Electronics and electrical appliances manufacturer Hangzhou Robam Appliances Co., Ltd, retailer Inzone Group, furniture chain Red Star Macalline, and China’s largest commercial property company Wanda Group were among leading businesses brought together last week as China RE100 held its second workshop in Beijing.
‘China RE100’ is a capacity building program for businesses interested in increasing their use of renewable electricity, led by The Climate Group in partnership with Chinese Renewable Energy Industries Association (CREIA).
The workshop was hosted by air conditioner manufacturer and sustainable buildings provider BROAD Group, which recently became the second Chinese company to join the global RE100 campaign and publicly committed to being 100% powered by renewable electricity.
The gathering brought together representatives from a variety of associations, companies and financial institutions and sparked discussion around ‘Financial Models and Risk Management for Corporate Renewable Energy Procurement’ in China.
Image: Corporate representatives at the China RE100 capacity building program
Vice President of BROAD Group, Zhang Xiaodong said: “As the leading non-electrical air-conditioner manufacturer, a company of Energy Performance Contracting and a manufacturer of sustainable building, BROAD Group announced it was joining RE100 in November and will carry out the strategy of using electricity produced by 100% renewable energy. Applying combined heat and power (CHP) and renewable energy will not only make contributions to the transformation of energy market but also will create a more sustainable environment for clients.”
Wu Changhua, Greater China Director of The Climate Group spoke of the success of China RE100 and the influence of the global RE100 initiative, which now brings together more than 40 of the world’s most influential companies committed to 100% renewable power.
Wang Weiquan, Deputy Secretary of CREIA spoke of renewable energy policy and legislation in China, and Peng Peng, Policy Lead of CREIA went into further detail about tariffs, subsidies and direct purchase options for renewable power in China.
Wu Dawei, Chief Development Officer of Business Development at Solar Power, Inc. (SPI), talked of the performance and returns of the solar PV industry, referring to SPI’s own experiences of rolling out renewables as a solar power company.
Later, there were discussions between Rosie Pidcock, Senior Business Development Manager of UEG, Guo Hoing, Energy and Resources Consultant of Ernst & Young, Zhang Xin, Deputy Director of Green Investment of Bank of Huaxia, Wang Jushi, Deputy General Manager of Anbang Insurance Business Department and Li Shaoyan, General Manager Assistant of PV Department of China General Certification Center, as they brainstormed ways to increase corporate uptake of renewables to drive the transformation to a green and sustainable society.
RE100 corporate partner Elion Resources Group also took part.
Corporate demand for renewable energy is rapidly increasing in China, now the largest investor in the market worldwide – in 2014, the total amount of investment increased by $US89.5 billion. By investing in renewables, companies can help tackle pollution and energy challenges, and help consolidate China’s leading role in the global market.