Good day sunshine

The humble four-story white office building is nondescript amid gleaming skyscrapers in Beijing's central business district. However, it is the pride and joy of Han Jiangong as a showcase for his solar technology business.

Han is board chairman of Beijing Solar Energy Research Institute Co Ltd, which has two brands - Sunda, which targets the international market, and Sunpu for the domestic market. And the building is also his workplace.

Solar energy can meet most of the demands for power, heating and cooling the building's 3,000 sq m of floor space.

In sunny days, the photovoltaic equipment covering 1,000 sq m of the roof can produce about 100 kilowatts of electricity, enough for the building's lighting and computer needs.

In winter, the solar heating system can provide Han's staff with hot water and warmth, while in summer, the cooling system powered can adjust the indoor temperature to 26 C, which is required by the country as part of the national energy-saving campaign.

"The building comprises almost all advanced technology making use of solar energy," he says. "But it is far from enough to show China's solar technology development to the world."

In 2008 he has more ambitious showcases, which are part of landmark constructions in the capital - solar power equipment in Olympic village and Terminal 3 of the Beijing Capital International Airport.

Sunpu has equipped more than 5,000 sq m of solar energy facilities in stadiums for the Olympic Games as well as its adjunct facilities since 2006.

In the Fengtai Sports Center Softball Field, Chaoyang Park Beach Volleyball Ground, Peking University Gymnasium and news center for the Games, Sunpu solar-powered facilities can be seen outside the builidings providing athletes and others inside with hot water, as well as electricity and cooling services.

Take solar-heated water for example. Figures show that every day, about 800 tons of warm water heated by Sunpu solar hearting systems will be provided for showers for more than 16,000 athletes from around the world during the Games period.

And in Terminal 3 at the Beijing Capital International Airport, the new terminal building which began full-scale service in March for 26 international airline companies worldwide, accounts for 60 percent of the airport's business, Sunpu has built 4,000 sq m of solar heating system which can produce a maximum of 315 tons of hot water daily for the terminal's kitchen.

"Sunpu has made many technology breakthroughs in the solar energy system for Terminal 3," says Fan Lixin, senior engineer of the company.

As a system dependent on nature and difficult to automatically control, the solar system in Terminal 3 had to be integrated with the automatic system in the older airport through technological improvements, says Fan.

"But finally we solved the problems and can show the world a green airport as soon as they land in Beijing," Fan says. "It showed that Sunpu is playing a leading role in solar technology development in the country."

Despite their enormous landmark projects, the company focuses more on providing individual customers in China and abroad with solar energy solutions.

The company has a manufacturing plant covering 27,000 sq m. Now it can produce 500,000 solar heating tubes annually, among which, 60 percent are sold overseas.

The company has also established an overseas subsidiary in Germany, which is responsible for marketing and sales in Europe.

"During these years, the share of domestic market is increasing because of the government's actions on energy conservation," Han says.

For most Chinese customers, especially people living in the country's northern part and who worry about the instability of solar energy, the company also provides a solution.

"Such worries are easily eased now," Fan says. "When solar energy is not enough, an electrical booster is built inside the water storage tank. And the tank has been carefully designed to avoid mixing hot water and cold water."

The sun can power 80 percent of a complete solar water heater system annually in Beijing, with the rest supplemented by electricity, according to Fan.

However, what worries Han and Fan about promoting solar power n China is not the technological part, but social awareness, including policy-making.

Fan gives an example which took place in Beijing recently. A customer installed a Sunpu water heater system outside his apartment. However, a few days later, the property manager of his community ordered him to remove it saying it disrupted the uniform appearance of the building. After days of disputes, the two sides are now engaged in a legal battle that has not ended.

"It really dampens people's enthusiasm to use renewable energy," Fan says. "But in many communities in Beijing, there are the similar rules forbidding residents to install solar heating systems outside apartments.

"In Beijing, the pilot projects using solar energy in public are numerous and beautiful. However, when it comes to promoting solar energy for every family the government really needs to work out strong support for the policy."

Han also urges the government to set up a policy to push real estate developers to install solar-powered facilities when the residential buildings are under construction, thus avoiding unnecessary disputes between residents and property managers.

(China Daily 05/12/2008 page5)