China solar CEO Huang Ming speaks at REEEP
Vienna, 12.11.2009 - REEEP International Secretariat
Professor Huang Ming, President of the China Himin Solar Energy Group, spoke at a REEEP event on 12 November in Vienna. A pioneer of China’s clean energy industry, and a moving force behind that country’s Law on Renewable Energy, Mr. Ming presented an overview of the Himin business model, and details of the China Solar Valley, a vast eco-complex that is arising around the city of Dezhou in Shandong Province.
Its centerpiece is the Sun-Moon Mansion, a 45,000 m2 building complex containing the Himin manufacturing base, an international conference centre, an international training center as well as an R&D and testing center. The new site will also host the 4th International Solar Cities Congress in 2010. This energy efficient building complex consumes 1/10th the energy of a conventional office building. Its heating and cooling needs are covered by a huge solar thermal installation including cross-seasonal energy storage and a ground source heat pump.
Another Solar Valley landmark is the entrance gate, a 60m high and 300m wide building that includes artwork portraying the sun and energy in many different eras and cultures. “The idea of Solar Valley is to have a combined tourist destination and conference venue that also acts as the biggest shop in the world,” said Huang Ming, referring to Solar Valley’s role in acting as a sales demonstration for Himin’s solar technology in buildings.
Mr. Ming’s presentation was actually the opening round in a wider event event on Clean Energy Transformation, where contrasting experiences from Brazil and Austria were also presented. Mr Fabio Rosa, Founder and Executive Director of IDEAAS - Institute for the Development of Natural Energy and Sustainability, gave a presentation on his organisation’s “Electricity Now” project. Here, rather than selling home solar systems, IDEAAS establishes companies to rent and maintain household solar systems for off-grid customers who the conventional electricity provider does not reach. The knock-on effects in terms of development are considerable. Providing rural households with access to energy reduces the likelihood of migration to slums in the city.
Finally, a contrasting European view of how to use solar energy was provided by Roger Hackstock, CEO of Austria Solar, a trade association representing the Austrian solar industry. His presentation pointed out the buildings accounted for 49% of European energy consumption in 2006, and that solar technology has an important role to play in reducing household energy consumption.