While the solar energy industry in the West remains lackluster, Chinese solarenergy equipment manufacturers are actively looking for new markets for growth opportunities.
Some Chinese companies are planning to harness solar energy from deserts in the Middle Eastto help them step out of the shade.
More than 40 Chinese companies are attending the ongoing Fifth World Future Energy Summitin Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE), the most important event for the renewable energyindustry in the region. In 2008, two Chinese companies attended the event.
Chinese electric car and rechargeable battery maker BYD Co Ltd is attending the summit forthe first time this year.
"Abundant solar energy falls unused on the deserts of the Middle East, we hope to bring oursolar products and technologies to the market, even though it has yet to take shape," saidZhao Tong, general manager of BYD's solar division.
Awareness is growing in the oil-rich region of the importance of renewable energy to its future.
The UAE, for instance, is currently building a 6-sq km clean-technology cluster at Masdar city,near Abu Dhabi.
And Suntech Power Co, China's biggest solar panel maker, is supplying panels for a 10megawatt solar plant to power Masdar city, said Alan Frost, director of Masdar city.
Suntech's entry to the region is part of the company's overall plan to diversify its overseasmarkets, according to Wu Hongyan, marketing vice-president of Suntech's Asia-Pacific, MiddleEast and Africa region.
Suntech was among the earliest Chinese solar companies to tap into the region. It set up itsDubai office in 2010, and now has several projects in the UAE and Saudi Arabia.
According to renewable energies consultancy Apricum, some Middle Eastern countries haverealized that alternative energy sources are needed to limit the domestic depletion of fossilfuels, and photovoltaic cells will have significant potential to cut fuel consumption in the future.
However, Wang from BYD admitted that the company will cautiously enter the market.
"As a company, besides market potential, we also have to consider the possible investmentreturns, which will partly rely on government support for the emerging industry," he said.
"Local government's policies are critical for an industry at its early stage, we'll see if morebenefits can come from government support for the sector," Zhao said.
3 comments:
That's a great idea, solar in the Middle East is a no-brainer. Abu Dhabi seems very progressive, so perhaps start there
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