Welcome to the Renewables Newsletter of the German American Chambers of Commerce (GACC). The German American Chamber network promotes bilateral trade relations between the United States and Germany. With offices in Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, New York, and San Francisco all running programs to increase dialog and trade in the renewable energy industry, we are pleased to present our newsletter to provide updates on those programs and opportunities for U.S. and German companies. Below are details on upcoming Chamber programs and past initiatives for solar energy, wind power, bioenergy, and energy efficient building technologies.
 Chicago, IL - May 5, 2009. During WINDPOWER 2009 in Chicago from May 4-7, the largest wind trade show in the world with more than 15,000 visitors and 1,200 exhibitors, the German American Chamber of Commerce of the Midwest (GACCoM) together with the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology and the Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Germany is hosting a German Night Networking Reception on May 5, 2009. German WINDPOWER exhibitors will be joined by experts from throughout the industry that night for interesting discussions and networking opportunities.
Not only has WINDPOWER experienced an enormous growth over the years but the entire U.S. wind energy industry also shattered all previous records by installing more than 8GW of new generating capacity in 2008. Since German wind energy has a long and proud tradition, is committed to continual technological improvements and has positioned itself to be a successful technology supplier within the world market, German companies from this industry are also well respected in the U.S.
To showcase their complex technologies, wealth of experience and knowledge and to introduce their innovative concepts to potential American business partners, more than 70 top German wind companies will be present at WINDPOWER 2009. Featured technologies will include advanced power trains, electromechanical breaking systems and platforms and lifts for servicing wind turbines.
For more information on this event, please visit gaccom.org/greencorner or contact Bernadett Steiner at steiner@gaccom.org or (312) 494-2180.
Atlanta, GA - June 8 to 12, 2009. The GACC South is organizing the 2nd International Environmental Trade Mission in corporation with Greener Atlanta, the Quebec Government Office, the Consulate General of Canada, the British American Business Group, the Atlanta Development Authority, the City of Atlanta and the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce. This trade mission will focus on clean water and wastewater systems, innovative waste management and cutting edge technologies for green building. It is the perfect opportunity for German companies to introduce their products and services to a targeted audience and to meet with potential business partners, both business-to-business and business-to-municipalities.
Many reasons why you should attend:
- One-on-one matchmaking meetings with corporate leaders and government officials in the Metro Atlanta area
- Special workshops with experts in the environmental industry to introduce German companies to the specifics of the U.S. market, e.g. LEED certification
- Meet experts of the top three universities in Atlanta (Emory University, Georgia Institute of Technology and Georgia State University) to learn about their current research. The laboratory of Georgia Institute of Technology specifically researches how to develop products that are recyclable. They are in particular working on biofuels and on reviewing different methods for conversion, mostly plant and tree life (cellulosic)
- Networking opportunities at different receptions
For more information on this event, please visit www.environmentaltrademission.org or contact Wenke Simon at wsimon@gaccsouth.com or (404) 586-6815.
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 San Francisco, CA - June 16, 2009. The German American Chamber of Commerce Inc., California Branch (GACC), will hold its 5th Germany California Solar Day in San Francisco on Tuesday, June 16th, 2009. This year marks the fifth installment of a highly successful bilateral platform for U.S. and German experts to exchange the latest knowledge, thoughts and trends in the solar power industry with the goal of fostering successful German-American business partnerships. Last years’ symposium attracted 264 guests, including German and American company executives that also participated in one-on-one meetings throughout the day.
Upholding its reputation as a successful conference and business networking platform, the GACC San Francisco, is again expecting a record attendance for the “5th Germany California Solar Day”. The conference will once again be held at the headquarters of PG&E (Pacific Gas & Electric), one of the largest combination natural gas and electric utilities in the U.S. The audience will include solar industry representatives as well as members of governmental organizations, associations and members of the R&D community. German and American expert speakers will discuss the newest solar power industry developments during the first half of the conference. In the afternoon, the German delegates, including PV and solar thermal companies, will have a chance to present their products and services to the audience. The symposium and its accompanying networking event are a great opportunity to reach out to the solar energy industry as well as to the German-American business community.
For more information and to register for this event, please visit www.gaccsanfrancisco.com or contact Sabine Zimmermann at szimmermann@gaccny.com or (415) 248-1240.
 Syracuse, NY - June 23, 2009. The German American Chamber of Commerce (GACC) in New York is proud to announce the 5th German American Renewable Energy Conference - Bioenergy: Power, Heat, and Fuels, to be held on June 23, 2009 at National Grid in Syracuse, NY. Following overwhelming success at last year’s event, we will be hosting a range of speakers, including professionals, technicians, scientists, and government representatives from both the U.S. and Germany to further discussion in this important field.
Bioenergy has emerged as one sector presenting vast opportunity. The technology, infrastructure, and government support are all constantly improving. Biomass already accounts for 55 billion kilowatthours of electricity in the U.S, and projections suggest that will rise to 76 billion by 2020. At the same time, many German biomass companies have the necessary expertise and interest in entering the market. We plan to continue to encourage valuable connections between German and American companies in the industry.
Syracuse, NY home to this year’s conference, has quickly become a leader in biomass in the Northeast and further plans to expand its role in other renewable energy fields. At this meeting, we look forward to building on last year’s impressive audience of 250 attendees and facilitate break-out meetings between German and American biomass companies.
For more information about upcoming green energy and energy efficiency events with the GACC New York, please contact Matthew Allen at mallen@gaccny.com or (212) 974 - 8856.
 Southfield, MI - June 23, 2009. Germany is a leader in the field of industrial energy efficiency with a wealth of experience and expertise in technologies for the manufacturing sector. As the center of the U.S. manufacturing sector, the Midwest is an ideal region in which to cultivate partnerships in energy efficiency between German and U.S. companies. This all day conference, taking place at The Westin Southfield Detroit , will:
- Feature German companies offering technologies for Midwestern energy intensive industries
- Present insights of leaders in both U.S. industry and German energy efficiency
- Examine how both countries promote energy efficiency in industry through programs & policy
The German delegation will include company representatives who will speak about specific technologies, products and services that help manufacturers lower their energy costs.
The Export Initiative for Energy Efficiency in Industry 2009 is an initiative of the German Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology based on a resolution of the German Parliament.
For more information, please visit www.gaccom.org or contact Virginia Attaway at attaway@gaccom.org or (312) 494-2163.
 Midwest - Sept 1 to 3, 2009.
Save the Date for the Midwest Renewables & Energy Efficiency Roadshow, organized by the German American Chamber of Commerce of the Midwest:
Dates & Locations:
Tuesday, Sept 1, 2009 - Chicago, IL
Wednesday, Sept 2, 2009 - Columbus, OH
Thursday, Sept 3, 2009 - Detroit, MI
For more information, please contact Bernadett Steiner at steiner@gaccom.org or (312) 494-2180 or visit gaccom.org/greencorner for updates coming soon.
 New York, NY - April 2009. A big success was the recent German American Energy Efficiency Conference – Energy Efficiency in Buildings, held on April 28 at New York University in New York City. The GACC hosted speakers including Richard Leigh of the US Green Building Council - New York, Prof. Manfred Hegger, Professor of Energy Efficient Building Design at the Technical University of Darmstadt in Germany, and Dr. Kurt Roth, Leader of the Building Efficiency Group at MIT-Fraunhofer Center for Sustainable Energy. The event was very informative and offered the ideal networking opportunity for the 150 professionals in attendance.
The energy balance in the U.S. is getting cleaner, with 7% of energy produced already coming from renewable sources. With the growing interest in environmental responsibility, though, using energy efficiently has become just as important as where the power comes from. Everything from using the correct building materials to a well-designed electrical system can mean savings of precious energy resources and increase in profit through lower energy costs. A recent report in Time Magazine has suggested that even with current technology, it is possible to cut oil and gas consumption in half and electricity use by three quarters. In New York City, two thirds of energy used goes into buildings, providing great opportunities for savings. Many companies already offer the materials, service, and consulting needed.
While the market for efficiency improvements is growing in the U.S., many German companies are already renowned for their contributions to the field. The GACC aimed at helping establish valuable relationships between German and American energy efficiency companies at this conference.
For more information about upcoming green energy and energy efficiency events with the GACC in New York, please contact Matthew Allen at mallen@gaccny.com or (212) 974-8856.
 Houston, Texas - April 2009. Jonathan Diorio, Vice President of DWS Investments, Inc., gave a presentation entitled: “DWS Climate Change Funds – An Innovative Approach to the Climate Change Challenge” during this business luncheon on April 22, 2009 in Houston, TX. Diorio explained that institutional investors nowadays turn to climate change.
The average growth rate of global investments in clean energy was 65% from 2004 to 2007. People in the entire world including the U.S. become increasingly aware of the worldwide climate change and renewable energies are becoming more important. After the presentation the audience discussed future investment opportunities and development possibilities for energy resources. Sponsored by Ameriprise Financial we were pleased to organize this luncheon and are honored that Mr. Diorio travelled all the way from New York to Houston for this speech.
For pictures and more information on this event, please visit www.gacctexas.com or contact Jan Wiedemann at jwiedemann@gacctexas.com or (832) 384-1201.
 Houston, Texas - April 2009. Bill Drake, Managing Partner of Great Spirit Bioenergy Partners and Technical Advisor for Biogas Nord, gave a speech entitled “Biogas Nord – An Inventor in Renewable Energy” at the 4th Green Initiative Networking Event in Houston, TX.
Biogas Nord is a leading German biogas electricity firm that has designed and built over 180 biogas electricity plants worldwide since 1995. It is currently developing and commercializing the world’s first biomass tobacco-based 4 MW bioelectric project in Spain.
During his presentation Drake demonstrated the benefits of tobacco: 100 acres biomass tobacco equals one year worth of electricity supply for 200 homes. His speech encouraged the audience to discuss future possibilities as well as the competitiveness of biomass tobacco compared to other renewable energy sources.
For pictures and more information on this event, please visit www.gacctexas.com or contact Jan Wiedemann at jwiedemann@gacctexas.com or (832) 384-1201.
 Berlin, Germany - March/April, 2009
Energy Boom U.S. - 1st German American Energy Conference 2009 Draws Hundreds to Berlin
"I see great potential in intensifying the German-American cooperation" - Germany’s Minister of Economics and Technology Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg's remarks kicked off a four-day event on the growth of renewable energy in the U.S. and the prospects for German greentech companies to tap into the lucrative American market. From March 30th to April 2nd, over 500 people from the business and political worlds on both sides of the Atlantic convened in Berlin to discuss current trends within the solar, wind and bioenergy sectors. The large number of attendees and the numerous positive reviews of the conference underscored the growing significance of the transatlantic energy dialogue.
German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, the patron of the conference, has already stressed the need for greater green energy collaboration between Germany and the U.S. “Only if we push ahead with energy efficiency and renewable energy on a transatlantic basis we can also convince other countries of the merits of sustainable growth. This is why we need a Transatlantic Climate Bridge,” said Steinmeier. “Scarce fossil resources and climate change are global challenges affecting both our security and our quality of life. They can only be overcome in international cooperation. Germany and the USA have the abilities needed to stimulate innovation here.”
To read the entire article (published in the May/June issue of German American Trade magazine), please click here.
For further information on the 1st German American Energy Conference, please visit www.gae-conference.com or contact Jan Wiedemann at jwiedemann@gacctexas.com or (832) 384-1201.
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 Los Angeles, CA - March 2009. Eight German delegate companies travelled to Los Angeles in March to participate in the 2nd Energy Efficiency Symposium and the B2B meetings that were organized by the German American Chamber of Commerce Inc. (GACC), California Branch, as part of the Energy Efficiency Export Initiative supported by the German Ministry of Economics and Technology. The companies participated in more than 100 meetings that the GACC had organized for the week. 45 of those meetings took place during the day and evening of the “2nd Energy Efficiency Symposium.”
The “2nd Energy Efficiency Symposium – Insights into German and American Green Building” was attended by close to 200 guests involved in energy efficiency and green building and took place at the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) on Tuesday, March 10th. Thomas Spiegelhalter, Professor at the School of Architecture at the University of Southern California (USC), led attendees through the day. Presentations included expert talks about the newest technologies and government policies designed to encourage energy efficient construction on both sides of the Atlantic. Highlights included an update on the U.S. LEED system by Lance Williams, Managing Director of the USGBC L.A. and a presentation on new concepts to achieve higher energy efficiency in buildings by Andreas Wagner, Professor of Building Physics at the University of Karlsruhe, Germany.
For more information on this event, please visit www.gaccsanfrancisco.com or contact Stefan Morbe at smorbe@gaccny.com or (415) 248-1242.
 Chicago, IL - Feb 2009. Current developments, innovations, opportunities and perspectives for the German and U.S. wind market were presented and discussed in detail at the WindEnergy Business Conference 2009 organized by the German American Chamber of Commerce of the Midwest (GACCoM) on February 25, 2009. The conference was part of a delegation visit of seven German companies that supply innovative and high quality products and technologies to the wind energy industry, such as lifting machinery for the construction and maintenance of wind towers or automatic finishing systems for blades.
Supported by the Export Initiative for Renewable Energy from the German Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology the intention of this delegation visit was not just to introduce these innovative products and technologies to the U.S. market but also to explore potential partnerships with U.S. counterparts including developers, technology suppliers, system and component manufacturers, investors and public policy makers.
“The perfectly organized event not only provided us with the information necessary for reaching the decision whether to enter the U.S. market but also allowed us to form valuable business contacts.” stated Holger Bartling, CEO from SSC Windenergy Service GmbH, one of the featured companies at the conference. In addition to the conference and the dozens of 1-on-1 partnering meetings, GACCoM also organized a high-level roundtable discussion with leading industry experts as well as an evening networking reception with more than 200 guests in attendance.
For more information and presentations given at the conference, please visit gaccom.org/greencorner or contact Bernadett Steiner at steiner@gaccom.org or (312) 494- 2180.
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 Chicago, IL - Feb 2009. The German American Chamber of Commerce of the Midwest, Inc. (GACCoM) and Baden Wuerttemberg International (BW-I) hosted an all day symposium on Sustainable Energy Technology in Germany and the U.S. on February 11, 2009 in Chicago. Efficient building technologies are used in specific projects with various countries to raise awareness of such technologies. This technology transfer is the key for promoting sustainable development in emerging economic regions of the world. The State of Baden-Württemberg is a leading European region in terms of innovation and is devoting considerable resources to the research and testing of efficient technologies such as fuel cells technology and renewable energies. This symposium provided a forum for U.S. and German companies, developers, architects, engineers and designers who shared expertise and discussed experiences with their transatlantic counterparts.
For more information on this event please visit gaccom.org/greencorner or contact Daniela Daus at daus@gaccom.org or call (312) 494-2177.
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