RENEWABLES USA 2. Q 2010

Welcome to the Renewables Newsletter of the German American Chambers of Commerce (GACCs). The German American Chamber network promotes bilateral trade relations between the United States and Germany. With our Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, New York, and San Francisco offices 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.

Featured Event: GREEN VENTURES – International Partnership Forum for Environmental and Energy Technologies

Join Us for the Partnership Forum “Green Ventures 2010“ in Potsdam, Germany from June 16th – 18th, 2010 

The Potsdam Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the German American Chambers of Commerce (GACC) would like to invite you to the 13th annual international energy event “Green Ventures“. This event will take place from June 16th-18th, 2010 in Potsdam, Germany, near Germany’s capital city Berlin. This partnership forum, which is the largest event of its kind held in Germany, targets companies in the energy and environmental sectors from the United States, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Poland, Russia, the United Kingdom, China, Italy, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Tunisia, Germany and many other countries. In total, over 3,000 firms from 86 different locations have participated in past events. A catalogue containing profiles and cooperation requests of all participants will be published in May so that meeting partners can be chosen in advance. Since attendees will know which companies they have the potential to meet before the event, there will be no risk associated with participating. The event’s main objective is the creation of direct business contacts.

Participation in the partnership event “Green Ventures“ includes the following comprehensive service package (available for a nominal fee of $68): * Publication of your company profile in the printed and Internet catalogues; * Translation services during “Green Ventures“ (if required; conference language is English), * Organizations of one-on-one Meetings, * Opening ceremony on June 16, 2010, * Lunch on June 17 and 18, 2010, * Drinks during “Green Ventures“, * Excursion to innovative firms and current projects in the Berlin-Brandenburg region on June 18, 2010.

This event presents a chance to meet to initiate an information exchange between the American and German business communities. The event flyer with more information is available here.

For participation information, please contact Kai Ulrich (kulrich@gaccny.com, +1.415.248.1255). Further information, such as participating companies and the event program, is available online at www.green-ventures.com

GREEN SPOTLIGHT: Interview with Butch York, President of NTS Solar

What makes NTS Solar stand out in the industry?

NTS Solar has been in Weymouth, Massachusetts for the last 9 years and prior to that in Braintree Massachusetts for about 6 years. Cosmedico Light, Inc. the parent company of NTS Solar is a supplier of UV lighting including medical lamps. Our sister company, NARVA has been producing fluorescent lamps in Germany for over 40 years. About three years ago, they began to use their lighting experience to develop a patented glass to metal seal for solar vacuum tubes. These tubes are an exciting new development in the industry because they are made using the same low iron soda lime glass that is used  to make fluorescent lighting.  They are fundamentally different from the industry standard “Sydney Tubes” because they are made from a single glass tube whereas the Sydney Tubes are made using two concentric tubes of borosilicate glass. The net effect is they can retain much more solar thermal energy making them a better choice for northern latitudes as well as the energy source for powering air conditioning systems (absorption chillers). This is truly a new generation of solar thermal.

Our sister company NARVA’s reputation and expertise are really what has made the NTS solar collectors successful. The NARVA solar vacuum tubes received the award for innovation in Germany at the 18th Symposium on Solar thermal Energy in 2008. We fully anticipate that this innovative product will attract competition so we must keep innovating to stay ahead.  

Do you have plans for expansion in the US?
NTS Solar is distributing solar thermal collectors powered by NARVA vacuum tubes throughout the Eastern United States.   NTS covers West to the Mississippi River as well as Texas and Louisiana.  We currently have manufacturing representatives covering about a third of the US population or about 105 million people.  We   plan to continue developing the region further, though, by adding more representative offices.  Our unique technology makes our systems practical in every climate for domestic hot water, space heating and cooling in the Northern US and with the addition of space cooling the vacuum tube will become attractive in the Southern US.

What kind of projects are you working on right now?
Well, we’ve been involved in a number of smaller projects: houses (including my own) for domestic hot water and space heating, swimming pools.   Just recently Salem State University, just north of Boston, signed an order to install collectors on their new Orange Hall that will use NARVA vacuum tubes in solar collectors marketed by NTS.  The installation will provide the building with hot water and space heating during the winter months and will supply energy to an absorption chiller in the summer.  We also are working with another organization on a solar air conditioning system, and will be releasing more details about that application soon.

Solar thermal isn’t as widely understood in the US as in Germany.  Is NTS doing anything to educate consumers on all of these possible uses?
Our main focus right now is on educating politicians. I just recently spoke with [Massachusetts] Governor Patrick about the technology. We made his administration aware that Solar thermal is three to five times more efficient than photovoltaics [PV] and costs less to install.  Yet historically government incentives have been much more attractive for PV.  We are encouraging our politicians to offer more balanced incentives for both technologies and then let them compete on their own technological and monetary merits.  We have to raise the level of knowledge about solar thermal so consumers can understand the true cost comparisons in order to make the best decisions for their circumstances.

For more information about NTS Solar, please visit www.nts-solar.com.

USDA: Invites applications for renewable energy funding

May 14, 2010:

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that USDA is seeking applications to increase the production and use of renewable energy sources. Funding is available from four USDA Rural Development renewable energy programs authorized by the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (Farm Bill). More

Now Available: Renewable Energy Investment Opportunities in Emerging Economies

May 9, 2010:

New Energy research report from GBI Research is now available from Fast Market Research

GBI Research, the leading business intelligence provider, has released its latest report "Renewable Energy Investment Opportunities in Emerging Economies" that gives an in-depth analysis of the emerging economies as upcoming renewable energy hotspots and provides investment forecasts up to 2015. More

The International Solar Technology Industry is Set to Meet at the Intersolar Europe Conference

May 3, 2010:
On June 7, two days before the start of the world's largest exhibition for solar technology, Intersolar Europe, will see the opening of the Intersolar Europe Conference. For five days, until June 11, the international solar technology industry will meet at the International Congress Center, Munich (ICM) of the New Munich Trade Fair Centre. The event focuses on the fields of "photovoltaics", "solar thermal technology" and "solar thermal power plants". More than 140 speakers and over 2,000 participants from around the world are expected to attend more than 30 conference sessions. More

Offshore Wind Booms as Utilities Seek 18% Margins

April 30, 2010:

E.ON AG and Vattenfall Europe AG are among utilities leading a worldwide push to develop offshore wind power, overcoming a lack of work ships, stormy seas and higher costs to make almost twice the profit they would on land. This week, they began running Germany’s first windmills in deep water, anchored more than 20 meters (66 feet) below the surface. Across the Atlantic, the U.S. approved plans two days ago for that nation’s first offshore turbines near Cape Cod. More

US DOE offering $17M for solar power improvements

April 27, 2010:

The US Department of Energy has pledged to invest >$200M over five years to expand and accelerate work in renewable energy technologies, with the bulk going toward solar power efforts.
Among the projects laid out by the DOE:

PV manufacturing initiative: up to $125M/five years. This portion targets manufacturing-focused research projects (at the university and industry levels) promising to foster greater industry cooperation with near- and mid-term impact on the US solar industry. Concept papers due June 3; full applications due in early August. More

REpower and Heritage sign supply contract covering 18 MW for Michigan wind farm project

April 23, 2010:

REpower USA Corp., a subsidiary of German wind turbine manufacturer REpower Systems AG (WKN 617703), has signed a third contract with US project developer Heritage Sustainable Energy LLC to supply nine wind turbines for a site in Michigan. The turbines of the REpower MM92 type have a rated power of 2.05 megawatts (MW) and a hub height of 100 meters each; they are destined for the Stoney Corners III wind farm project near the city of McBain and are expected to be installed by summer 2011. More

DOE Announces New Opportunities to Improve Commercial Building Energy Efficiency

April 21, 2010:

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced support for energy-saving commercial building projects as part of an ongoing effort by DOE to improve the energy efficiency of buildings in the United States. With money from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, DOE's national laboratories will select and fund technical experts to provide technical guidance to commercial building owners and operators. The goal of this Commercial Building Partnerships (CBP) initiative is to increase the energy efficiency of selected new and existing buildings. More 

German investment in renewables to double by 2020: study

April 19, 2010:
Germany’s annual investment in renewable energy will be doubled to 28 billion euros (37 billion U.S. dollars ) by 2020, and the industry will become a main creator of jobs and an investment growth point. That's according to the latest report from the German Association of Renewable Energy (BEE). Germany's alternative energy sector was expected to create 500,000 new jobs in the next 10 years, most of which would be created by German companies and be needed outside the county, the study said. More

German solar firms get warm welcome in California market

April 15, 2010:

California hopes to use 33 percent renewable energy by 2020, making it an attractive market for Geman solar companies. Chancellor Angela Merkel emphasized German-Californian cooperation during her recent visit to the state. German companies eager to profit from their expertise have been flocking to California in recent years. With government incentives driving the growth of renewable energy sources at a breakneck speed in the US, California has emerged as one of the nation's most active markets for solar energy. More

Cape Wind Signs Agreement to Buy Siemens 3.6-MW Offshore Wind Turbines

March 31, 2010:

Cape Wind announced it has entered into an agreement with Siemens to supply 130 of its 3.6-Megawatt (MW) turbines for America's first planned offshore wind farm off the coast of Massachusetts and, at the same time, Siemens also announced plans to open a U.S. Offshore Wind office in Boston. More

Solar’s Big Question: What Happens in the Second Half?

March 30, 2010:

Wie geht es Ihnen, Deutschland?

Will the second half of 2010 look like the first half of 2009? That's the big fear in the solar industry, according to speakers at the 2010 Solar Summit sponsored by Greentech Media.  As usual, the big factor determining the health of the industry is Germany. In the first half of 2009, only around 500 megawatts of solar were installed in Germany. In the second half of 2009, approximately 2.5 gigawatts of solar were installed in the country, according to GTM Research senior analyst Shayle Kann. More

RWE Innogy to built €120 biomass plant in Georgia

March 25, 2010:
RWE Innogy will invest €120m to build the world’s largest biomass pellet plant in southern Georgia. The proposed facility, with 750,000 metric tons a year of nameplate capacity, is due to begin operation in 2011. Construction of the plant, which is located in Waycross, Georgia, began in March 2010.  The project will be carried out in collaboration with BMC Management AB, a Swedish company which specializes in development of biomass manufacturing solutions. More

Interview with Q-Cells

Dr. Marc van Gerven
Managing Director / Chief Marketing and Sales Officer

Introduction of the Company
Q-Cells ranks among the leading photovoltaics companies worldwide. The focus in North America is on distributed generation of solar systems. The extensive product portfolio ranges from solar cells and modules to complete photovoltaic systems. Q-Cells develops and manufactures its products at the company's headquarters in Bitterfeld-Wolfen, Germany and markets them through a global sales network.

Why did Q-Cells enter the U.S. market and when?
Q-Cells NA entered the US in 2010. The focus in North America is directed towards distributed generation project development opportunities in attractive regional markets such as California. California has emerged as one of the solar markets with the biggest near term potential for growth in the world. A variety of factors led to this, including high electricity rates, favorable policy frameworks and electricity demand patterns.

What do you see as the biggest differences in your sector of the solar industry between Germany and the U.S.?

In contrast to Germany and other European markets the U.S. market including California operates like a traditional electricity market. California is one of the few markets in the world where solar actually competes with conventional electricity rates today.

Read the full interview

Save the Date: Carbon TradeEx America

Carbon TradeEx America, taking place from September 28-29, 2010 at McCormick Place in Chicago, is the leading Trade Show and Conference in North America for professionals in environmental management positions working on strategic planning and investing, energy efficiency improvements, compliance programs, performance benchmarking and market and finance monitoring.

After successful runs in San Francisco and Washington, DC, this 3rd edition of Carbon TradeEx will be coming to Chicago and attracts exhibitors and attendees from all over the world. Among the exhibitors are German companies such as Deutsche Bank und TUEV SUED. However, also France, Mexico, the UK, Spain and Australia are represented.

For more information, please contact Mette Petersen, President of Koelnmesse Inc., at phone: 773 326 9921 and m.petersen@koelnmessenafta.com.

Save the Date: BioEnergy Decentral

U.S. Trade Visitor & Exhibitor Program

Come and discover new business opportunities in Renewable Energies. The DLG (German Agricultural Society), in cooperation with the U.S. Consulate General of Frankfurt, is offering a special U.S. Trade Visitor & Exhibitor Program. Meet more than 400 exhibitors at BioEnergy Decentral – the global meeting place for decentralized energy supply at the Hanover Exhibition Grounds, Germany from November 16-19th, 2010. Do not miss this opportunity to join this special program, which will inform you about new opportunities in the field of biogas recovery. The program offers i.e.:

• One-on-one interaction with exhibitors
• Visit to a bioenergy farm
• Additional consulting services from a Commercial Specialist available

A visit to BioEnergy Decentral will give you a comprehensive overview of the market and put you in contact with the international market leaders and their products and services. For more information on this program please contact Ms Annette Reichhold. DLG is looking forward to welcoming you to Hanover.