A newcomer in the energy industry came into the spotlight today with its exclusive and unique service. Noether Associates, a leading energy consultancy based in Shanghai, China, has just launched its first issue of its monthly energy newsletter. Titled “China Energy Focus”, this newsletter will be free of charge for the first six months and can be downloaded through the Noether Associates website. It features articles translated from Chinese energy media on current and upcoming energy policies, new & developing technologies, and energy market trends. It also includes original content with interviews from energy experts and independent research done by Noether’s experienced staff.
Written by bilingual energy experts, this month's newsletter includes a range of article topics from new biomass energy created from daily urban waste to Zhejiang's green energy practices that aim to have 1% of its total energy from new energy resources by 2012, and an exclusive interview with one of China's leading green architects, Raefer Wallis, whose carbon-neutral boutique hotel in Shanghai, URBN, is the first of its kind in China. Additionally, the original research section titled “Noether Associates Insight” provides in depth research on Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEVs) and its Chinese market.
2. China Energy Focus
1st Issue November 2009 Noether Associates
Table of Contents
Letter from Noether Associates…..………………………………………………………………...... P1
Energy Leader Spotlight……….………………………………….......................................... P2
GIGA chairman and A00 Architecture Director—An Interview with Raefer Wallis
SmithStreetSolutions Insight…………………………………………………………................... P4
Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEVs)
News………………………………………..………………………………………………………….……..….. P5
Energy
− China’s Future Nuclear Power Plant Model
− “Eat” Junk, “Vomit” Fuel
− Clean Coal = Clean Energy?
Emissions
− Leading Up to Copenhagen - The Results of the United Nations Bangkok Conference
− China Leading the Race in Reducing Carbon Emissions?
Cleantech
− Trading Technology for Entry into China’s Market
− No Oil in China’s Universal Car
Policies
− Amending China’s Renewable Energy Law
− Zhejiang: 1% of all Energy from New Energy Sources by 2012
− Shanghai’s Hongkou District: Energy Saving Industry Chain
Upcoming Events…………………………………………………………………………………………….. P12
About Noether Associates………………………………………………………………………….……. P13
3. China Energy Focus
Letter from Noether Associates
The world is now transitioning into a clean energy economy, and China is at the forefront of this
change. Our goal is to capture and deliver insight on China's economic activities surrounding
research and development in new (clean) technology, renewable energy, and policies that will
accelerate the growth of the China market.
In this month’s newsletter, article topics range from new biomass energy created from daily
urban waste to Zhejiang’s green energy practices that aim to have 1% of its total energy from new
energy resources by 2012. Our newsletter hopes to provide short and profound articles that
educate you on current clean energy topics in China. We go further to provide interviews with
leading experts on energy matters in China, as well as original research on energy related issues.
This month we bring you an exclusive interview with one of China’s leading green architects, Raefer
Wallis, whose carbon-neutral boutique hotel, URBN, is the first of its kind in China. Read on to find
out more!
O. Koo
Managing Partner, Noether Associates
The winds of change are coming to China
Noether Associates 1
4. China Energy Focus
Energy Leader Spotlight
GIGA chairman and A00 Architecture Director—An Interview
with Raefer Wallis
By: Krisanna Oopik
Canadian architect Raefer Wallis, principal health, and the question of “compromised
at A00 architecture firm, discussed the potential.”
challenges and opportunities of sustainable Taking a deeper look at China, sustainable
design in China, and what going “green” means architecture trends differ in China from the
to him. He told of his past sustainable projects United States and other countries. In China,
in China, his goal in future projects, and what the increase in attention towards sustainable
continues to drive him today. Sustainable design began when health concerns became
architecture in China continues to grow, and an issue. Wallis comments on the difference in
the most important advice Wallis offers to trends in China by stating,
people who want to “go green” is to implement
“Sustainability is a Western import, and for us it’s
practices incrementally and leverage what linked with ecology. Saving the trees, saving the
other people have done. Wallis exemplifies his animals, saving the rainforest. For the Chinese, it
own advice, and continues to incrementally (ecology) doesn’t mean much, it’s a low priority item;
add new green materials or sustainable here it’s all about health. What tipped the scales was
practices in his own projects. not an ecological event, it was a health event. In my
mind, that was the milk scandal, and then the chicken
Long before Wallis moved to Shanghai, his and egg scandals.”
interest in sustainable design was rooted in his
family values. Wallis states, “To be honest, Prior to these events, the Chinese media
what inspired me to go green was education.” approached Wallis for an interview with regards
Growing up in a family with parents who are to green topics once every three or six months;
doctors, the importance of health was an after these health events, he was approached
inevitable family value. Today, his two once every week for an interview on the same
motivations to remain green are children and topic. Clearly demonstrating a correlation
the daily impact the environment has on their between sustainable practices and health.
Raefer Wallis URBN hotel
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5. China Energy Focus
Energy Leader Spotlight
GIGA chairman and A00 Architecture Director—An Interview
with Raefer Wallis
The growing awareness of
sustainable design in China has
helped to launch a platform for
sourcing green materials in China
called GIGA (Green Ideas-Green
Action), which allows people to
find available green materials in
China by using the transparent
and neutral GIGAbase. Following
his own strategy of incrementally
going green, Wallis would
introduce one green material or
concept in each of his projects.
However, each project turned out
“GIGA was born in Shanghai on the 26th of April 2008 and became an to be a small research project in
independent non-profit research foundation supported by the Western learning how to define which
China Human Resources Development Foundation.” products were green and which
were not. In China, this can be a
challenge, because the qualifications for what makes a “green material” green is often not
transparent, and certified green products are usually Western and not Chinese based.
In the future, the Chinese government will have to take on a stronger role with regards to
sustainable architecture to promote the increased use of green materials in China. Currently, the
government does not provide any subsidies or policies to support developers with the initial cost of
green projects. The government mandates the Green Star System, one of two existing green
certifications for buildings in China, with the second being the LEED certification. The government is
showing more acceptance in sustainability by allowing a few buildings to link their solar panels into
the State Grid system, but this process requires copious amounts of paper work and requires a final
approval. It is a step in the right direction, though. Domestic Chinese companies will also increase
their production of green materials as demand increases, and the financial benefits become apparent
to their bottom lines. Overall, the future of green materials and sustainable architecture in China
appears to be promising, and will hopefully continue to flourish.
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6. China Energy Focus
SmithStreetSolutions Insight
Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEVs)
Hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) are a hot topic today, with a growing demand and availability in
the market. HEVs reduce the use of petroleum fuel, and are one of the most popular clean energy
solutions for automobile consumers. SmithStreetSolutions conducted research on the market
trends and demand for HEVs, and concluded that while there is a growing demand, the demand is
not necessarily located in China. In 2008, 80% of HEVs global sales were in the United States and
Japan. However, Chinese manufacturers have launched their own plan to market HEVs in China, but
little interest has been shown thus far from Chinese consumers. The main reason for this lack of
interest is that there is no tax incentive for buyers in China, and the price is higher for an HEV
compared to a traditional vehicle. If the Chinese government adopted policies to subsidize the auto
manufacturers or provided tax incentives for consumers, the growth in the HEV market could be
profound in China.
One energy efficient car company; however, that is flourishing in China is BYD, a Chinese battery,
mobile phone, and electric car company. BYD received global attention when Warren Buffett and
Berkshire Hathaway decided to buy 10% of BYD last fall. In October, the BYD sedan (F3) became the
bestselling sedan in China, and BYD has recently started selling a plug-in electric car that can go
further than most other electric vehicles on a single charge, 62 miles, and can be bought for
$22,000.
To find out more, please refer to the Noether Associates website for the research deck
correlated with HEVs research.
Source: SmithStreetSolutions
BYD F6DM model at the North American International Auto show in Detroit, December 2008
Noether Associates 4
7. China Energy Focus
News – Energy
China’s Future Nuclear Power Plant Model
State Nuclear Power in China worked jointly with the China Huaneng Group to build the first
advanced domestic pressurized water reactor nuclear power plant. The project, titled, “Third
Generation Nuclear Technology,” has inspired five of the top electric power companies to switch to
nuclear electricity. The project will be the first model project of its kind that will hopefully develop
later into more pressurized water reactor nuclear power plants. This innovative technology will
allow China to develop its own intellectual property rights in nuclear design, manufacturing, building
and operations, and to develop an overall standard for nuclear power development.
Source: Economic Information Daily, September, 2009
“Eat” Junk, “Vomit” Fuel
The Dajiang Group Shanghai Shende
Machinery Co. has created a new biomass
energy source from everyday waste materials
that will forever change the way we view “junk”
or waste materials. In addition, they have
developed a facility and equipment that are
environmentally friendly to produce the new
biomass energy. The innovative technology is
described as being able to "eat" sawdust, straw,
rice husks, and forty to fifty other kinds of waste,
and "spit" it out as usable bio-fuels. Biomass,
granulated fuel, can be made through the
process of screening, crushing, drying, grinding,
and molding daily urban waste, such as sawdust,
straw, rice husks, and waste plastic film. The
waste materials, or second-generation bio-fuels,
used to produce this new biomass fuel are ideal,
since they do not require arable land or food
Truck being hoisted up to dump out saw dust, which products used by humans. In the future, bio-fuels
can be used to make the new biomass fuel will help maximize the reusability of waste and
may potentially replace resources such as coal,
oil, and other non-renewable energy sources.
Source: Jiefang Daily, September, 2009
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8. China Energy Focus
News – Energy
Clean Coal = Clean Energy?
Whether or not clean coal is a green energy
source is debated, since the process of cleaning
and transporting the coal can be viewed as a
polluting process. In China, Pu Hongjiu, the
Vice Chairman of the China National Coal
Association and Vice Director of the National
Energy Expert Consultative Committee, argues
that clean coal is an environmentally friendly
process and should be emphasized and
supported in the upcoming Twelfth Five Year
Plan for China. Coal, which China relies on
heavily as its primary energy resource, creates
an immense amount of pollution. Hongjiu’s
stance, however, is that coal can be cleaned
and reused after burning, and that we should
Protestors rally against the use of coal
alter our view of coal as a polluting substance.
This proposed solution, however, is not yet
accepted by electric power companies in China,
as they are unwilling to purchase clean coal.
It is hard to blame the electric power
companies, because the actual transportation
of the clean coal is an environmentally
unfriendly process. Pu Hongjiu insists that China
could implement the use of coal gangues to fill
coal mines, and reduce the impact of coal
mining on the Earth’s surface. Overall, the
emphasis of implementing clean coal in China’s
Twelfth Five Year Plan could have a drastic
impact on the future of coal use in China, and is
a topic to pay attention to in China’s upcoming
Five Year Plan.
Source: Energy magazine, September, 2009
The inevitable link between coal and power for China
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9. China Energy Focus
News – Emissions
Leading Up to Copenhagen - The Results of the United Nations
Bangkok Conference
October 9th was the conclusion of the action from developed countries on reducing
United Nation’s 4th International Conference emissions is that their overall emission is
on Climate Change in Bangkok, Thailand. The much larger than those of developing
conference resulted in no significant progress countries. Therefore, the pressure in reducing
at the policy level, and there was a lack of emissions is focused primarily on developed
response in change from developed countries. countries. China holds the same position as
Developed countries were unable to present developing countries in insisting that
any satisfactory proposals for changing their greenhouse gas emissions from developed
own emission reduction targets, increasing countries be reduced 40% by 2020 based on
funds for climate change, or transferring 1990 emissions statistics. China has made its
technology for programs in developing own commitment to save energy and reduce
countries. Additionally, there was little emissions through China’s National Climate
response towards recommendations Change Program, which proposes reducing its
proposed by developing countries on emission gross domestic GDP energy consumption by
reduction requirements, technology transfer 20% by 2010 based on 2005 statistics, and
mechanisms, and other suggestions to benefit reducing other major pollutant emissions by
programs in climate change. 10%.
The concern with the lack of response and Source: Xinhua News Agency, September, 2009
China’s power plants are a major contributor to carbon emissions
China Leading the Race in Reducing Carbon Emissions?
Experts are saying that China has exceeded the European Union’s emissions reduction targets. The
Chinese government has approved over 2,200 Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) projects
through September 2009, and China has successfully registered more than 640 CDM projects with an
emissions reduction of around 150 million tons. Yang Hongwei, director of the NDRC Energy Research
Institute Center for CDM project management, commented on China’s development by stating, “If all
2,000 projects could be registered successfully, the emissions reduction is expected to reach 20 billion
tons in the first commitment period. China’s CDM projects have made a great contribution to
promote global greenhouse gas emissions mitigation.” The International Energy Agency estimates
that if China achieves its proposed target of slowing down the emissions growth, that China will be
the country with the largest reduction in emissions by 2020.
Source: Daily Economic News, September, 2009
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10. China Energy Focus
News – Cleantech
Trading Technology for Entry into China’s Market
The Chinese government’s concern about lacking innovation in domestic Chinese technology
companies has become apparent after a policy was implemented making it more difficult for
foreign companies to enter China’s market. Chinese technology companies currently lag in
development, and the fear that foreign companies will dominate China’s technology market is
becoming a reality. In response to this growing concern, the Chinese government has enacted the
“Market Entry in Exchange for Foreign Technology R&D” policy. The policy provides assistance to
China’s local market, and opens the barriers that prevent technology development in China from
benefiting from foreign technology R&D.
China’s local companies are suffering from the presence of foreign companies in the technology
market, therefore, the policy would require foreign companies to assist in China’s technology R&D
and provide a percentage of their profits from the Chinese market. Xiaolian, a scholar at the
American Economy Institute at China’s Academy of Social Sciences, commented that China should
not be reduced to buying or asking for technology only from the United States; there are other
countries that can supply equal or greater value in technology R&D. With the current global climate
crisis, the potential for controlled technology exchanged between countries is a viable option that
could be a possibility in the future for China. Overall, China hopes the US will reduce its technology
transfer costs, and China will continue to limit the number of foreign technology companies
entering the China market.
With the current global climate crisis, the potential for controlled technology exchanged
between countries is a viable option that could be a possibility in the future for China. Overall,
China hopes the US will reduce its technology transfer costs, and China will continue to limit the
number of foreign technology companies entering the China market.
Source: Energy magazine, September, 2009
Discussing technology exchange between the US and China
Noether Associates 8
11. China Energy Focus
News – Cleantech
No Oil in China’s Universal Car
Wang Binggang speaks at China’s Second Green Energy Automotive Development Summit Forum
The rapid demand in China’s growing auto market calls attention to the need for an alternative
energy solution in the future. The growing demand for petroleum used by automobiles and
subsequent fuel shortages has become a common concern, and was voiced by Wang Binggang, an
expert team leader in energy saving and new energy auto project, at China’s Second Green Energy
Automotive Development Summit Forum. Wang Binggang stated, “We cannot rely on petroleum in
the coming popularization of automobiles in China. We must develop new energy to meet the
coming energy needs.” Resource constraints are only one part of the problem for China, the other
being the stock quantity of cars.
China’s future demand in the auto market contrasts from previous market demands in Europe or
America in that a growing resource crisis and vastly larger demand in the market are being
experienced simultaneously. China’s 450 million cars only amount to half of those in Europe, but
this number will continue to increase. In order to meet the growing demand and resource
constraints for China’s energy market, developing new energy solutions is required. Research on
China’s auto market is already being explored, but the question is how these benefits will have
global impact.
Source: China Petrochemical News, September, 2009
Noether Associates 9
12. China Energy Focus
News – Policies
Amending China’s Renewable Energy Law
The completed draft of China’s Renewable Energy Law is positive in enhancing support for policies
in wind, solar photovoltaic, and other energy related industries, but it fails to include the solar
thermal industry. Huang Ming, a solar energy industry leader in China, appealed to the National
People’s Congress to not overlook the importance of developing the solar thermal industry in parallel
with the solar, photovoltaic, and wind power industries. China’s solar thermal market is the largest in
the world, and its technology is more enhanced than that of China’s photovoltaic and wind power
industries. There are 6,000 enterprises in China associated with the solar thermal industry, and with
the number of enterprises increasing, it is essential for a set of standards for the industry to be
implemented and mandated. The solar thermal industry is competitive globally, and if China chooses
to ignore this industry in its Renewable Energy Law, the country may face drastic consequences, such
as losing its global advantage in thermal solar power.
Source: Zhongxin, September, 2009
Zhejiang: 1% of all
Energy from New
Energy Sources by
2012
Zhejiang Province, a coastal
province to the south of
Shanghai, has implemented the
“6+1 Program”, which will
accelerate the popularization
Solar Panels in Zhejiang and application of new energy
sources in the province.
Specifically, this will involve the implementation of one million rooftop power generators, 100 MW
of wind power, one million square meters of solar water heaters, 100 road solar lights, and one
million square meters of ground source (water) heat pumps and air-conditioners. The goal by 2012
is to have over 1% of the province’s energy consumption from new energy sources, and a total of
350 MW of new energy generating capacity, with 50 MW from photovoltaic power and 300 MW
from wind power. The solar water heaters will cover an area of over 10 million square meters, with
ground source (water) heat pumps and air conditioners covering an area of over 5 million square
meters, and will have an annual output of 100 million cubic meters of methane. The large-scale
implementation of green energy in Zhejiang Province provides a platform for future guidelines for
implementing similar energy projects in other Chinese provinces.
Source: China Energy Network, September, 2009
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13. China Energy Focus
News – Policies
Shanghai’s Hongkou District: Energy Saving Industry Chain
Shanghai’s Hongkou District aims to The Hongkou District government will allot
connect the district’s energy saving industry specific funds for energy-saving and emission
within the next 3 to 5 years. The district’s reduction projects. In addition to direct
location, in downtown Shanghai, has ideal support, there will also be new policy
resource advantages for energy saving guidelines. Recently, 30 buildings were listed
projects with old-style buildings and on an energy-saving plan and began
factories in the area, which has attracted cooperation with the Shanghai Environment
many environmentally friendly enterprises to Energy Network. It is estimated that in the
take part in their reconstruction projects. In next 5 or 6 years, the annual value of energy-
the first half of 2009, the revenue of saving industries in Hongkou District will reach
Hongkou District’s new Energy Saving $2 billion. These organizations help make
Industry reached $200 million. The services Hongkou a promising environment for
available in the Hongkou area include R&D improving energy efficiency in Shanghai.
energy-saving and environmental protection
Source: Jiefang Daily, September, 2009
technology, monitoring and diagnostics,
engineering design and operation, energy
consulting, energy management, and energy
related trade and financial services. In May, a
cleantech industry park was formally opened,
and has become the home of both national
and municipal-level energy-saving
organizations, such as the Shanghai
Environment Energy Network, Shanghai
Energy Efficiency Center, and the Shanghai
Science Exhibition Hall. The park has built a
service platform offering: exhibition,
integration, distribution, and services.
The Shanghai Environment Energy
Network will focus on the exchange of
technology regarding energy emissions in
property, while the Shanghai Energy
Efficiency Center will take the responsibility
of encouraging energy management and
energy-saving production, communicating
energy efficiency information, providing Shanghai-taking the lead in energy savings
consultant and research services, and
executing government projects.
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14. China Energy Focus
Upcoming Events
November 2nd- 3rd China Clean Energy Summit
Beijing
http://www.cleanenergychina.org
November 5th Chongqing International Construction
Summit
Chongqing
http://construction.com/events/Chongqing09
November 11th- 13th 2009 International Polysilicon and
Photovoltaic Industries Summit
Huainan
http://www.chemevent.com.cn/chemevent/html/article_178.html
November 18th-20th 2009 International Photovoltaic Solar Energy
Conference and Exhibition
Beijing
http://www.china5e.net/conference/meet.php?id=505
November 18th- 20th The First China International Clean Energy
Technology and Equipment Exhibition
Beijing
http://www.21ce.cc/2009/04/10/20090410135826399078.html
November 24th-27th GreenBuild China 2009
Shanghai
http://www.beaconevents.com/2009/GreenBuildingsAsia/en/Home/in
dex.jsp
November 25th- 26th Clean Energy Trends Asia 2009
Shanghai
http://www.cleanenergysummit.net/count/default1.asp
Noether Associates 12
15. China Energy Focus
About Noether Associates
Noether Associates is a leading Shanghai-based energy consultancy with
expertise in the China energy market. We seek to drive change through
our energy insight by empowering companies to make energy and cost-
efficient decisions, regardless of size or industry. Our energy experts
provide emissions analytics across industries, and knowledge on how
energy is generated, distributed, and consumed, enabling your company to
make smarter decisions. Our services extend further to provide both you
and your customers sustainable designs to make your products greener.
For more information, please refer to our website at
http://www.noetherassociates.com
Noether Associates 13