Promoting Market Models for Electricity with NGO and Business Partners

YOUYU (Sept. 7, 2012) – Working with NGO, Global Institute for Tomorrow (GIFT), and Japan-based financial services group, ORIX Corporation, GEI co-organized a low-carbon energy reduction workshop in Youyu County in Shanxi Province from September 1-7, 2012. The workshop brought together 24 high-level ORIX Group managers from 16 countries and regions.

The main aim of the workshop was to develop market-based solutions for energy conservation and involved an in-depth case study practice, lectures from experts, one-on-one conversations between trainees from ORIX and representatives from government and business, and tours of Jiaochangping and Jingyu power plants.

The trainees with GEI and GIFT – GEI 2012

The training session used a LED lighting retrofitting pilot project at Yulinyuan Hotel in Youyu County in Shanxi Province as a case study with the aim to develop recommendations packet for utilizing the EMC model in China. The ORIX Group trainees used their investment expertise, first-class strategic thinking, and unique international perspective in the training session to help achieve this goal.

The last day of the training organized a presentation meeting on “Development Plan for Youyu County Energy Conservation Project” that was attended by Mr. Pang, the Deputy County Magistrate of Youyu, the Managing director of the State Forestry Administration (SFA) Mr. Ma (as well as other government leaders), and representatives from power plants including Jiaochangping power plant attended the meeting.

All participants of the session thought that the training program outcomes, including the final report, are very valuable for developing future energy conservation projects using the EMC model.

The group discussions encouraged idea sharing and debate – GEI 2012

Details about the Workshop Agenda:

Launch Ceremony Keynote Speakers: Youyu County Secretary of Commerce, along with other government other leaders gave overviews of China’s economic development trends and characteristics as well as energy-saving policies.

Workshop Keynote Speakers: GEI’s Energy and Climate Program Officers Qingchan Yu and Aimin Wang gave two presentations detailing GEI’s work towards developing the LED lighting retrofitting pilot project at Yulinyuan Hotel in Youyu County.

Participants in One-on-One Discussions with ORIX Group: Youyu local government, buckwheat tea production enterprises, Youyu branches of the Agricultural Bank of China, and vice president of Youyu High school Number Two.

Closing speakers: Five participants from ORIX Group’s Tokyo headquarters and the Greater China and Taiwan subsidiary branches.

Background to the project:

Starting in early 2010, GEI selected Yulinyuan Hotel in Youyu County, Shanxi Province, as the site for a pilot project to implement the EMC model for LED lighting retrofitting. At the end of 2011, GEI program officers and local technicians cooperated to complete an analysis of energy consumption from lighting and a retrofitting plan for the Yulinyuan Hotel.

While searching for a renewable energy company to invest in the project, GEI contacted GIFT, which was, at the time, designing the Global Leadership Training Program for the ORIX Group. Both GIFT and ORIX showed interest in GEI’s research and pilot design and wished to partner with GEI to conduct market analysis of energy conservation programs in China.