the energy market by 2050.
The goal for wind power capacity was more than three times of the 30 gigawatts target that the government set 18 months ago, Monday's China Daily reported.
China will also become the biggest growth market for wind power generating capacity this year, ahead of the United States, said the report, citing a forecast from the Global Wind Energy Council(GWEC).
As the world's second largest energy consumer, China has around 12 gigawatts of wind power capacity and has said it wants to raise that to around 20 gigawatts by next year.
The plan means wind will be a bigger source of renewable energy than nuclear, despite a construction boom in nuclear power plants, and also far bigger than solar, which is expected to hit 1.8 gigawatts, according to a 2007 plan.
The annual growth rate in China's wind power will be around 20 per cent, said Fang Junshi, head of the coal department of the National Energy Administration.
China is currently the fourth largest wind power producer in the world after the United States, Germany and Spain.
The World Wind Energy Report 2008 had predicted that Asia, under China's lead, will "become the worldwide locomotive for the wind industry" and "Chinese wind turbine manufacturers will be among the top international suppliers".
Showing posts with label renewable energy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label renewable energy. Show all posts
Friday, May 8, 2009
Saturday, April 11, 2009
Trina sees PV market to grow sharply
By Fu Chenghao | 2009-4-7 |
TRINA Solar Ltd, a leading solar product maker, expects China to account for 10 percent of the global photovoltaic market in three years to five years from less than 1 percent now as the government boosts support for the alternative energy.
"It's possible if we say, by 2012, China's installed solar PV capacity could reach 2.5 gigawatts while it would be 25GW for the world," Gao Jifan, Trina's chairman and CEO, said.
Although China is the world's top PV manufacturer, the domestic solar PV market has suffered from high costs and limited subsidies.
The Ministry of Finance said late last month that China would provide a subsidy of 20 yuan (US$2.93) per watt for solar projects that have a capacity of at least 50 kilowatts and attached to buildings, covering nearly half the cost.
Gao said the subsidy is a "precursor" of a long-term state support, although some analysts said the latest subsidy was limited to roof-top solar panels and not for large-scale solar projects.
New York-listed Trina, which is based in Changzhou, Jiangsu Province, expects to sell 10 megawatts in China this year out of a planned total shipment of up to 400MW of solar modules, Gao said.
In 2008, the domestic market accounted for only a bit more than 1 percent of its shipment of 201MW.
The United States market could account for 15 percent of Trina's sales this year, up from less than 5 percent in 2008, thanks to the Obama administration's backing of renewable energy sources, he said.
Trina is not in a hurry to acquire assets but is looking at opportunities, according to Gao who said Europe would remain a top market.
TRINA Solar Ltd, a leading solar product maker, expects China to account for 10 percent of the global photovoltaic market in three years to five years from less than 1 percent now as the government boosts support for the alternative energy.
"It's possible if we say, by 2012, China's installed solar PV capacity could reach 2.5 gigawatts while it would be 25GW for the world," Gao Jifan, Trina's chairman and CEO, said.
Although China is the world's top PV manufacturer, the domestic solar PV market has suffered from high costs and limited subsidies.
The Ministry of Finance said late last month that China would provide a subsidy of 20 yuan (US$2.93) per watt for solar projects that have a capacity of at least 50 kilowatts and attached to buildings, covering nearly half the cost.
Gao said the subsidy is a "precursor" of a long-term state support, although some analysts said the latest subsidy was limited to roof-top solar panels and not for large-scale solar projects.
New York-listed Trina, which is based in Changzhou, Jiangsu Province, expects to sell 10 megawatts in China this year out of a planned total shipment of up to 400MW of solar modules, Gao said.
In 2008, the domestic market accounted for only a bit more than 1 percent of its shipment of 201MW.
The United States market could account for 15 percent of Trina's sales this year, up from less than 5 percent in 2008, thanks to the Obama administration's backing of renewable energy sources, he said.
Trina is not in a hurry to acquire assets but is looking at opportunities, according to Gao who said Europe would remain a top market.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
China Suntech says '09 output to rise 60 pct
* Output in 2009 expected to rise 60 pct
* Prices down 20 percent since the third quarter
* May increase capacity in 2009 if financial crisis eases
BEIJING, Feb 17 - China's Suntech Power, the world's largest solar module maker, said on Tuesday it expected production to rise 60 percent this year to at least 800 megawatts, as demand remains strong in Europe.
The company could resurrect a plan suspended earlier this year to expand capacity by 40 percent to 1.4 gigawatts, but will hold off on a decision until the impact from the global financial crisis is more transparent.
Suntech, which makes the panels that turn sunlight into electricity, expects full-year 2008 revenues between $1.91 billion and $1.93 billion.
Shi Zhengrong, the founder and chairman of Suntech Power Holdings Co, said that the financial crisis was affecting his industry, leading to a 20 percent cut in prices since the third quarter of last year.
"We have already signed over 600 megawatts of contracts with our European customers," Shi told Reuters in a telephone interview.
"We are still aiming for at least 800 megawatts of production for this year," he said. The entrepreneur said production was about 500 megawatts last year. "Business is still good."
renewable
DEMAND SLOWED
Financing for new renewable energy products has become difficult as banks around the world have tightened lending amid the worst economic slowdown in decades.
As demand slowed in the fourth quarter, Suntech laid off 10 percent of its 8,000-strong workforce and suspended a plan to expand capacity to 1.4 gigawatts in 2009.
However, the planned expansion could be restarted later this year if the effects on customers from the financial crisis ease.
"We want to hold capacity at one gigawatt until the financial situation becomes more clear," he said.
"It could come back on line later this year, we will see," he said, referring to the planned capacity increase.
While demand remained strong, Shi said prices had fallen as overcapacity weighed on producers.
"Prices have already fallen 20 percent from Q3 last year," he said, referring to the third quarter, but said that prices have now stabilised.
"I think prices are now more or less stabilised. There was a panic in the fourth quarter," he said.
Shi said lower prices would lead to a rise in demand in Europe, the destination for 80 percent of his output because of state subsidies for clean energy.
And while President Barack Obama's backing of renewable energy in the United States could potentially be another big source of demand for Suntech's products, Shi does not expect to see the increase in demand this year.
"We don't expect a surge in orders from the U.S. because it takes time to happen."
* Prices down 20 percent since the third quarter
* May increase capacity in 2009 if financial crisis eases
BEIJING, Feb 17 - China's Suntech Power, the world's largest solar module maker, said on Tuesday it expected production to rise 60 percent this year to at least 800 megawatts, as demand remains strong in Europe.
The company could resurrect a plan suspended earlier this year to expand capacity by 40 percent to 1.4 gigawatts, but will hold off on a decision until the impact from the global financial crisis is more transparent.
Suntech, which makes the panels that turn sunlight into electricity, expects full-year 2008 revenues between $1.91 billion and $1.93 billion.
Shi Zhengrong, the founder and chairman of Suntech Power Holdings Co, said that the financial crisis was affecting his industry, leading to a 20 percent cut in prices since the third quarter of last year.
"We have already signed over 600 megawatts of contracts with our European customers," Shi told Reuters in a telephone interview.
"We are still aiming for at least 800 megawatts of production for this year," he said. The entrepreneur said production was about 500 megawatts last year. "Business is still good."
renewable
DEMAND SLOWED
Financing for new renewable energy products has become difficult as banks around the world have tightened lending amid the worst economic slowdown in decades.
As demand slowed in the fourth quarter, Suntech laid off 10 percent of its 8,000-strong workforce and suspended a plan to expand capacity to 1.4 gigawatts in 2009.
However, the planned expansion could be restarted later this year if the effects on customers from the financial crisis ease.
"We want to hold capacity at one gigawatt until the financial situation becomes more clear," he said.
"It could come back on line later this year, we will see," he said, referring to the planned capacity increase.
While demand remained strong, Shi said prices had fallen as overcapacity weighed on producers.
"Prices have already fallen 20 percent from Q3 last year," he said, referring to the third quarter, but said that prices have now stabilised.
"I think prices are now more or less stabilised. There was a panic in the fourth quarter," he said.
Shi said lower prices would lead to a rise in demand in Europe, the destination for 80 percent of his output because of state subsidies for clean energy.
And while President Barack Obama's backing of renewable energy in the United States could potentially be another big source of demand for Suntech's products, Shi does not expect to see the increase in demand this year.
"We don't expect a surge in orders from the U.S. because it takes time to happen."
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Abu Dhabi Picks Suntech, First Solar for 10MW Solar Farm in Masdar City
Masdar, a government-funded project, is set to rise from 6.5 square kilometers of desert land and powered mostly by solar.
by: Ucilia Wang
January 18, 2009
ABU DHABI -- Low-cost and high-volume manufacturing were apparently among the selling points that won two companies contracts to build Masdar City's first, 10-megawatt solar farm.
Managers of Abu Dhabi's ambitious project to build a zero-emission technology utopia in the desert named China's Suntech Power Holdings Sunday as the second company that is providing 5 megawatts worth of solar panels for the power plant. First Solar, based in Tempe, Ariz., made it known three days earlier that it won the other 5-megawatt contract.
Masdar City is the brainchild of Masdar, a government-funded initiative that invests in all sorts of greentech companies. Part of the plan is to build a massive city powered by renewable energy and occupied by greentech companies. When completed in 2016, the 6.5-square-kilometer city would be able to house about 50,000 people.
Abu Dhabi, known for its rich oil reserves, hopes to stake a new claim to fame through Masdar. Like its neighbor Dubai, Abu Dhabi is keen on finding new sources of revenues to brace for the day when oil isn't so plentiful.
Masdar has teamed up with solar companies to build solar and wind power plants in Europe (see Masdar Heats Up Concentrating Solar and Masdar Bets on Massive Offshore Wind Park). It also is building a factory to produce solar panels (see Masdar Breaks Ground on $230M Solar Factory).
"This is going to become the first model of a sustainable city," Khalid Awad, director of property development for Masdar, during a press event.
The 10-megawatt solar farm is being erected in the sand, and it's scheduled to be completed and hooked to the electric grid in March this year, said Khalid Ballaith, a project manager with Masdar. The solar farm is costing about 185 million dirhams ($50 million) to build, said Sander Trestain, a project manager at Environmena, the generator contractor for the $22 billion Masdar City build out.
The solar farm will be used to power Masdar City's construction, which started in 2008. Its first residents will be the 100 students and professors of the Masdar Institute of Science and Technology. They plan to move in by September this year.
Madsar is planning on building 240 megawatts worth of power plants overall for the city, Awad said.
Awad and other Masdar representatives showed off the project's progress to journalists Sunday as a prelude to the three-day energy by Masdar called "World Future Energy Summit."
The summit is attracting executives from public and startup companies in solar, wind, geothermal, water and other greentech businesses from around the world. Tony Blair will give a speech.
Masdar City planners envision using solar panels to generate 80 percent of the electricity the city needs, and many of the panels will go on rooftops, said Sameer Abu Zaid, who oversees a competition to test and select solar panel providers for the project. The remainder will come from other types of solar technologies, such as solar thermal, as well electricity generated from wastes and other fuel sources.
At one of the stops of the press tour, Zaid walked around rows of solar panels provided by companies from Japan, Germany, the United States, China and even Italy. The companies included Conergy, Yingli Green Energy, Trina Solar and Isofoton.
Masdar is trying out crystalline silicon panels as well as thin-film versions that much less silicon or different materials all together. In all, 33 companies are setting up 40 systems for Masdar. Solyndra, a Fremont, Calif.-based start and whose investors include Masdar, is still setting up its unusual, solar cell-lined tubes.
Masdar is using the contest to see how the panels perform in the desert, where wind and sand can easily dirty them and curb their ability to generate electricity. Zaid declined to say whose system has performed the best or provide costs for buying and running those systems.
Awad said the impact of the global economic downturn on the Masdar City project isn't known yet. He said given that customers are hard to come by for solar companies these days, Masdar project should become even more attractive. He noted that Masdar already has benefited from falling prices in solar panels and construction materials such as steel in recent months.
by: Ucilia Wang
January 18, 2009
ABU DHABI -- Low-cost and high-volume manufacturing were apparently among the selling points that won two companies contracts to build Masdar City's first, 10-megawatt solar farm.
Managers of Abu Dhabi's ambitious project to build a zero-emission technology utopia in the desert named China's Suntech Power Holdings Sunday as the second company that is providing 5 megawatts worth of solar panels for the power plant. First Solar, based in Tempe, Ariz., made it known three days earlier that it won the other 5-megawatt contract.
Masdar City is the brainchild of Masdar, a government-funded initiative that invests in all sorts of greentech companies. Part of the plan is to build a massive city powered by renewable energy and occupied by greentech companies. When completed in 2016, the 6.5-square-kilometer city would be able to house about 50,000 people.
Abu Dhabi, known for its rich oil reserves, hopes to stake a new claim to fame through Masdar. Like its neighbor Dubai, Abu Dhabi is keen on finding new sources of revenues to brace for the day when oil isn't so plentiful.
Masdar has teamed up with solar companies to build solar and wind power plants in Europe (see Masdar Heats Up Concentrating Solar and Masdar Bets on Massive Offshore Wind Park). It also is building a factory to produce solar panels (see Masdar Breaks Ground on $230M Solar Factory).
"This is going to become the first model of a sustainable city," Khalid Awad, director of property development for Masdar, during a press event.
The 10-megawatt solar farm is being erected in the sand, and it's scheduled to be completed and hooked to the electric grid in March this year, said Khalid Ballaith, a project manager with Masdar. The solar farm is costing about 185 million dirhams ($50 million) to build, said Sander Trestain, a project manager at Environmena, the generator contractor for the $22 billion Masdar City build out.
The solar farm will be used to power Masdar City's construction, which started in 2008. Its first residents will be the 100 students and professors of the Masdar Institute of Science and Technology. They plan to move in by September this year.
Madsar is planning on building 240 megawatts worth of power plants overall for the city, Awad said.
Awad and other Masdar representatives showed off the project's progress to journalists Sunday as a prelude to the three-day energy by Masdar called "World Future Energy Summit."
The summit is attracting executives from public and startup companies in solar, wind, geothermal, water and other greentech businesses from around the world. Tony Blair will give a speech.
Masdar City planners envision using solar panels to generate 80 percent of the electricity the city needs, and many of the panels will go on rooftops, said Sameer Abu Zaid, who oversees a competition to test and select solar panel providers for the project. The remainder will come from other types of solar technologies, such as solar thermal, as well electricity generated from wastes and other fuel sources.
At one of the stops of the press tour, Zaid walked around rows of solar panels provided by companies from Japan, Germany, the United States, China and even Italy. The companies included Conergy, Yingli Green Energy, Trina Solar and Isofoton.
Masdar is trying out crystalline silicon panels as well as thin-film versions that much less silicon or different materials all together. In all, 33 companies are setting up 40 systems for Masdar. Solyndra, a Fremont, Calif.-based start and whose investors include Masdar, is still setting up its unusual, solar cell-lined tubes.
Masdar is using the contest to see how the panels perform in the desert, where wind and sand can easily dirty them and curb their ability to generate electricity. Zaid declined to say whose system has performed the best or provide costs for buying and running those systems.
Awad said the impact of the global economic downturn on the Masdar City project isn't known yet. He said given that customers are hard to come by for solar companies these days, Masdar project should become even more attractive. He noted that Masdar already has benefited from falling prices in solar panels and construction materials such as steel in recent months.
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
CCID Consulting: Review and Forecast on China's Solar Cell Industry
BEIJING, Dec.23 /PRNewswire-Asia/ -- CCID Consulting, China's leadingresearch, consulting and IT outsourcing service provider, and the firstChinese consulting firm listed in Hong Kong (Hong Kong Stock Exchange:HK08235), recently released its article on China's solar cell industry.
Affected by global financial crisis in 2008, the global economy is going through a difficult winter. China's solar cell industry has been enjoying a period of stable and rapid growth in recent years, which is likely to be slowed under the current economic environment. However, China's solar cell industry still attracts manufacturers' and investors' attention in 2008. The output of China's solar cell industry in 2008 is expected to break through 2000MW. Compared with 2007, China's solar cell industry maintains a rapid development pace.
Figure: China's Solar Cell Output, 2005-2008
Source: CCID Consulting, Dec.2008
CCID Consulting forecasts that in 2009, with demands for renewable, clean and security energies increasing, innovations in thin film techniques and falling costs, China's solar cell industry will undergo a restructure period in its industry chain. The new application of thin film solar cell and other power supply will appear.
Governmental Support Brings Opportunities to the Solar Cell Industry
The promulgation and implementation of China's Renewable Energy Law will allow the size of China's photovoltaic industry to expand in the next two years; China's solar cell industry will become gradually mature. Among the 4 trillion Yuan the nation promised to invest to boost economic growth, energy-saving, environmental protection and new energy industries will be playing important roles, that these investment will drive the rapid development of the solar cell industry.
Thin Film Technology Under Spotlight
Among amorphous silicon photovoltaic cell technologies, thin film solar cell technology is considered to be most suitable for large scale industrialization. In next two years, thin film technical progress and conversion rate's improvement will gradually highlight thin film solar cell's cost advantage. Restricted by silicon materials, major manufacturers have transferred to invest in thin film. In 2009, this trend will be more obvious. With major manufacturers' thin film technical successive investment and production, despite that thin film technology cannot completely replace crystalline silicon technology in the short term, based on its cost advantage, its market share will increase rapidly.
Industry Chain Faces Local Adjustment
Solar power generation (photovoltaic generation) industry chain includes upstream polysilicon production, midstream silicon cutting and solar cell production and downstream solar cell components production. More and more enterprises will focus on the midstream and downstream. Upstream manufacturers and VC will enlarge their investment in silicon cutting and solar cell production. Industrial integration trend will strengthen.
Demands in China's Domestic Market to Surge Next Year
In the short term, China's solar cell industry will still need to rely heavily on silicon raw materials and terminal market. More than 90% of polysilicon, main raw material of solar battery depends on import and more than 90% terminal products rely on export. Demands on domestic solar battery market are to be lifted.
Solar battery products will be more popular, getting along with environment protection and energy saving policies. Mobile solar battery will appear in the market due to energy saving, 3G, uniform mobile phone charging interface, and other policies.
About CCID Consulting
CCID Consulting Co., Ltd. (hereinafter known as CCID Consulting), the first Chinese consulting firm listed in the Growth Enterprise Market of the Stock Exchange (GEM) of Hong Kong (stock code: 8235.HK), is directly affiliated with China Center for Information Industry Development (hereinafter known as CCID Group). Headquartered in Beijing, CCID Consulting has so far set up branch offices in Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Wuhan and Chengdu, with over 300 professional consultants after many years of development. The company's business scope has covered over 200 large and medium-sized cities in China.
Based on major areas of competitiveness: industrial resources, information technology and data channels, CCID Consulting provides customers with public policy establishment, industry competitiveness upgrading, development strategy and planning, marketing strategy and research, HR management, IT programming and management. CCID Consulting's customers range from industrial users in electronics, telecommunications, energy, finance, automobile, to government departments at all levels and diversified industrial parks. CCID Consulting commits itself to becoming the No. 1 advisor for enterprise management, the No.1 consultancy for government decisions and the No. 1 brand for informatization consulting.
Friday, December 19, 2008
Suntech to Deliver 3MW of Integrated Solar Systems to World Expo Shanghai 2010
SAN FRANCISCO and WUXI, China, Dec. 19 /PRNewswire-Asia/ -- Suntech Power Holdings Co., Ltd. (NYSE: STP), the world's largest photovoltaic (PV) module manufacturer, today announced that it has won a bid to supply, design and install building integrated photovoltaic systems (BIPV) with a total capacityof 3MW on the China and Theme Pavilions at the World Expo Shanghai 2010 ("theExpo"). The projects, which will be the largest BIPV installations in China, are scheduled to be completed by September 2009.
Centered on the theme "Better City, Better Life", the Expo will explore global initiatives that enable sustainable urban development. The China and Theme Pavilions which will be developed by Shenergy Group, one of Shanghai's leading energy companies, will emphasize the importance of urban harmony with the natural environment, including the sustainable use of natural resources such as water and sunlight. The 3MW building integrated rooftop solar systems will be designed, developed and installed by Suntech's in-house system integration team. World Expo Shanghai 2010 will be held from May 1 - October31, 2010 in Shanghai, China.
"Building integrated solar systems, which turn common building materials such as rooftops and facades into power generators, are a logical step for the evolution of the urban environment. Our selection underscores Suntech's position as a global brand and world leader in the solar industry as well as our leading system integration capability in China. We are honored to display China's technological expertise in renewable energy to the world at the Expo,"said Dr. Zhengrong Shi, Suntech's Chairman and CEO.
The sustainable theme of the Expo echoes China's broader commitment to renewable energy solutions. As part of its Renewable Energy Law in 2005, China established a target to generate 15% of its total electricity from renewable energy sources by 2020. China plans to invest $180 billion in renewable energy over a 15-year period, fostering the emergence of renewable energy and sustainable development, including solar, wind, hydropower and biomass.
"Showcasing two of the world's largest building integrated solar systemsat the World Expo Shanghai 2010 indicates China's growing recognition of solar's ability to play a key role in renewable energy generation and sustainable urban development. With China's clear commitment to increasing adoption of renewable energy solutions, we are confident that the Chinese solar market will experience rapid growth in the next few years," Dr. Shi continued.
Suntech's system integration team is one of the most experienced and capable in China. They have completed a range of technically complex building integrated solar systems including the 120kW Beijing Jingya Hotel curtain wall, an 800kW Light Thru system on the Wuxi Airport, and the 1MW BIPV facade at Suntech's new headquarters in Wuxi.
About Suntech
Suntech Power Holdings Co., Ltd. (NYSE: STP) is the world's leading solar energy company as measured by production output of solar modules. Suntech designs, develops, manufactures, and markets premium-quality, high-output, cost-effective and environmentally friendly solar products for electric power applications in the residential, commercial, industrial, and public utility sectors. Suntech's patent-pending Pluto technology for crystalline silicon solar cells improves power output by up to 12% compared to conventional production methods.
Suntech also offers one of the broadest ranges of building-integrated solar products under the MSK Solar Design Line(TM). Suntech designs and delivers commercial and utility scale solar power systems through its wholly owned subsidiaries Suntech Energy Solutions and Suntech Energy Engineering and will own and operate projects greater than 10 megawatts in the United States through Gemini Solar Development Company, a joint venture with MMA RenewableVentures. With regional headquarters in China, Switzerland and San Franciscoand sales offices worldwide, Suntech is passionate about improving the environment we live in and dedicated to developing advanced solar solutions that enable sustainable development. For more information, please visithttp://www.suntech-power.com .
Centered on the theme "Better City, Better Life", the Expo will explore global initiatives that enable sustainable urban development. The China and Theme Pavilions which will be developed by Shenergy Group, one of Shanghai's leading energy companies, will emphasize the importance of urban harmony with the natural environment, including the sustainable use of natural resources such as water and sunlight. The 3MW building integrated rooftop solar systems will be designed, developed and installed by Suntech's in-house system integration team. World Expo Shanghai 2010 will be held from May 1 - October31, 2010 in Shanghai, China.
"Building integrated solar systems, which turn common building materials such as rooftops and facades into power generators, are a logical step for the evolution of the urban environment. Our selection underscores Suntech's position as a global brand and world leader in the solar industry as well as our leading system integration capability in China. We are honored to display China's technological expertise in renewable energy to the world at the Expo,"said Dr. Zhengrong Shi, Suntech's Chairman and CEO.
The sustainable theme of the Expo echoes China's broader commitment to renewable energy solutions. As part of its Renewable Energy Law in 2005, China established a target to generate 15% of its total electricity from renewable energy sources by 2020. China plans to invest $180 billion in renewable energy over a 15-year period, fostering the emergence of renewable energy and sustainable development, including solar, wind, hydropower and biomass.
"Showcasing two of the world's largest building integrated solar systemsat the World Expo Shanghai 2010 indicates China's growing recognition of solar's ability to play a key role in renewable energy generation and sustainable urban development. With China's clear commitment to increasing adoption of renewable energy solutions, we are confident that the Chinese solar market will experience rapid growth in the next few years," Dr. Shi continued.
Suntech's system integration team is one of the most experienced and capable in China. They have completed a range of technically complex building integrated solar systems including the 120kW Beijing Jingya Hotel curtain wall, an 800kW Light Thru system on the Wuxi Airport, and the 1MW BIPV facade at Suntech's new headquarters in Wuxi.
About Suntech
Suntech Power Holdings Co., Ltd. (NYSE: STP) is the world's leading solar energy company as measured by production output of solar modules. Suntech designs, develops, manufactures, and markets premium-quality, high-output, cost-effective and environmentally friendly solar products for electric power applications in the residential, commercial, industrial, and public utility sectors. Suntech's patent-pending Pluto technology for crystalline silicon solar cells improves power output by up to 12% compared to conventional production methods.
Suntech also offers one of the broadest ranges of building-integrated solar products under the MSK Solar Design Line(TM). Suntech designs and delivers commercial and utility scale solar power systems through its wholly owned subsidiaries Suntech Energy Solutions and Suntech Energy Engineering and will own and operate projects greater than 10 megawatts in the United States through Gemini Solar Development Company, a joint venture with MMA RenewableVentures. With regional headquarters in China, Switzerland and San Franciscoand sales offices worldwide, Suntech is passionate about improving the environment we live in and dedicated to developing advanced solar solutions that enable sustainable development. For more information, please visithttp://www.suntech-power.com .
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
CHINA TO INCREASE SUPPORT FOR SOLAR POWER GENERATION
BEIJING, Dec 10, 2008 (AsiaPulse via COMTEX) -- The China National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) and its affiliate National Energy Bureau are currently working on policy support and subsidy measures for solar power generation in China, said Shi Dinghuan, chairman of Chinese Renewable Energy Society (CRES) recently.
Shi noted that the government was increasing input in the development of renewable energy in terms of financial investment, R&D support and demonstration projects.
"Investment into energy projects, clean energy and ecological environment construction would contribute to stimulating domestic demand, which will also benefit further adjustment of China's energy structure in the development of low-carbon economy," said Shi.
Shi noted that the government was increasing input in the development of renewable energy in terms of financial investment, R&D support and demonstration projects.
"Investment into energy projects, clean energy and ecological environment construction would contribute to stimulating domestic demand, which will also benefit further adjustment of China's energy structure in the development of low-carbon economy," said Shi.
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Hongkong Electric completes 1st mainland wind farm project
Dec. 9, 2008 (China Knowledge) - Hongkong Electric Holdings Ltd (HEH)<6>, an electricity operator controlled by Hong Kong business giant Li Ka-shing, announced on Tuesday it has completed its first wind farm project on the mainland and expected to commence commercial operation early next year, sources reported.
According to the report, the 48-megawatt Yunnan project with a total investment of RMB 500 million is a joint venture utility, in which Hongkong Electric owns a 45% stake while mainland power producer Huaneng New Energy Industrial holds the rest.
The wind farm, along with another one in Hebei province, was bought by the Hong Kong electricity operator this year, marking its first investments on the mainland to capitalize on the country's rising demand for renewable energy, China Knowledge reported earlier.
Hongkong Electric said the projects were awarded with government incentives, including priority in the purchase of power generated from the windmills, tax exemptions on construction work and value-added tax rebates on machinery, adding both projects were qualified with global environmental standard for cutting emission of greenhouse gas.
The investment would enable Hongkong Electric to take a bite of the nascent but massive renewable energy market, amid a looming government-ordered cut in the rate of return from supplying electricity to its local market, according to analysts.
According to the report, the 48-megawatt Yunnan project with a total investment of RMB 500 million is a joint venture utility, in which Hongkong Electric owns a 45% stake while mainland power producer Huaneng New Energy Industrial holds the rest.
The wind farm, along with another one in Hebei province, was bought by the Hong Kong electricity operator this year, marking its first investments on the mainland to capitalize on the country's rising demand for renewable energy, China Knowledge reported earlier.
Hongkong Electric said the projects were awarded with government incentives, including priority in the purchase of power generated from the windmills, tax exemptions on construction work and value-added tax rebates on machinery, adding both projects were qualified with global environmental standard for cutting emission of greenhouse gas.
The investment would enable Hongkong Electric to take a bite of the nascent but massive renewable energy market, amid a looming government-ordered cut in the rate of return from supplying electricity to its local market, according to analysts.
Chinese PV pioneer helps build Israel's biggest solar power station
www.chinaview.cn 2008-12-09 06:27:49
KATSRIN, Israel, Dec. 8 (Xinhua) -- Israel's biggest solar power station was inaugurated on Monday in this Israeli northern town, setting up a landmark in the Chinese-Israeli cooperation in the field of clean energy.
The 50 KW rooftop project, estimated to generate 85,000 KWH a year, was co-built by China's Suntech Power Holdings Co., Ltd., a world-leading solar energy company, mainly specialized in photovoltaic (PV) power generation technologies, and Solarit Doral, a major local player in Israel's renewable energy market.
Dubbed the biggest and most efficient of its kind so far in Israel, the solar power station is integrated into Israel's national grid, as the Jewish state has been carrying out incentive measures to prod the development of alternative energy, including purchasing cleanly generated electricity at a relatively higher price.
Highlighting the urgent need to find alternative resources to power the world and protect the environment, Zhao Jun, Chinese ambassador to Israel, said at the ceremony that China has been investing heavily in alternative energy, and shares great cooperation potentials with Israel in relevant respects.
"It is very appropriate and natural for Chinese and Israeli companies to work together on this," he told Israeli National Infrastructures Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer and local officials.
Ben-Eliezer, whose ministry has unveiled an ambitious plan to produce 20 percent of its electricity through renewable resources by 2020, stressed that Israeli government pays high attention to the development of clean energy, and noted that Israel and China should deepen cooperation in commonly-interested fields, particularly water resources and renewable energy.
Meanwhile, representatives from Suntech, a listed company in New York Stock Exchange, said that the company is planning with its Israeli counterpart to construct a larger solar power plant in southern Israel.
Editor: Sun
KATSRIN, Israel, Dec. 8 (Xinhua) -- Israel's biggest solar power station was inaugurated on Monday in this Israeli northern town, setting up a landmark in the Chinese-Israeli cooperation in the field of clean energy.
The 50 KW rooftop project, estimated to generate 85,000 KWH a year, was co-built by China's Suntech Power Holdings Co., Ltd., a world-leading solar energy company, mainly specialized in photovoltaic (PV) power generation technologies, and Solarit Doral, a major local player in Israel's renewable energy market.
Dubbed the biggest and most efficient of its kind so far in Israel, the solar power station is integrated into Israel's national grid, as the Jewish state has been carrying out incentive measures to prod the development of alternative energy, including purchasing cleanly generated electricity at a relatively higher price.
Highlighting the urgent need to find alternative resources to power the world and protect the environment, Zhao Jun, Chinese ambassador to Israel, said at the ceremony that China has been investing heavily in alternative energy, and shares great cooperation potentials with Israel in relevant respects.
"It is very appropriate and natural for Chinese and Israeli companies to work together on this," he told Israeli National Infrastructures Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer and local officials.
Ben-Eliezer, whose ministry has unveiled an ambitious plan to produce 20 percent of its electricity through renewable resources by 2020, stressed that Israeli government pays high attention to the development of clean energy, and noted that Israel and China should deepen cooperation in commonly-interested fields, particularly water resources and renewable energy.
Meanwhile, representatives from Suntech, a listed company in New York Stock Exchange, said that the company is planning with its Israeli counterpart to construct a larger solar power plant in southern Israel.
Editor: Sun
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Air Products Signs Contract with China's Best Solar
LEHIGH VALLEY, Pa. (December 2, 2008) - Air Products (NYSE:APD) today announced it has signed a turnkey gas supply contract to provide on-site gases, liquid bulk gases, specialty gases and gas equipment to China's Best Solar Hi Tech Co., Ltd, which is building a new thin-film photovoltaic (PV) facility in the Wuzhong Economic Development Park in Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, China. When the facility comes on-stream at its full capacity, it will have an annual solar module manufacturing capacity of 330MW.
The contract between Air Products and Best Solar includes the long-term supply of hydrogen, nitrogen and argon, and specialty gases such as silane, nitrogen trifluoride (NF3) and dopant gases. Air Products will also install and manage the bulk gas and specialty gas supply systems.
"We are proud to have Best Solar's confidence in our supply capabilities for what will be one of the world's largest thin-film photovoltaic production facilities," said Corning Painter, vice president and general manager, Global Electronics, Air Products. "Our leadership position in the supply and delivery of the key materials for the PV market makes Air Products the safe and reliable choice for the growing PV industry."
Best Solar's thin-film PV modules, which convert sunlight directly into electricity, will be manufactured in much the same way as thin-film transistor-liquid crystal displays (TFT-LCD). As one of the largest suppliers to the TFT-LCD industry, Air Products is ideally suited to supply the new facility. This contract marks Air Products' largest investment in the burgeoning thin-film photovoltaic industry and complements its existing crystalline PV offerings.
With the demand for renewable energy and improved efficiency on the rise, Air Products is well positioned to take advantage of these developing markets with its expertise and project experience in areas including large scale hydrogen supply for cleaner transportation fuels, developmental work on the hydrogen economy, hydrogen vehicle fueling and infrastructure, leading natural gas liquefaction technology and now the growing supply of gases and services for the photovoltaic industry.
The contract between Air Products and Best Solar includes the long-term supply of hydrogen, nitrogen and argon, and specialty gases such as silane, nitrogen trifluoride (NF3) and dopant gases. Air Products will also install and manage the bulk gas and specialty gas supply systems.
"We are proud to have Best Solar's confidence in our supply capabilities for what will be one of the world's largest thin-film photovoltaic production facilities," said Corning Painter, vice president and general manager, Global Electronics, Air Products. "Our leadership position in the supply and delivery of the key materials for the PV market makes Air Products the safe and reliable choice for the growing PV industry."
Best Solar's thin-film PV modules, which convert sunlight directly into electricity, will be manufactured in much the same way as thin-film transistor-liquid crystal displays (TFT-LCD). As one of the largest suppliers to the TFT-LCD industry, Air Products is ideally suited to supply the new facility. This contract marks Air Products' largest investment in the burgeoning thin-film photovoltaic industry and complements its existing crystalline PV offerings.
With the demand for renewable energy and improved efficiency on the rise, Air Products is well positioned to take advantage of these developing markets with its expertise and project experience in areas including large scale hydrogen supply for cleaner transportation fuels, developmental work on the hydrogen economy, hydrogen vehicle fueling and infrastructure, leading natural gas liquefaction technology and now the growing supply of gases and services for the photovoltaic industry.
TGI Solar Creates Joint Venture SOLAR POWER CHINA CORPORATION LTD(HK)
NEW YORK, NY, Dec 02, 2008 (MARKET WIRE via COMTEX) -- TGI Solar Power Group Inc. (PINKSHEETS: TSPG), a turnkey supplier of vertically integrated solar systems for a variety of applications ranging from Solar Parks (solar to grid) to commercial markets, today announced it has formed a joint venture with Hong Kong-based Oriental Energy Group Ltd. (OEG) to target China's renewable energy market, under the name SOLAR POWER CHINA CORPORATION LTD.
"TGI and OEG have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) that outlines plans for cooperation and takes advantage of the first to market position. JV is looking to get 8 to 10 cities started simultaneously," said Ying Wang, Managing Director of the newly created joint venture. "We are in process of signing LOI for project financing with the following local governments: Shenzhen, Sanya, Liuzhou, Zhanjiang, Wenzhou, Foshan, Dongguan, Tulufan, Leting and Nanning."
The agreement also includes plans to include two manufacturing facilities of 40 MW of thin film panels utilizing Solar Thin Films, Inc. (SLTN), a developer, manufacturer and marketer of manufacturing equipment for the production of "thin-film" amorphous silicon photovoltaic modules, TGI's affiliated company.
"We are excited to be working with Oriental Energy. This project will pave the way for solar installations throughout China," said Billy Lieberman, President of TGI Solar.
About TGI SOLAR
TGI Solar (TSPG) is a provider of manufacturing equipment and turnkey manufacturing solutions to the photovoltaic (PV) industry. The Company's products and solutions are used for production of solar grade polysilicon, manufacturing of multi-crystalline silicon wafers, production of solar cells and assembly of complete modules. The firm provides facility and process design and integration know-how with its equipment. The Company offers its products and services to PV product manufacturers on a worldwide basis and a substantial percentage of its sales are to customers outside the United States.
"TGI and OEG have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) that outlines plans for cooperation and takes advantage of the first to market position. JV is looking to get 8 to 10 cities started simultaneously," said Ying Wang, Managing Director of the newly created joint venture. "We are in process of signing LOI for project financing with the following local governments: Shenzhen, Sanya, Liuzhou, Zhanjiang, Wenzhou, Foshan, Dongguan, Tulufan, Leting and Nanning."
The agreement also includes plans to include two manufacturing facilities of 40 MW of thin film panels utilizing Solar Thin Films, Inc. (SLTN), a developer, manufacturer and marketer of manufacturing equipment for the production of "thin-film" amorphous silicon photovoltaic modules, TGI's affiliated company.
"We are excited to be working with Oriental Energy. This project will pave the way for solar installations throughout China," said Billy Lieberman, President of TGI Solar.
About TGI SOLAR
TGI Solar (TSPG) is a provider of manufacturing equipment and turnkey manufacturing solutions to the photovoltaic (PV) industry. The Company's products and solutions are used for production of solar grade polysilicon, manufacturing of multi-crystalline silicon wafers, production of solar cells and assembly of complete modules. The firm provides facility and process design and integration know-how with its equipment. The Company offers its products and services to PV product manufacturers on a worldwide basis and a substantial percentage of its sales are to customers outside the United States.
Econcern to lead $1 bln China wind farm investment
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.
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.
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Chinese PV product makers face gloomy fourth quarter
Beijing. December 2. INTERFAX-CHINA - Chinese photovoltaic product manufacturers, who have just enjoyed a two-year boom period, are concerned that the global financial crisis will cool overseas demand and impact their bottom lines in the fourth quarter.
Chinese PV product manufacturers rely on exports for 95 percent to 98 percent of their sales, and as such, the industry could be in for a long winter, Qu Xiaohua, president of Suzhou-based PV product maker CSI Solar Manufacturing Inc., told Interfax at the 3rd China New Energy International Forum. According to CSI's third quarter report, the company has lowered its expectations for shipments, margins and earnings for the fourth quarter.
Changzhou-based Trina Solar Ltd., another PV product manufacturer, has seen demand for its products shrink in recent months and some of its customers have even reneged on contracts, according to the company's technology committee director Qiu Diming.
Shi Zhengrong, chairman and CEO of Suntech Power, China's largest solar cell producer and a major exporter to Europe, agreed that China's PV product market is entering a tough period. Suntech Power stated in its third quarter report that the weakening of the Euro against the U.S. dollar, combined with unstable credit markets, would hurt its profitability in the fourth quarter.
Meanwhile, manufacturers have been unable to gain some breathing room by capitalizing on the recent tumble in prices for polysilicon, a raw material used to make PV products, which have halved from a high of RMB 3,000 ($439.24) per kilogram in July, as they have also cut solar cell and solar module prices on poor demand.
According to Shi from Suntec Power, which is also operates solar power stations, the industry should band together to petition for more government support, with the aim of extracting policies that will stimulate the domestic market as overseas markets weaken.
One of the problems that Suntech faces is that there are no incentives for power grid companies to spend money to connect solar power stations to their grids, despite China's Renewable Energy Law, which requires them to do so. Shi said that it took two years for one of Suntech Power's projects to be connected to the local grid.
Song Shucai, deputy general manager of Tianwei Group, a large Hebei-based renewable energy developer, suggested that the government raise power tariffs by RMB 0.02 ($0.0029) and use the proceeds to subsidize renewable energy projects.
Despite their concerns, Chinese PV product manufacturers are trying to look on the bright side of things. Several executives pointed out that the European Union, the United States and Japan are now encouraging solar power development as a way to stimulate economic growth.
In the meantime, Chinese PV product manufacturers could increase their focus on thin-film silicon PV modules, a sub-area that is attracting significant interest, especially from state-owned companies with deep pockets.
Jeannine Sargent from Oerlikon Solar, the world's leading manufacturer of thin-film PV silicon solutions, told Interfax that China's thin-film PV market will still be one of the fastest growing markets when compared with others around the globe. "For Oerlikon Solar, we are expecting a 200 percent increase in revenue from 2007 to 2009 in China."
Dr. Sun Haiyan, head of Oerlikon Solar Technical Marketing Asia, believes there are a couple of reasons why the sector will remain strong in the near term. "The price of glass, which is used as a raw material in thin-film solar module production, is quite cheap in China, which is an advantage when it comes to manufacturing," he said, adding that state-owned companies will likely support development in this field.
In this April and July, Oerlikon Solar signed two turnkey contracts with China's Tianwei Group and Chint Solar to supply thin-film solar module production lines. "We anticipate that we will not only build manufacturing facilities, but also partner with our customers on an R & D center as well," Sargent said.
Chinese PV product manufacturers rely on exports for 95 percent to 98 percent of their sales, and as such, the industry could be in for a long winter, Qu Xiaohua, president of Suzhou-based PV product maker CSI Solar Manufacturing Inc., told Interfax at the 3rd China New Energy International Forum. According to CSI's third quarter report, the company has lowered its expectations for shipments, margins and earnings for the fourth quarter.
Changzhou-based Trina Solar Ltd., another PV product manufacturer, has seen demand for its products shrink in recent months and some of its customers have even reneged on contracts, according to the company's technology committee director Qiu Diming.
Shi Zhengrong, chairman and CEO of Suntech Power, China's largest solar cell producer and a major exporter to Europe, agreed that China's PV product market is entering a tough period. Suntech Power stated in its third quarter report that the weakening of the Euro against the U.S. dollar, combined with unstable credit markets, would hurt its profitability in the fourth quarter.
Meanwhile, manufacturers have been unable to gain some breathing room by capitalizing on the recent tumble in prices for polysilicon, a raw material used to make PV products, which have halved from a high of RMB 3,000 ($439.24) per kilogram in July, as they have also cut solar cell and solar module prices on poor demand.
According to Shi from Suntec Power, which is also operates solar power stations, the industry should band together to petition for more government support, with the aim of extracting policies that will stimulate the domestic market as overseas markets weaken.
One of the problems that Suntech faces is that there are no incentives for power grid companies to spend money to connect solar power stations to their grids, despite China's Renewable Energy Law, which requires them to do so. Shi said that it took two years for one of Suntech Power's projects to be connected to the local grid.
Song Shucai, deputy general manager of Tianwei Group, a large Hebei-based renewable energy developer, suggested that the government raise power tariffs by RMB 0.02 ($0.0029) and use the proceeds to subsidize renewable energy projects.
Despite their concerns, Chinese PV product manufacturers are trying to look on the bright side of things. Several executives pointed out that the European Union, the United States and Japan are now encouraging solar power development as a way to stimulate economic growth.
In the meantime, Chinese PV product manufacturers could increase their focus on thin-film silicon PV modules, a sub-area that is attracting significant interest, especially from state-owned companies with deep pockets.
Jeannine Sargent from Oerlikon Solar, the world's leading manufacturer of thin-film PV silicon solutions, told Interfax that China's thin-film PV market will still be one of the fastest growing markets when compared with others around the globe. "For Oerlikon Solar, we are expecting a 200 percent increase in revenue from 2007 to 2009 in China."
Dr. Sun Haiyan, head of Oerlikon Solar Technical Marketing Asia, believes there are a couple of reasons why the sector will remain strong in the near term. "The price of glass, which is used as a raw material in thin-film solar module production, is quite cheap in China, which is an advantage when it comes to manufacturing," he said, adding that state-owned companies will likely support development in this field.
In this April and July, Oerlikon Solar signed two turnkey contracts with China's Tianwei Group and Chint Solar to supply thin-film solar module production lines. "We anticipate that we will not only build manufacturing facilities, but also partner with our customers on an R & D center as well," Sargent said.
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
China subsidizes renewable energy power generation
Xinhua Economic News (2008/11/24)
BEIJING, Nov 24, 2008 (Xinhua via COMTEX) -- China will provide 2.023 billion yuan of subsidies to 148 renewable energy power generation projects from October 2007 to June 2008, according to a notice issued by the National Development and Reform Commission and the State Electricity Regulatory Commission.
Included are 102 wind power programs, 43 biomass power programs, three solar energy power projects with overall installed capacity and on-grid electricity of 5.6972 million kilowatt and 7.721 billion kilowatt hours.
The subsidy policy is designed to compensate the partial on-grid renewable energy electricity price, operating and maintenance fees of independent public renewable energy power system, power grid connection fee as well as losses of straw-fired power generating programs.
In addition, 12 provincial power grid enterprises are allowed to introduce the additional electricity fee from other their counterparts of other provinces through quota trading to make up their fund shortage. The transaction volume will amount to 873 million yuan.
Electricity grid enterprises are required to honor the subsidies and quota transactions within ten working days.
China has subsidized 38 renewable energy power generation projects with total installed capacity of 1.414 million kilowatt hours in 2006 with 260 million yuan.
China introduced Renewable Energy Law starting from January 1, 2006 and issued pricing mechanism and amortization measures on renewable energy power generation later to prompt the development of renewable energy sector.
BEIJING, Nov 24, 2008 (Xinhua via COMTEX) -- China will provide 2.023 billion yuan of subsidies to 148 renewable energy power generation projects from October 2007 to June 2008, according to a notice issued by the National Development and Reform Commission and the State Electricity Regulatory Commission.
Included are 102 wind power programs, 43 biomass power programs, three solar energy power projects with overall installed capacity and on-grid electricity of 5.6972 million kilowatt and 7.721 billion kilowatt hours.
The subsidy policy is designed to compensate the partial on-grid renewable energy electricity price, operating and maintenance fees of independent public renewable energy power system, power grid connection fee as well as losses of straw-fired power generating programs.
In addition, 12 provincial power grid enterprises are allowed to introduce the additional electricity fee from other their counterparts of other provinces through quota trading to make up their fund shortage. The transaction volume will amount to 873 million yuan.
Electricity grid enterprises are required to honor the subsidies and quota transactions within ten working days.
China has subsidized 38 renewable energy power generation projects with total installed capacity of 1.414 million kilowatt hours in 2006 with 260 million yuan.
China introduced Renewable Energy Law starting from January 1, 2006 and issued pricing mechanism and amortization measures on renewable energy power generation later to prompt the development of renewable energy sector.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Taiwan pushes wind power
TAIPEI, Taiwan, Nov. 17 (UPI) -- Taiwan's wind power capacity is set to increase to 3,000 megawatts by 2020.
The government of Taiwan is moving to increase its renewable energy focus, and wind is one of the country's most important renewable resources, according to Asia in Focus.
The Industrial Technology Research Institute made the 3,000-megawatt prediction and said that $6.12 billion is expected to be spent on wind turbines by 2020.
ITR researchers also predicted that by 2009 China will replace the United States as the world's largest country in terms of wind power installation capacity. The Chinese government is working to increase investment to boost the capacity of wind power.
© 2008 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
The government of Taiwan is moving to increase its renewable energy focus, and wind is one of the country's most important renewable resources, according to Asia in Focus.
The Industrial Technology Research Institute made the 3,000-megawatt prediction and said that $6.12 billion is expected to be spent on wind turbines by 2020.
ITR researchers also predicted that by 2009 China will replace the United States as the world's largest country in terms of wind power installation capacity. The Chinese government is working to increase investment to boost the capacity of wind power.
© 2008 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
China's wind market expansion unfazed by global slowdown
Tuesday, 18 November 2008
China's plans to reach 100GW of installed wind power generation capacity by 2020 are unlikely to be derailed-or even side-tracked-by the current global financial crisis, according to a recent study of China's towering wind power market.
In a new assessment, China Wind Power Markets and Strategies, 2008-2020, Emerging Energy Research (EER) reports that despite inevitable slowdowns in markets elsewhere, China's wind initiatives are so large in scale and so well supported by the government, that the country's new renewable energy goals are likely be met well before the 2020 target. China is on track to become the single largest market for wind power by 2011. In just two years, China will account for more than 17% of the world's installed wind generation capacity, financed by an investment of more than US$ 20 billion. EER's new study was completed following three months of in-market, primary research and interviews by EER's Asia research team with dozens of Chinese independent power producers (IPPs), utilities, component and turbine manufacturers, and government and provincial ministries. As part of the study, three forecasts (conservative, baseline, and aggressive) for China's wind market were developed, detailing wind energy capacity additions through 2020.
China's plans to reach 100GW of installed wind power generation capacity by 2020 are unlikely to be derailed-or even side-tracked-by the current global financial crisis, according to a recent study of China's towering wind power market.
In a new assessment, China Wind Power Markets and Strategies, 2008-2020, Emerging Energy Research (EER) reports that despite inevitable slowdowns in markets elsewhere, China's wind initiatives are so large in scale and so well supported by the government, that the country's new renewable energy goals are likely be met well before the 2020 target. China is on track to become the single largest market for wind power by 2011. In just two years, China will account for more than 17% of the world's installed wind generation capacity, financed by an investment of more than US$ 20 billion. EER's new study was completed following three months of in-market, primary research and interviews by EER's Asia research team with dozens of Chinese independent power producers (IPPs), utilities, component and turbine manufacturers, and government and provincial ministries. As part of the study, three forecasts (conservative, baseline, and aggressive) for China's wind market were developed, detailing wind energy capacity additions through 2020.
China, U.S. to collaborate on solar energy technology
www.chinaview.cn 2008-11-17
BEIJING, Nov. 17 (Xinhua) -- China and the United States have agreed to work together on research into advanced solar energy technologies.
The Institute of Electrical Engineering (IEE) under the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and the U.S. National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), which is affiliated with the Department of Energy, signed a memorandum of understanding over the weekend.
Under the pact, they'll share research on photovoltaic (PV) power generation technologies.
One facet of collaboration, IEE director Xiao Liye said, will be a sophisticated PV cell and module test center, probably in Beijing. The program also includes research data sharing, personnel exchanges and battery-related efforts, Xiao said.
Dan Arvizu, head of the NREL, said he hoped to extend cooperation in line with the common interests of both countries.
IEE is a national facility that carries out high-technology research and development.
NREL focuses on solar, wind, biomass, geothermal, hydrogen energy and fuel cell research.
Editor: Sally Zhang
BEIJING, Nov. 17 (Xinhua) -- China and the United States have agreed to work together on research into advanced solar energy technologies.
The Institute of Electrical Engineering (IEE) under the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and the U.S. National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), which is affiliated with the Department of Energy, signed a memorandum of understanding over the weekend.
Under the pact, they'll share research on photovoltaic (PV) power generation technologies.
One facet of collaboration, IEE director Xiao Liye said, will be a sophisticated PV cell and module test center, probably in Beijing. The program also includes research data sharing, personnel exchanges and battery-related efforts, Xiao said.
Dan Arvizu, head of the NREL, said he hoped to extend cooperation in line with the common interests of both countries.
IEE is a national facility that carries out high-technology research and development.
NREL focuses on solar, wind, biomass, geothermal, hydrogen energy and fuel cell research.
Editor: Sally Zhang
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
China's Fast Growing Renewable Energies
By Joao Alves, Vice President, Capital Eight, on Tuesday, 11 November 2008
The rapid pace of growth and the environmental impacts of a coal-based economy have led China to look at renewable energies for sustainable development. Government action and private initiative are creating one of the largest Alternative Energies producers in the world, with Wind Power taking a prominent position and major foreign companies already present or looking to enter the market.
In today's context of scarce and expensive traditional energy sources, renewables are once again becoming a more and more popular alternative worldwide. China's specific situation is nowadays especially important for several reasons, including:
- The sheer size of the country its population, which in 2007 accounted for 16.8 per cent of the worldwide consumption of primary energy (only surpassed by the United States);
- Its economic growth and resulting increase in energy needs (10 per cent per year since 2000), both for producing goods and to meet improving living standards;
- The environmental impact of traditional energy sources (China depends on coal for 69 per cent of its energy) and the uncomfortable position of being one of the world's two largest emitters of CO2;
- Its geological features, in which the existing reserves of oil, natural gas and coal might be completely used in 15, 30 and 80 years respectively;
- China wanting to be, as much as possible, self-sufficient energy wise (and, hence, the ongoing acquisition of foreign energy assets, in Africa, Asia and even Europe).
- The increased use of renewable energy sources would address all these issues, at least partially. However, by then end of 2006, renewables accounted for just 7 per cent of China's total primary energy consumption.
Government Guidance
The Chinese Government has been stepping up its efforts in fostering the development of alternative energies. This becomes clear if we look at four key documents:
- The Renewable Energies Law, issued in February 2005 ("Law"), that establishes the general guidelines for the industry in areas such as pricing, cost sharing and financing, among others;
- The Medium and Long-Term Development Plan for Renewable Energy in China, published in September 2007 ("Plan"), stating that by 2020, 15 per cent of all energy should come from renewable sources, with a 30 per cent share by 2050. By 2020, according to the Plan, 300 GW of hydro capacity, 30 GW of wind, 30 GW of biomass and 1.8 GW of solar energy should be installed;
- The Catalogue for the Guidance of Foreign Investment Industries, amended in October 2007 ("Catalogue"), which places the "construction and management of new energy power plants (solar energy, wind energy, magnetic energy, geothermal energy, tide energy and biological mass energy, etc.)" in the Encouraged Industries category;
- The White Paper: China's Policies and Actions on Climate Change, released in October 2008, that places an emphasis on energy conservation and optimisation of the energy mix, namely by reducing the role of coal as the primary energy source.
The Specific Case Of Wind Power
According to data from the European Wind Energy Association, China was the fifth-largest wind energy producer worldwide at the end of 2007. With an installed capacity of 6GW (3.5GW installed during 2007 alone), it still trails Germany (22.2GW) and Spain (16.8GW) by a large margin.
While these figures show that there is still a reasonably wide gap between the 6GW of installed capacity and the 30GW objective for 2020, the truth is that at this rate, the Government's goals seem very conservative. Greenpeace has stated that by 2020 China will have 50-100GW of installed capacity, while China's National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) has been quoted as admitting that 120GW is a more likely scenario by 2020. Considering the official surveys that estimate a 1000GW feasible wind power capacity, this seems well within reach.
A couple of areas have been subject to most attention and investment: the first one is in the North-Northwest, especially in Inner Mongolia and Xinjiang; the second area is along China's coastline, from Shandong all the way around to Guangxi. Additionally, offshore wind resources, although less explored, offer the greatest promise.
However, two very significant barriers have stood in the way of foreign investment in such a high potential industry: 1) the bidding system used to award major projects. Chinese companies tend to win the largest, centrally awarded projects by proposing to sell electricity to the grid at very low prices. These companies are apparently not so concerned with making money from renewables as they are with having a certain percentage of alternative energies in their energy portfolio, in order to meet Government demands; and 2) in a country where the market has little say in energy prices (the most notable cases being the low gas prices that have lead the government to compensate oil majors) it has been difficult for western companies to devise a profitable operation under these constraints.
Despite these barriers, foreign companies have been investing in two areas in the industry in China:
- Wind Turbine Manufacturers. The two largest companies worldwide are already manufacturing in China. The Danish company Vestas, with a 23 per cent global market share, has been producing in China since 2005, with several factories in Tianjin. The Spanish group Gamesa, with a 15 per cent global market share, has invested EUR40m to achieve a 700MW yearly turbine production capacity, also in Tianjin - and China is already responsible for 15 per cent of worldwide sales. Other large players, such as GE, Suzlon and Nordex, are also manufacturing locally.
- Wind Energy Producers. Australian company Roaring 40s is currently involved in seven wind farms (under construction and operating), in Shandong and Jilin provinces. It operates under a very specific JV model with a Chinese SOE partner (three projects with one company, four projects with another), looking for smaller projects (50MW) and negotiating directly with local authorities, therefore avoiding the larger, centrally awarded projects where large Chinese companies control their turf. Recently, it has signed an agreement with Datang Jilin Power Generation, a large traditional energy producing SOE, to develop a 1000MW wind farm. Construction will begin in 2008, and will be one of the largest projects in the world.
Another company involved in seven projects, all in Inner Mongolia, is Honiton Energy Holdings, which also operates in 50MW incremental projects but for larger wind farms. The company is based in China but has foreign investors and was recently acquired by a Dubai Investment Bank and a Singapore operator, in a USD2 bn deal. Unlike Roaring 40s, Honiton approaches each project alone, without JVs with Chinese companies. An interesting landmark achieved, according to the company, was the signing of the first Power Purchasing Agreement by a foreign firm - 25 years in duration, the first 35,000 hours will be sold at RMB0.548kw/h and subsequently at existing market prices.
Barriers Are Real, But Investment Opportunities Exist
There are still important obstacles in the way of foreign investment with some large infrastructure/energy focused funds finding it nearly impossible to enter the market. Private equity funds have confirmed that they have been looking at some renewable energy projects, but could not make the numbers work, at least for energy production. In equipment manufacturing, the outlook seems brighter.
However, the cases presented above prove that China is currently a real market in renewables - both for power generation as well as for manufacturing equipment. Like in most sectors in the country, it's essential to be ingenious, flexible and persistent to overcome existing obstacles.
The rapid pace of growth and the environmental impacts of a coal-based economy have led China to look at renewable energies for sustainable development. Government action and private initiative are creating one of the largest Alternative Energies producers in the world, with Wind Power taking a prominent position and major foreign companies already present or looking to enter the market.
In today's context of scarce and expensive traditional energy sources, renewables are once again becoming a more and more popular alternative worldwide. China's specific situation is nowadays especially important for several reasons, including:
- The sheer size of the country its population, which in 2007 accounted for 16.8 per cent of the worldwide consumption of primary energy (only surpassed by the United States);
- Its economic growth and resulting increase in energy needs (10 per cent per year since 2000), both for producing goods and to meet improving living standards;
- The environmental impact of traditional energy sources (China depends on coal for 69 per cent of its energy) and the uncomfortable position of being one of the world's two largest emitters of CO2;
- Its geological features, in which the existing reserves of oil, natural gas and coal might be completely used in 15, 30 and 80 years respectively;
- China wanting to be, as much as possible, self-sufficient energy wise (and, hence, the ongoing acquisition of foreign energy assets, in Africa, Asia and even Europe).
- The increased use of renewable energy sources would address all these issues, at least partially. However, by then end of 2006, renewables accounted for just 7 per cent of China's total primary energy consumption.
Government Guidance
The Chinese Government has been stepping up its efforts in fostering the development of alternative energies. This becomes clear if we look at four key documents:
- The Renewable Energies Law, issued in February 2005 ("Law"), that establishes the general guidelines for the industry in areas such as pricing, cost sharing and financing, among others;
- The Medium and Long-Term Development Plan for Renewable Energy in China, published in September 2007 ("Plan"), stating that by 2020, 15 per cent of all energy should come from renewable sources, with a 30 per cent share by 2050. By 2020, according to the Plan, 300 GW of hydro capacity, 30 GW of wind, 30 GW of biomass and 1.8 GW of solar energy should be installed;
- The Catalogue for the Guidance of Foreign Investment Industries, amended in October 2007 ("Catalogue"), which places the "construction and management of new energy power plants (solar energy, wind energy, magnetic energy, geothermal energy, tide energy and biological mass energy, etc.)" in the Encouraged Industries category;
- The White Paper: China's Policies and Actions on Climate Change, released in October 2008, that places an emphasis on energy conservation and optimisation of the energy mix, namely by reducing the role of coal as the primary energy source.
The Specific Case Of Wind Power
According to data from the European Wind Energy Association, China was the fifth-largest wind energy producer worldwide at the end of 2007. With an installed capacity of 6GW (3.5GW installed during 2007 alone), it still trails Germany (22.2GW) and Spain (16.8GW) by a large margin.
While these figures show that there is still a reasonably wide gap between the 6GW of installed capacity and the 30GW objective for 2020, the truth is that at this rate, the Government's goals seem very conservative. Greenpeace has stated that by 2020 China will have 50-100GW of installed capacity, while China's National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) has been quoted as admitting that 120GW is a more likely scenario by 2020. Considering the official surveys that estimate a 1000GW feasible wind power capacity, this seems well within reach.
A couple of areas have been subject to most attention and investment: the first one is in the North-Northwest, especially in Inner Mongolia and Xinjiang; the second area is along China's coastline, from Shandong all the way around to Guangxi. Additionally, offshore wind resources, although less explored, offer the greatest promise.
However, two very significant barriers have stood in the way of foreign investment in such a high potential industry: 1) the bidding system used to award major projects. Chinese companies tend to win the largest, centrally awarded projects by proposing to sell electricity to the grid at very low prices. These companies are apparently not so concerned with making money from renewables as they are with having a certain percentage of alternative energies in their energy portfolio, in order to meet Government demands; and 2) in a country where the market has little say in energy prices (the most notable cases being the low gas prices that have lead the government to compensate oil majors) it has been difficult for western companies to devise a profitable operation under these constraints.
Despite these barriers, foreign companies have been investing in two areas in the industry in China:
- Wind Turbine Manufacturers. The two largest companies worldwide are already manufacturing in China. The Danish company Vestas, with a 23 per cent global market share, has been producing in China since 2005, with several factories in Tianjin. The Spanish group Gamesa, with a 15 per cent global market share, has invested EUR40m to achieve a 700MW yearly turbine production capacity, also in Tianjin - and China is already responsible for 15 per cent of worldwide sales. Other large players, such as GE, Suzlon and Nordex, are also manufacturing locally.
- Wind Energy Producers. Australian company Roaring 40s is currently involved in seven wind farms (under construction and operating), in Shandong and Jilin provinces. It operates under a very specific JV model with a Chinese SOE partner (three projects with one company, four projects with another), looking for smaller projects (50MW) and negotiating directly with local authorities, therefore avoiding the larger, centrally awarded projects where large Chinese companies control their turf. Recently, it has signed an agreement with Datang Jilin Power Generation, a large traditional energy producing SOE, to develop a 1000MW wind farm. Construction will begin in 2008, and will be one of the largest projects in the world.
Another company involved in seven projects, all in Inner Mongolia, is Honiton Energy Holdings, which also operates in 50MW incremental projects but for larger wind farms. The company is based in China but has foreign investors and was recently acquired by a Dubai Investment Bank and a Singapore operator, in a USD2 bn deal. Unlike Roaring 40s, Honiton approaches each project alone, without JVs with Chinese companies. An interesting landmark achieved, according to the company, was the signing of the first Power Purchasing Agreement by a foreign firm - 25 years in duration, the first 35,000 hours will be sold at RMB0.548kw/h and subsequently at existing market prices.
Barriers Are Real, But Investment Opportunities Exist
There are still important obstacles in the way of foreign investment with some large infrastructure/energy focused funds finding it nearly impossible to enter the market. Private equity funds have confirmed that they have been looking at some renewable energy projects, but could not make the numbers work, at least for energy production. In equipment manufacturing, the outlook seems brighter.
However, the cases presented above prove that China is currently a real market in renewables - both for power generation as well as for manufacturing equipment. Like in most sectors in the country, it's essential to be ingenious, flexible and persistent to overcome existing obstacles.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Ontario And China Go Green Together
McGuinty Government Promotes Two-Way Investment And Trade In Shanghai
TORONTO, Oct. 27 /CNW/ - NEWS
A Chinese company will build a biomass power plant in Ontario as part of an announcement made today in Shanghai.
Canadian Windfields Solar and Renewable Energy Corporation announced thatit will build and operate a demonstration plant with Chinese company Wuhan Liren. Wuhan Liren will also invest in an Ontario manufacturing plant thatwill build and support its biomass power generation systems.
Instead of traditional renewable energy sources such as solar and wind, the power plant will use agricultural and forestry waste that producevirtually no emissions. The new biomass power generation plant will be thefirst of its kind in North America.
Premier Dalton McGuinty took part in the signing ceremony during theShanghai leg of his mission to China. The goal of the mission is to sellOntario environmental technologies and exchange ideas.
The director of Shanghai's Environmental Protection Bureau, Sun Jian,also took part in the signing ceremony. The Premier then spoke at a dinner toshowcase Ontario's environmental technology companies in front of over 200people at the Shanghai Museum.
QUOTES
"The agreements signed today are significant. It's just the start of whatOntario and China can do together," said Premier Dalton McGuinty. "We'llcontinue to strengthen our social and economic ties, to generate investmentand create jobs for Ontario families."
"Ontario is a world class producer of environmental products and servicesfor which a tremendous demand exists in China," said Michael Chan, Minister ofCitizenship and Immigration. "We are sending a clear message to China thatwhen looking for the technologies necessary to achieve their environmentalgoals, they need not look further than Ontario."
<< QUICK FACTS
- Two-way trade between Ontario and China more than doubled between 2003 and 2007, reaching more than $21 billion last year.
- China is investing $175 billion in environmental protection between 2006 and 2010.
- Ontario currently has 2,600 environmental technology companies.
TORONTO, Oct. 27 /CNW/ - NEWS
A Chinese company will build a biomass power plant in Ontario as part of an announcement made today in Shanghai.
Canadian Windfields Solar and Renewable Energy Corporation announced thatit will build and operate a demonstration plant with Chinese company Wuhan Liren. Wuhan Liren will also invest in an Ontario manufacturing plant thatwill build and support its biomass power generation systems.
Instead of traditional renewable energy sources such as solar and wind, the power plant will use agricultural and forestry waste that producevirtually no emissions. The new biomass power generation plant will be thefirst of its kind in North America.
Premier Dalton McGuinty took part in the signing ceremony during theShanghai leg of his mission to China. The goal of the mission is to sellOntario environmental technologies and exchange ideas.
The director of Shanghai's Environmental Protection Bureau, Sun Jian,also took part in the signing ceremony. The Premier then spoke at a dinner toshowcase Ontario's environmental technology companies in front of over 200people at the Shanghai Museum.
QUOTES
"The agreements signed today are significant. It's just the start of whatOntario and China can do together," said Premier Dalton McGuinty. "We'llcontinue to strengthen our social and economic ties, to generate investmentand create jobs for Ontario families."
"Ontario is a world class producer of environmental products and servicesfor which a tremendous demand exists in China," said Michael Chan, Minister ofCitizenship and Immigration. "We are sending a clear message to China thatwhen looking for the technologies necessary to achieve their environmentalgoals, they need not look further than Ontario."
<< QUICK FACTS
- Two-way trade between Ontario and China more than doubled between 2003 and 2007, reaching more than $21 billion last year.
- China is investing $175 billion in environmental protection between 2006 and 2010.
- Ontario currently has 2,600 environmental technology companies.
Thursday, October 23, 2008
China Pulls in Green Energy Investment
Source: http://www.greentechmedia.com
Green Energy Technology and the Nordic Environment Finance Corp. through its Carbon Fund are boosting investments in China, pointing to the country's growing role as maker and user of renewable energy technologies.
by: Jeff St. John
October 22, 2008
In the midst of a worldwide financial crisis, China's growing demand for energy continues to be an attractive draw for investors.
Several greentech companies this week have announced plans to put money into satisfying fast-growing appetite for renewable energy.
On the solar front, Taiwan's Green Energy Technology said Wednesday that it is investing $5.05 million for a 40-percent stake in a joint venture aimed at supplying solar cells to Chinese manufacturers.
The subsidiary of the Tatung Group said the joint venture hoped to be up and running by mid-2009 and to have an annual production capacity of 60 megawatts.
Also on Wednesday, the Nordic Environment Finance Corp. said that its Carbon Fund has signed up to buy carbon-emission reductions from two Chinese renewable power projects –a 201-megawatt wind project being developed by Yangtze New Energy Development Co. in Jiangsu province, and a small hydroelectric power project in southwest China.
The deals were announced a day after Google pledged to give $250,000 to the U.S. National Academies to find ways to link the United States and China - the world's two largest energy consumers and greenhouse gas emitters - in developing renewable energy policies and technologies (see Google Plays U.S.-China Matchmaker).
All of it points to a continuation of China's boom in renewable energy, itself both a part of - and a reaction to - China's fast-paced economic growth over the past decade, said Ron Pernick, co-founder and principal of research and publishing firm Clean Edge.
"China has not been sitting idle" in either the manufacturing or the deploying of renewable energy technologies, Pernick said. China already leads the world in making solar-water heaters, and its list of solar-photovoltaic manufacturers has grown to include heavy hitters such as Suntech Power Holdings (NYSE: STP), China Sunergy (NSDQ: CSUN) and Yingli Green Energy Holding Co. (NYSE: YGE), he said.
China stands third, behind Japan and Germany, in terms of its share of photovoltaic-manufacturing capacity, according to a Worldwatch Institute report released in November (see Could China Steal the Solar Throne?)
The report estimated that China was set to invest $10 billion in renewable energy last year, second only to Germany. That's out of about $150 billion invested in green energy worldwide last year, Pernick said.
The U.S. Department of Commerce set China's investment in renewable energy last year at an even higher $12 billion, and projects that the country will invest $175 billion in protecting the environment in the next five years as it strives to meet its renewable goals, according to CNBC.
That growth is linked not only to China's role as an offshore home for foreign manufacturers, but also to its pressing need for new renewable energy sources, the Worldwatch Institute said.
China hopes to boost its green-electricity generation from 17 percent of its overall generation capacity today to 21 percent by 2020. The Worldwatch Institute said China could well exceed those goals, pushing its renewable power capacity to as much as 400 gigawatts by 2020, up from 135 gigawatts in 2006.
So far, solar photovoltaic power projects within China remain "in their infancy" compared to Japan, Germany and the United States, and China's hopes for a large-scale domestic market for grid-integrated photovoltaic projects remains a few years out, according to the report.
That's not as much the case with wind power, which the report called China's fastest-growing renewable-energy source. China will need to invest $21 billion to $28 billion if the country is to meet its goal of 30 gigawatts of production by 2020, up from to 1.2 gigawatts in 2005, the Commerce Department reported.
China now has more than 50 domestic wind turbine manufacturers, the Worldwatch Institute said.
"They're also becoming a dominant wind player in terms of deployment," Pernick said of China. "The question is, what might happen in terms of manufacturing."
Despite the ongoing global financial crisis, Pernick sees permanence in China's current renewable energy push, given its people's increasing concern about environmental problems within the country's borders and global concerns about the country's role in curbing greenhouse gas emissions.
In an August report, the Worldwatch Institute said that China accounted for 57 percent of the world's growth of carbon emissions from burning fossil fuels from 2000 to 2007.
The link between China's renewable-energy push and its environment was brought to the world's attention this summer, when the Chinese government took drastic steps to clean up Beijing's notoriously polluted air for the 2008 Olympic Games (see Will the Olympics Make China Green?).
"The great thing about China is, if a mandate comes down from the national level, it can quickly be deployed," Pernick said.
Even in the midst of the ongoing global financial crisis, China remains an attractive market for green technologies, according to a survey of venture capitalists and technology company executives released Wednesday by the law firm DLA Piper.
Nearly nine of ten survey respondents said China's consumer market will be an "exploitable opportunity" for green technology companies, DLA Piper reported.
Still, Pernick doesn't see China becoming the "mother of all markets" when it comes to the growing market for renewable energy sources.
"This is a global phenomenon," he said. China is "just going to be one node in the network."
Green Energy Technology and the Nordic Environment Finance Corp. through its Carbon Fund are boosting investments in China, pointing to the country's growing role as maker and user of renewable energy technologies.
by: Jeff St. John
October 22, 2008
In the midst of a worldwide financial crisis, China's growing demand for energy continues to be an attractive draw for investors.
Several greentech companies this week have announced plans to put money into satisfying fast-growing appetite for renewable energy.
On the solar front, Taiwan's Green Energy Technology said Wednesday that it is investing $5.05 million for a 40-percent stake in a joint venture aimed at supplying solar cells to Chinese manufacturers.
The subsidiary of the Tatung Group said the joint venture hoped to be up and running by mid-2009 and to have an annual production capacity of 60 megawatts.
Also on Wednesday, the Nordic Environment Finance Corp. said that its Carbon Fund has signed up to buy carbon-emission reductions from two Chinese renewable power projects –a 201-megawatt wind project being developed by Yangtze New Energy Development Co. in Jiangsu province, and a small hydroelectric power project in southwest China.
The deals were announced a day after Google pledged to give $250,000 to the U.S. National Academies to find ways to link the United States and China - the world's two largest energy consumers and greenhouse gas emitters - in developing renewable energy policies and technologies (see Google Plays U.S.-China Matchmaker).
All of it points to a continuation of China's boom in renewable energy, itself both a part of - and a reaction to - China's fast-paced economic growth over the past decade, said Ron Pernick, co-founder and principal of research and publishing firm Clean Edge.
"China has not been sitting idle" in either the manufacturing or the deploying of renewable energy technologies, Pernick said. China already leads the world in making solar-water heaters, and its list of solar-photovoltaic manufacturers has grown to include heavy hitters such as Suntech Power Holdings (NYSE: STP), China Sunergy (NSDQ: CSUN) and Yingli Green Energy Holding Co. (NYSE: YGE), he said.
China stands third, behind Japan and Germany, in terms of its share of photovoltaic-manufacturing capacity, according to a Worldwatch Institute report released in November (see Could China Steal the Solar Throne?)
The report estimated that China was set to invest $10 billion in renewable energy last year, second only to Germany. That's out of about $150 billion invested in green energy worldwide last year, Pernick said.
The U.S. Department of Commerce set China's investment in renewable energy last year at an even higher $12 billion, and projects that the country will invest $175 billion in protecting the environment in the next five years as it strives to meet its renewable goals, according to CNBC.
That growth is linked not only to China's role as an offshore home for foreign manufacturers, but also to its pressing need for new renewable energy sources, the Worldwatch Institute said.
China hopes to boost its green-electricity generation from 17 percent of its overall generation capacity today to 21 percent by 2020. The Worldwatch Institute said China could well exceed those goals, pushing its renewable power capacity to as much as 400 gigawatts by 2020, up from 135 gigawatts in 2006.
So far, solar photovoltaic power projects within China remain "in their infancy" compared to Japan, Germany and the United States, and China's hopes for a large-scale domestic market for grid-integrated photovoltaic projects remains a few years out, according to the report.
That's not as much the case with wind power, which the report called China's fastest-growing renewable-energy source. China will need to invest $21 billion to $28 billion if the country is to meet its goal of 30 gigawatts of production by 2020, up from to 1.2 gigawatts in 2005, the Commerce Department reported.
China now has more than 50 domestic wind turbine manufacturers, the Worldwatch Institute said.
"They're also becoming a dominant wind player in terms of deployment," Pernick said of China. "The question is, what might happen in terms of manufacturing."
Despite the ongoing global financial crisis, Pernick sees permanence in China's current renewable energy push, given its people's increasing concern about environmental problems within the country's borders and global concerns about the country's role in curbing greenhouse gas emissions.
In an August report, the Worldwatch Institute said that China accounted for 57 percent of the world's growth of carbon emissions from burning fossil fuels from 2000 to 2007.
The link between China's renewable-energy push and its environment was brought to the world's attention this summer, when the Chinese government took drastic steps to clean up Beijing's notoriously polluted air for the 2008 Olympic Games (see Will the Olympics Make China Green?).
"The great thing about China is, if a mandate comes down from the national level, it can quickly be deployed," Pernick said.
Even in the midst of the ongoing global financial crisis, China remains an attractive market for green technologies, according to a survey of venture capitalists and technology company executives released Wednesday by the law firm DLA Piper.
Nearly nine of ten survey respondents said China's consumer market will be an "exploitable opportunity" for green technology companies, DLA Piper reported.
Still, Pernick doesn't see China becoming the "mother of all markets" when it comes to the growing market for renewable energy sources.
"This is a global phenomenon," he said. China is "just going to be one node in the network."
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
