RENEWABLES USA 1st Q. 09

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: Feb 11, 2009 -  The German American Chamber of Commerce of the Midwest, Inc. (GACCoM) and Baden Wuerttemberg International (BW-I) will be hosting a 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 will provide a forum for U.S. and German companies, developers, architects, engineers and designers to share expertise and discuss experiences with their transatlantic counterparts.

To register for this event and for more information, please visit www.gaccom.org/greencorner or contact Daniela Daus at daus@gaccom.org or call +1 (312) 494-2177.

Chicago, IL: Feb 24, 2009 - In light of the  increasing demand for renewable energies, the German American Chamber of Commerce of the Midwest (GACCoM) will be hosting its WindEnergy Business 2009 conference on Tuesday, February 24th, 2009 in Chicago. 

The primary objective of the conference is to open a dialogue for partnership between companies from two of the world’s leading countries in wind energy technologies. Industry leaders, policymakers, and the people on the ground will discuss the current status of the technology and the future developments.

Attendees will include Wind Energy producers, technology suppliers, system and component manufacturers, developers, investors, public policy makers and other stakeholders that have an interest in a renewable energy future. Registration is now open and is free for the first 120 participants.

To register for this event and for more information, please visit www.gaccom.org or contact Hans Royal at royal(at)gaccom.org or +1 (312) 644-2662. 

Insights into German and American Green Building

Los Angeles, CA: March 10, 2009 - The GACC will hold its second “Energy Efficiency Symposium”, focusing on energy efficiency in construction, on March 10th, 2009. The conference will take place in Los Angeles this time as the city has started an ambitious green building program in an effort to become the greenest big city in the U.S. The event includes a one-day symposium that gives U.S. and German experts the opportunity to present current trends and future perspectives on the use of energy efficiency in buildings in both countries. Participating companies from Germany will include architects, energy efficient component suppliers, zero energy house manufacturers and solar companies. As of last year’s tradition, the symposium is followed by business matchmaking meetings between the German companies and U.S. industry representatives ranging from architects and builders to public utilities and government officials. The symposium and its accompanying networking event are a great opportunity to reach out to the energy efficiency and green building industries as well as to the German-American business community.

For more information, please visit www.gaccsanfrancisco.com. German companies that are active in the green building and energy efficiency industries are encouraged to contact Stefan Morbe at smorbe@gaccny.com or +1 (415) 248-1242 to find out how to participate in this free program.

Berlin, Germany: March 30 - April 2, 2009 - The German American Chambers of Commerce (GACC) together with the German Energy Agency (dena) will be hosting the 1st German American Energy Conference 2009 from March 30^th – April 2^nd at the Ludwig Erhard Haus in Berlin, Germany.  The event is also being organized by the Federation of German Industries (BDI), Germany Trade and Invest (GTI), and the German Federal Foreign Office (AA), under whose patronage the conference will take place in the framework of the AA’s “Transatlantic Climate Bridge.”

The conference will examine the current and future state of the U.S. market for renewable energy technologies, featuring distinguished experts who will speak about the latest industry developments and business opportunities for German companies in the solar, wind and bioenergy sectors in the U.S. 

- Monday, March 30, 2009: Opening Day 
"Overview of the German-American Energy Market"
- Tuesday, March 31, 2009: Solar Energy Boom
"Photovoltaic and Solar Thermal in Focus"
- Wednesday, April 1, 2009: Wind Energy Boom
"Wind Energy in the U.S.: A Heterogeneous Market"
- Thursday, April 2, 2009: Bioenergy Boom
"Power and Heat Generation through Biogenic Substances"

Conference attendees can also expect to gain valuable insight into creating a successful U.S. market entry strategy.  Frequent networking opportunities will give event participants the chance to meet key industry professionals.  

For more information, please visit www.gae-conference.com. Companies interested in sponsorship or exhibition should contact their local chamber office or Jan Christoph Wiedemann at jwiedemann@gaccsouth.com or +1 (832) 384-1201.

Energy Efficiency in Buildings

New York, NY: End of April (TBA) - The German American Chambers of Commerce are pleased to announce the 1st German American Energy Efficiency Conference in New York City at the end of April 2009.  The meeting will include a range of professional, academic, and government speakers from both the U.S. and Germany who are experts in the field.

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.  We look forward to helping establish valuable relationships between German and American energy efficiency companies at the conference.

Sponsored by the German Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology under the direction of the German Parliament. Attendance for the event will be for free, but due to limited space and security, registration is required and now open.

For more information or registration, please visit www.gaccny.com or contact Sebastian Göres at sgoeres@gaccny.com or +1 (212) 974 - 8836

San Francisco, CA: June 16, 2009 - On June 16, 2009, the German American Chamber of Commerce Inc., California Branch (GACC), will hold its 5th “Germany California Solar Day” in San Francisco. This year marks the fifth installment of a highly successful bilateral platform for US 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. “America has a lot to learn from Germany’s solar success, and Germany California Solar Day is an important opportunity for solar professionals to exchange ideas and best practices” said Elmar Niewerth, CEO of Think Solar  at the last years’ conference. Upholding its reputation as a successful conference and business networking platform, the German American Chamber of Commerce Inc., California Branch, is again expecting a record attendance for the 5th “Germany California Solar Day”. The audience will include solar industry representatives as well as members of governmental organizations, associations and members of the R&D community. After the conference, in the afternoon, the German companies will present their products and services to the audience members.

For more information, please visit www.gaccsanfrancisco.com or contact Anja Nemitz at  anemitz@gaccny.com +1 (415) 248-1245.

Bioenergy: Power, Heat, and Fuels

Syracuse, NY: June 23, 2009 - The German American Chambers of Commerce are 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, New York.  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.

In just the last few years, renewable energy in the U.S. has come from being a fringe topic to one of the most important environmental and economic issues of our time.  Now renewables account for seven percent of the U.S. energy production.  Throughout this progression, the potential in the industry has soared but with it, the amount of knowledge required to succeed.  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 U.S. 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.

Sponsored by the German Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology under the direction of the German Parliament. Attendance will be for free, but due to limited space and security, registration is required and now open.

For more information or registration, please visit www.gaccny.com or contact Sebastian Göres at sgoeres@gaccny.com or +1 (212) 974 - 8836.

Atlanta, GA - December 2008

The Sustainable Technology Symposium, which took place on December 10, 2008, in Atlanta, GA, was sponsored by Baden-Württemberg International and zafh.net and organized by the GACC South as part of a delegation visit from Baden Württemberg.  The Symposium brought together U.S. construction companies, developers, architects, engineers and designers to share their expertise and to discuss experiences with their transatlantic counterparts.  Following the Symposium the German delegation met with LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) -accredited architects, visited LEED-certified buildings in Atlanta and learned more about the sustainable technology leadership of Emory University, who must ensure that all university construction projects meet LEED Silver criteria.

Fore more information on this event, please visit www.gaccsouth.com or contact Wenke Simon at wsimon@gaccsouth.com or +1 (404) 586-6815.

Atlanta, GA - December 2008

On Wednesday, December 10^th, the GACC South together with the Atlanta Eric M. Warburg Chapter of the American Council on Germany and the German Consulate General of Atlanta organized a business luncheon with Reinhard Bütikofer, former Chairman of the German Alliance 90/The Greens. Joining the Green Party in 1984, Mr. Bütikofer has had a long standing career within the green movement and is considered one of its leading national politicians. In his speech, Mr. Bütikofer shared his experiences and expertise and talked about “A Green New Deal for the Economy and the Climate Challenge.” More than 70 attendees participated in this extraordinary event and the lively discussion that followed. The event took place at the European Union Center of Excellence at Georgia Tech.

For more information on this event, please visit www.gaccsouth.com or contact Wenke Simon at wsimon@gaccsouth.com or +1 (404) 586-6815.

Chicago, IL – November 2008

Energy efficient buildings in Chicago, the Midwest, the U.S., and around the world were discussed in detail at the Green Building Innovation Conference organized by GACCoM as part of a delegation visit of innovative German companies that supply energy-saving technologies and expertise for commercial  and residential buildings. Supported by the Export Initiative for Energy Efficiency from the German Ministry of Economics and Technology these companiesand experts visited Chicago with the intent to open a transatlantic dialogue with their counterparts in the U.S. by introducing advanced German technologies to leading architects, construction firms, and suppliers in the industry. For Mike Kernagis from Passive House Institue U.S., "this was a great opportunity to connect with German manufacturers that have brought their products over. There is a lot of talk of green businesses and this is where it can happen." In addition to the conference, GACCoM organized a high-level roundtable discussion, an evening networking reception sponsored by the German Consulate General in Chicago as well as dozens of 1-on-1 partnering meetings.

For more information and presentations given at the conference, please visit www.gaccom.org/greencorner or contact Mark Tomkins at tomkins@gaccom.org or +1 (312) 494-2172.

Houston, TX - November 2008

The German American Chamber of Commerce of the Southern United States, Inc. (GACC South) Texas Office together with the Houston branches of the Canadian Consulate and UK Trade & Investment hosted the Texas/International Business Connections Forum on November 9, 2008 in Austin, Texas.

This International Forum was the opening event to Texas Renewables ’08, a four-day conference organized by the Texas Renewable Energy Industries Association TREIA and sponsored in part by the GACC South Texas Office. Approximately 100 people attended the forum, which focused on the latest developments in the renewable energy industries in Germany, Canada and the UK. Presentations were given by representatives of the GACC South, the Canadian Consulate and UK Trade & Investment as well as by company representatives of renewable energy companies from Germany, Canada and the UK.

For more information on this event, please visit www.gacctexas.com or contact Julia Zimmermann at jzimmermann@gacctexas.com or +1 (832) 384-1202.

Berlin/Brandenburg, Germany - November 2008 

From November 5-7, 2008, the German American Chamber of Commerce Inc., California Branch, accompanied ten U.S. companies active in the field of energy efficiency/green building to meet with its counterparts in Germany. “The delegation package was a great fit all around. The program was well-balanced, offering a great mix of educational presentations, individual meetings with business representatives, interesting and industry-specific conversations and site visits with expert guidance,” said Monika Weiss of Global C3 LLC, one of the U.S. companies.
A half-day conference on green building with presentations covering several facets of the German energy efficiency building market was held to introduce U.S. participants to the German market. The second day was designated to a business meeting forum, where about 90 business matchmaking meetings took place between the ten U.S. companies and the 33 German companies in attendance. Site visits, organized with the help of Berlin Partner GmbH and ZAB Brandenburg GmbH, to interesting green building sites and leading R&D facilities were also part of the program. They included a tour of the Federal Environmental Agency (Umweltbundesamt -UBA-) in Dessau, a definite highlight, and a visit to the R&D labs of Xella, one of the world’s leading companies in the fields of insulation and autoclaved aerated concrete for the building industry. “We were happy to once again accompany U.S. companies to Germany and look forward to the transatlantic business relationships that will develop as a result,” says Stefan Morbe of the GACC California Branch, who oversaw the delegation.

For more information, please visit www.gaccsanfrancisco.com or contact Stefan Morbe at smorbe@gaccny.com or +1 (415) 248-1242.

Miami, FL - October 2008

In addition to the 2nd Germany Florida Solar Energy Conference in Orlando, FL, the GACC South, in conjunction with the German American Business Chamber of Florida and the German Consulate General Miami, organized a networking reception for professionals and like-minded people who are interested in the solar industry on the following day in Miami, Florida. With more than 70 attendees the event was an excellent opportunity to meet with the representatives from German solar companies and to learn more about the success story of Germany’s solar industry.

For more information on this event, please visit www.gaccsouth.com or contact Wenke Simon at wsimon@gaccsouth.com or +1 (404) 586-6815.

Orlando, FL - October 2008

The 2nd Germany Florida Solar Energy Conference in Orlando, FL on October 20, 2008 was organized by the GACC South, Texas office. It was an all-day event with thirteen presentations, a panel discussion and pre-scheduled meetings. The German American Chamber of Commerce of the Southern United States, in conjunction with the German Solar Energy Industries Association, the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) and the Florida Solar Energy Industries Association (FlaSEIA) as well as Enterprise Florida held a one-day conference on solar energy, followed by a three-day tour of companies around Florida.

At the conference, keynote speakers presented cutting-edge technologies from Germany and the US. Eight German solar energy companies were in attendance with the intention to establish business relationships with Florida’s solar companies. The conference was scheduled in response to recent regulation changes, such as profitable rebates, that are expected to stir interest in consumers. The GACC South invited manufacturers, retailers and contractors involved in solar thermal systems to register for the event. The potential relationships with the German solar energy manufacturers will enable Florida’s companies to more effectively cater to the state’s increasing solar industry demands.  The conference was held at the Embassy Suites Orlando Downtown in Orlando, FL. 

With over 100 participants, the 2^nd German Florida Solar Energy Conference was a success. Speakers from Germany and the US spoke on the current status of solar technology and the political framework as well as future developments. A new feature of the conference was a panel discussion about feed-in tariffs for solar-generated electricity in the USA, specifically in Florida. Particularly appealing was the decision by the City of Gainesville in Florida to introduce feed-in tariffs beginning in 2009. A lively discussion followed that touched on the utility of feed-in tariffs and why Florida still has not introduced a statewide feed-in tariff.  

For more information on this event, please visit www.gacctexas.com or contact Julia Zimmermann at jzimmermann@gacctexas.com or +1 (832) 384-1202.

Germany - October 2008

Together with the German Ministry of Economics and Technology (BMWI) and the German Office for Foreign Trade (bfai), we organized a bioenergy delegation of U.S. companies to Germany in October.

Germany is one of the world’s leading innovators in developing new bioenergy technologies, particularly for biogas, solid biomass and combined heat and power systems, and biodiesel plants. The companies participated in individually-tailored meetings, attended the RENEXPO trade show, and also visited several plants, including Schmack Biogas AG in Schwandorf and the Biomass CHP Plant in Augsburg. In Augsburg, the delegation also took part in the Environment International 2008 Conference organized by the Chamber of Commerce for the Swabian Region in Germany. "The range of contacts, access to information, and overall structure of the trip was exactly what I'd hoped for when I signed up to go.  I feel that the experience has added greatly to the effectiveness of my business activities moving forward." said Ted Petith from the Wisconsin Energy Conservation Corporation. Overall, the trip was very successful and a great opportunity for these U.S. companies to see and experience Germany’s cutting edge technology in the field of renewable energy first-hand.  

For more information, please visit www.gaccom.org/greencorner or contact Hans Royal at royal@gaccom.org or +1 (312) 644-2662.