WASHINGTON--()--The Asia Society of Washington D.C. will recognize two energy industry executives at its annual awards ceremony on June 15th at the Washington Ritz-Carlton. Chinese entrepreneur Wang Yusuo, Chairman of ENN Group (Langfang, Hebei Province), and Duke Energy President and CEO Jim Rogers (Charlotte, N.C.) are jointly receiving the Society’s International Business Award for their leadership in investing in clean energy technology and demonstration projects aimed at significantly reducing global carbon emissions.
“an example to the world in demonstrating clean energy technologies”
Since 2009, Mr. Wang and Mr. Rogers have entered into a series of agreements that promote the exchange of information on ENN’s work in coal gasification, algae conversion to biomass, electric cars, solar PV technology for buildings, and most recently the development of entire ”Eco-Cities” that use energy more efficiently. The two men head companies that provide electric service to millions of people in their respective countries.
One example of their recent collaboration is the application of ENN’s unique algal bio-absorption technology at Duke Energy’s 650-megawatt coal-fired plant in East Bend, Kentucky. Phase I of the collaboration, completed in late 2010, focused on identifying algae types that can most effectively consume Duke’s power plant emissions, based on local climate conditions, water quality, and plant exhaust components. The study verified that it was feasible to use a specific strain of micro-algae to reduce plant emissions and set the framework for scaling up the process to involve the application of other ENN proprietary technologies, such as coal gasification, solar photovoltaic modules, and cleaner burning bio-diesel, methanol and dimethyl ether fuels production.
More recently, in January of 2011, Duke Energy joined with ENN to develop what the companies have termed “Eco Cities”. Under the agreement, ENN will initially build a future energy technology demonstration platform in Langfang -- a small city to be powered entirely by clean energy -- to provide “an example to the world in demonstrating clean energy technologies”. Duke sees the partnership as an opportunity to apply lessons learned in Langfang to its own deployment of clean and low carbon energy technology in its U.S. electricity service areas. ENN will use the experience to innovate new ways to architect future clean energy cities and redesign existing urban areas to be more energy efficient. It is ENN’s goal to become China’s foremost clean-energy service provider through the use of multiple clean energy sources.
The January agreement has the blessing of the China’s Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) and the U.S. Department of Energy under the U.S. China Clean Energy Center (CERC), whose mission is to strengthen technical exchange and bilateral cooperation between China and the U.S. in areas of clean coal, electric vehicles, and energy efficient buildings technologies. The collaboration follows an agreement by Duke Energy and ENN to accelerate the development of low-carbon and clean energy technologies announced Sept. 23, 2009, at the Clinton Global Initiative in New York.
ENN can already cite examples of projects it is working on that are microcosms of how cities might eventually function completely on clean energy. One of its current projects is the Changsha Huanghua International Airport in Hunan Province. ENN is constructing a combined natural gas heat, power and cooling system for the airport’s T3 building. The company is prototyping a specially developed software system to monitor all energy systems to assure that the most efficient energy source is powering the facility all times of the day. The airport is China’s 12th largest, handling more than 1 million passengers a month.
Former U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, whose book On China was released in May, 2011, is also among the award recipients at the Asia Society event. Kissinger will receive the Asia Society’s Lifetime Achievement Award for his contributions to promoting cooperation and understanding between Asian and U.S. leaders in government, business, and industry. His vision of a world community that cooperates on universally common issues has opened the door for partnerships such as the one between ENN Group and Duke Energy.
Other honorees include Under Secretary of the U.S. Treasury, Lael Brainard (Public Policy Award), and Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj, the President of Mongolia (Distinguished Statesman Award).
About ENN
ENN is focused on one of the largest private clean energy solutions providers in China. Since its founding 22 years ago, ENN has evolved to become an integrated group of companies that delivers clean energy to tens of millions of customers and provides overall clean energy solutions to city governments and heavy industry. ENN has more than 100 subsidiaries in over 100 cities across China and around the world, and employs more than 27,000 people. Additional information about ENN is available at: http://www.enn.cn.
About Duke Energy
Duke Energy is the third largest electric power holding company in the United States, based on kilowatt-hour sales. Its regulated utility operations serve approximately 4 million customers located in five states – North Carolina, South Carolina, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky -- representing a population of approximately 11 million people. More information is available at: www.duke-energy.com.
About Asia Society Washington: Asia Society Washington D.C. was established in 1985 to promote, educate and build awareness of the universal cultural, business and other mutually beneficial interests shared by peoples living in the United States and in Asian countries. See also www.asiasociety.org
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