Georgia companies that offer “clean” energy technologies are invited to participate in a trade mission by the U.S. Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration to India and China, April 18-25.
Renewable energy, energy efficiency, clean coal and distributed generation companies can apply to attend the mission, which is scheduled to visit New Delhi and Chennai in India, April 18-20, and Beijing and Nanjing in China, April 23-25.
Participants may choose to attend either the India portion of the trip or the China portion, or both. During the trade mission, U.S. companies will meet with national and local government officials and participate in networking opportunities, one-on-one business meetings, country briefings and site visits to Indian and Chinese companies.
Led by David Bohigian, assistant U.S. secretary of commerce for market access and compliance, the mission aims to promote the sales of U.S. clean-energy technology in light of Indian and Chinese initiatives to diversify energy sources and reduce carbon emissions while maintaining rapid economic growth.
“These markets represent a multi-trillion dollar opportunity for clean energy companies. And this mission promises to help us develop cleaner economic development and climate in the years to come,” Mr. Bohigian told GlobalAtlanta in an interview.
He encouraged any Georgia company committed to working overseas in any clean energy, energy efficiency, renewable energy, distributed energy or clean coal industries to apply for the trip.
“There are hundreds of dynamic U.S. companies working in the clean energy technology space, and we encourage the best to apply. Having those companies go global only makes the U.S. more competitive in this field,” Mr. Bohigian said.
Opportunities in India and China are abundant, he added.
Of the 100 gigawatts of new power that India plans to generate over the next 10 years, 10 gigawatts is to be from renewable sources, including the electrification of 18,000 remote villages. Clean coal technologies are also becoming more important in India, he said, explaining that clean coal is produced in plants that meet strict standards for capturing emissions such as carbon in the production process.
By 2020, China plans to increase renewable energy use to 15 percent of its total supply and reduce by 65 percent the amount of energy that its buildings consume. It expects to spend some $200 billion to do this, according to the International Trade Administration. The country also aims to provide electricity for its 25 million – 30 million people who do not currently have power in their homes.
India’s market for renewable energy is $500 million per year and is growing at an annual rate of 15 percent, according to Commerce Department estimates. New Delhi, the country’s capital, is one of India’s largest users of power and is in need of clean energy generated by solid and liquid wastes, according to the International Trade Administration.
Chennai, formerly known as Madras, is the future site of India’s first special economic zone for the manufacturing and testing of non-conventional energy equipment. The 1,000-acre project is expected to attract $65 million – $90 million in investment over the next four years, the International Trade Administration reports. The Center for Wind Energy Technology research institute is also located in Chennai.
In China, the government’s current Five Year Plan emphasizes biomass, clean coal, solar power and wind power technologies and the development of large-scale, high-efficiency and environmentally friendly power generation.
Beijing’s hosting of the 2008 Summer Olympic Games has spurred government investment in environmental quality improvement projects. The Beijing municipal government has authority to approve independent foreign investment projects up to $30 million, according to the Commerce Department.
Nanjing’s core industries include power generation and energy. The city hosts some of China’s largest trade fairs on clean and renewable energy, and its province is creating an energy-efficient power plant.
The trade mission builds on the work of the Asia Pacific Partnership on Clean Development and Climate, a voluntary U.S.-led public-private partnership among Australia, China, India, Japan and Korea to accelerate their use of clean energy technologies. Each country aims to meet goals for energy security, air pollution reduction and climate change while reducing poverty and promoting sustainable economic growth. The effort contributes to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and complements, but does not replace, the Kyoto Protocol.
The partnership focuses specifically on the environmentally friendly and sustainable use of aluminum, building and appliances, cement, fossil fuels and coal energy, coal mining, power generation and transmission, renewable energy and distributed generation and steel.
The six partner countries represent half of the world’s economy, population and energy use, and they produce 65 percent of the world’s coal, 48 percent of the world’s steel, 37 percent of world’s aluminum and 61 percent of the world’s cement.
Companies interested in the trade mission to India and China can apply to visit one or both countries. The cost to participate in the full mission is $4,900. To participate in one country, the cost is $2,450. Prices exclude travel, lodging and ground transportation, but include some meals.
Participation is limited to 20 companies. Application deadline is Monday, March 19.
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Clean Energy Mission or contact Frank Caliva at (202) 482-8245