Project Roster

Renewable Energy & Distributed Generation

Task Force

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Renewable Energy & Distributed Generation Task Force Action Plan - PDF format

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Project 1. Building Critical Mass for Ultra-High Efficiency Solar Power Stations
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This project aims to deploy 1GW of power station-related technology across Australia, China and the United States, all utilizing breakthrough photovoltaic concentrators producing ultra-high efficiencies that will enable power production for less than 1/6th the cost of current solar power.

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Project 2. Commercial Demonstration of a PEM Fuel Cell for Power Generation - (Cancelled)
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The chlor-alkali industry is one of the largest chemical industries in India and is expected to grow along with the growing Indian economy. The proton-exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell product captures hydrogen produced in the chlor-alkali industry to create onsite electricity, thereby creating electricity savings. Additionally, it will displace the use of coal-fired power plant generation, leading to significant CO2 emission reductions. India and the United States will both participate in this industry changing project.

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Project 3. Biofuel Promotion for Environmentally Sustainable Energy and Water Services - (Cancelled)
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The success of power sector reform in India will rely in part on groundwater management improvements in the agricultural sector. Unreliable power supply and subsidized tariff structures lead to excessive water pumping by farmers who tend to pump water based on the power supply made available to them. Over-pumping contributes to higher energy consumption and rapid depletion of the groundwater table. Together these can serve to undermine development and cause higher greenhouse gas emissions. The United States will work with the Water Authority in the State of Andhra Pradesh in India to address this situation ensuring efficient energy and water co-management through mutually complementing interventions such as biomass-based distributed generation and energy efficient water management activities. Multiple stakeholders (U.S. and Indian agencies,
interest groups, private sector and investors) will be involved to support deployment of biofuels based distributed generation systems. Farm families will be encouraged to increase on-farm energy and water efficiency through education, extension, and incentives. Communities will integrate water conservation programs as part of planning processes and outreach campaigns.

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Project 4. APP Mega Solar Project
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In this project Partners aim to create a landmark endorsement project, the “Asia-Pacific Partnership Mega Solar Project.” This project aims to install megawatt scale (MW) solar PV units at a number of locations across Korea through a series of financed, managed, and delivered projects. Australia’s BP Solar will leverage its presence and experience in five of the Partner countries to contribute to the Partnership’s goal to accelerate uptake of renewable energy and distributed generation. Korea’s S-Energy will bring local expertise and the project will also seek the participation of the emerging Korean PV manufacturing industry to assist in technology transfer and to accelerate development. The project is scalable from 10MW to 100MW over a multiyear period. As a distributed generator this solar project will bring value to the electricity network and local economy across the country, in addition to the valuable technology transfer. The project aspires to generate 120GWh/year of clean electricity, power 20,000 Korean homes, avoid 120,000 tonnes of CO2/year and 25MW of network peak upgrades, and create new skilled installation and manufacturing jobs.

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Project 5. Deploy CHP in China that Utilize Coke Oven Gas for Fuel Feedstock
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Combined Heat and Power systems offer significant energy efficiency opportunities in Partner countries. The United States will lead this project in which key turbine components will be provided to Chinese industry along with training in these systems. Once systems are operable, a savings of approximately 1.2 million tons of CO2 per year is anticipated.

Project 6. Renewable Energy Rural Business Hubs in China and India
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Currently, 56 percent of India’s 700 million rural residents lack adequate and/or reliable power supplies. The United States is leading this project to increase access to cleaner, more affordable energy services in rural India. The initial combined effort will cover up to four pilot sites, with the intention of creating a business model that will result in an ongoing flow of commercial projects. Seven other distributed generation plants based on a “rural business hub” model and totaling 25 MW are also in development. These projects are expected to employ over 4,000 people. This effort may be replicated elsewhere in India and/or in other Partner countries.

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Project 7. Facilitate Deployment of Highly Efficient CHP Applications, Including Fossil and Biomass-Fueled Industrial, Institutional and District Energy CHP Projects in Partner Countries
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Despite the availability of Combined Heat and Power (CHP) technologies and proven benefits and performance of these systems, projects often are not implemented even when investment is compelling. The United States will lead this effort, building on its CHP Partnership Program to identify and clear barriers to efficient design of on-site energy systems. The project will promote collaborative education and outreach to energy users, utilities, policy makers, and, as appropriate, Partner countries’ design and construction communities. It will also promote and streamline the immediate and ongoing deployment of large and district energy-scale new CHP projects in Partner countries with the aim of implementing 500 MW of new CHP in participating countries within three years.

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Project 8. Identification of High-Prospect Geothermal Energy Projects in China
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This project will focus on the identification of highly prospective geothermal energy
projects in China with cooperation of Australia. The emphasis will be on geothermal prospects in the non-volcanic regions that comprise the bulk of China. The primary goal of the proposed co-operative project is to produce a portfolio of high prospect geothermal projects that are ranked in terms of profitability, risk and “do-ability.”

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Project 9. Analysis of Regulatory Barriers to Renewable Energy Uptake in Partnership Developing Countries
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One of the key barriers identified in relation to the increased uptake of renewable energy is the lack of mature markets and favorable policy, regulatory and legal frameworks to encourage the development of, and investment in, renewable energy. The purpose of the project is to provide an overview of the regulatory and policy situation in China, India, and Korea in relation to renewable energy projects, with case studies of Partner countries, especially those that are already taking positive steps to promote increased investment in renewable energy markets. The ultimate aim of the project is to encourage and enhance the capacity for emission-reduction efforts in the target Partner countries by promoting legal and regulatory measures to create the enabling environments for the uptake of renewable energy.

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Project 10. Barriers to Clean Technology Investment and Deployment between Australia and India
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The project will identify the market and policy barriers to enhanced collaboration
between Australia and India in the investment, development, and deployment of clean technologies. The challenges and opportunities presented by the need for clean coal technologies, renewable energy, and distributed generation will be addressed. The findings of the project will serve to develop practical solutions to addressing clean energy and climate goals by accelerating the development, transfer, and deployment of clean technological solutions between the two Partner countries.

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Project 11. Development of Economic Indices for Renewable Energies and Distributed Generation in the Asia-Pacific Region - (Cancelled)
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Renewable energies are gaining their market share, reflecting on improved economic feasibility; however, most renewable energies, except for wind, hydro, and biomass, are still costly energy options compared to conventional energy sources. In this activity, developments of economic indices will be explored, and can be used as criteria in prioritizing development and deployment of renewable energy. Economic indices can also be used in developing and implementing cost-effective policy tools for each Partner country and the Asia-Pacific region as a whole.

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Project 12. Creating an Enabling Framework for Renewable Energy for Re-Deployment in the Partnership
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This project will help to improve the quality of both the resource information and the tools for assessing the technical and economic potential for renewable energy
development, which will greatly enhance opportunities for broad deployment of
renewable energy and distributed generation technologies in Partner countries. It will also develop improved tools for applying resource information together with other data (e.g. technology and system cost, load profiles, land-use, etc.) to provide more credible and accurate information on the economic potential and competitiveness of renewable energy relative to other alternatives. This activity will include a review of current integrated economic assessment methods and tools, ranging from screening analysis to modeling capabilities and collaborative work to enhance the quality of these tools in use across Partner countries. The project will be led by the United States and seek to establish “best in class” resource and economic assessment methods and collaborative plans for broad use across Partner countries by the end of 2007, and availability of high quality renewable energy resource and economic assessment data and tools for priority regions across the Partner countries by the end of 2010. The overall project will help to establish a credible information base upon which viable, and sustainable, renewable energy markets can be fostered.

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Project 13. Quality Renewable Training Program in China and India
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China’s and India’s demand for energy is increasing rapidly. Renewable energy is seen by both countries as an important component in satisfying future energy demand. Nevertheless, delivering affordable and reliable renewable energy services and achieving national goals set for renewable energy technologies to future power generation will be challenging without an extensive pool of knowledgeable and skilled practitioners to design, install, and maintain renewable energy systems and services. Australia will collaborate with China and India on this project to progress the systematic development of national training competency standards in China and India, to achieve country-wide coverage, and to pave the way for future quality oriented training implementation within the mainstream vocational training.

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Project 14. International Scholarships for Photovoltaics and Solar Energy Engineering at University of New South Wales
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This project aims to bring international research and undergraduate students from Partner countries to Australia’s University of New South Wales’ (UNSW) premier photovoltaic research group by providing tuition scholarships. Additionally, this project will assist in enhancing the photovoltaics knowledge and teaching resource base in Partner countries, and improve the quantity and quality of photovoltaics teaching manufacturing and research in Partner countries.

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Project 15. Capacity Building for Renewable Energy Promotion Policies and Measures
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Japan will undertake a training and information exchange program in cooperation with China and India to assist formulation of renewable energy promotion policies and measures in consideration of best-matched practices in both a national and local context. Training seminars are expected to be held once or twice a year, for a duration of one to two weeks, including site visits.

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Project 16. Feasibility Study and Development of Smart Energy Solution Using Various Renewable Energies
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A feasibility study on the development of independent electricity supply systems entitled, “Feasibility Study and Development of Smart Energy Solution Using Various Renewable Energies,” will facilitate the integration of electric Distributed Generators (DG), into smart energy solutions to select regions in Partner countries. This will allow several different DGs to be operated as a microgrid that can optimally balance the supply and demand of energy, including electric power and heat, while exchanging information and operating in harmony with the existing utility infrastructure. Japan, China and India will be participating in this study.

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Project 17. Study on the Expansion Plan of Bio-Diesel for Transportation in Asia-Pacific Region - (Cancelled)
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This project will involve a study of biodiesel production using the conventional raw
materials such as Jatropha, in recognition of Partner Country concerns over the need for a stable supply of rapeseed and soybean oils for conventional biodiesel. This project will seek to address the gap in infrastructure for biodiesel use and distribution existing among the Partner countries. Korea will lead on this project to strengthen infrastructure through analysis of conventional and advanced biodiesel, standardization of measurement criteria, and preparation of standards.

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Project 18. Market Development for Renewable Energy
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Transmission and distribution loss estimates for India are as high as 30-50%, and many communities need improved quality and more reliable power. Increasing the share of distributed generation in the total electricity mix will have a significant impact on both clean energy supply, as well as emissions reductions. In addition, locating power generation closer to the consumer reduces technical losses, and may result in commercial loss reduction as well. These distributed power generation systems have significant potential for reducing T&D losses and GHG emissions, especially when cleaner, alternative fuels and technologies are used. The United States will lead this project to introduce new concepts and technologies in India to support the implementation of its distribution reforms.. These new concepts and technologies will focus on promoting widespread installation and use of smaller, more efficient distributed power generation systems, closer to the users.

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Project 19. Public-Private Sector Partnership on Hydropower in the
Partner Countries
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This project will support the Task Force in its effort to create an enabling environment for renewable and distributed generation technologies in Partner countries. The project will focus on all Partner countries in order to identify specific barriers impeding hydropower investment in each country. Partner countries have identified more than $200 billion in hydropower investment necessary for them to expand energy generation for estimated increased energy consumption. The project will be led by the United States and India.

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Project 20. Commercialization of Distributed Power Generation Using Hydrogen Fuel in India, Promoting Clean Air, Energy Security and Sustainable Economic Growth - (Cancelled)
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This project will focus on commercialization of distributed power generation using
hydrogen fuel in India by installing hydrogen fuelled generators. Additionally, the
project aims to increase the number of homes or small businesses with access to clean and reliable electricity by 1,000 to 2,000, resulting in less air pollution and promoting sustainable economic growth. The project will be located in rural communities in India with hydrogen fuel partners nearby. This project will assist India in establishing a renewable energy infrastructure that will provide its rural areas with clean and efficient power generation.

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Project 21. Demonstration of Solar-Enhanced Fuels for Electricity and Transport Applications
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This project aims to demonstrate improved cost-effectiveness of solar technology by using concentrated solar energy in a new “solarization” process to reform natural gas with steam and CO2 to produce syngas, which can feed a gas turbine. This project will build on work already conducted by China, Japan, and Australia, that will ultimately develop new reactors and catalysts able to use CO2 as a reactant, thus making use of the waste stream and minimizing water use. By demonstrating the complete process of solar energy in a working environment this project expects to launch the process of construction of one or more successive plants. This demonstration project is capable of providing Partner countries a new technology that will be both effective and clean.

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Project 22. Flexible Biomass Gasification Technology for Distributed Power Generation
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The ultimate aim of this research and development project is to demonstrate the key technological aspects of the proposed biomass gasification technology for distributed power generation, in order to speed up the commercial update of biomass as a reliable and cheap renewable energy source across Partner countries. Australia will lead this project with the collaboration of Japan, China, India, and Korea. This technology is expected to greatly reduce the transportation costs associated with biomass gasification while being particularly suitable for distributed power generation in rural areas where biomass fuels are grown.

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Project 23. Solar Photovoltaic Linear Concentrator Systems
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The aim of this research and development project is to develop improved solar
photovoltaic linear concentrators that are commercially competitive in a wide variety of markets including reducing the cost and increasing efficiency associated with this technology. The project will be led by Australian cooperation with India. The key objective of this project is to resolve the remaining barriers to the widespread deployment of photovoltaic through concentrators within all Partner countries.

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Project 24. Development of Materials and Interface Engineering Technologies for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells - (Cancelled)
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During the past decade, refinements in the chemical components of solar cells,
improvements in cell physics, and device engineering have led to remarkable enhancement of dye-sensitized solar cell performance. These enhancements can
potentially provide low-cost, large-area, flexible, and high efficiency solar cells for all Partner countries. The goal of this project is to develop materials and interface
engineering technologies for dye-sensitized solar cells through collaborations between Partner countries.

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Project 25. Design and Development of a Renewable Cooling and Power Generation Systems
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The key objective of this project is to address the unfulfilled demand for power and
cooling in remote, rural, and un-electrified areas and to enhance overall socio-economic conditions through delivery of electricity and improved cold storage facilities using renewable energy. This project seeks to design, develop, and fabricate a number of prototypes with integrated renewable heating and cooling and power generation, targeting both residential air conditioning and remote rural food refrigeration applications.  Participating Partners in this project are Australia and India.

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Project 26. A Fully Integrated Process for Biodiesel Production from Microalgae in Saline Water
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This project will demonstrate the technical and economic feasibility of an integrated process for the production of microalgal oils that are suitable as a feedstock for biodiesel production. A preliminary economic feasibility study and assessment of total greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) would be carried out based on the results of small-scale studies and, if successful, would be followed by a second large-scale phase designed to integrate all the steps at the pilot scale and optimize the process over a long-enough period to allow detailed assessment of the economics and GHG emissions. Participating Partners in this project are Australia, China, and India.

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Project 27. New Generation Small Wind Turbines for Remote Power Systems and Grid Connection
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In this collaborative activity Partners will undertake research and develop economically viable, reliable small wind turbines for remote power systems located away from the electricity grid as well as for connection into the grid. This project will study small wind turbine operation in a wide range of situations, with the goals of improving design, developing safety methodologies and reducing system costs. Participating Partners in this project are Australia and China.

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Project 28. Bridging the Economic Divide through Renewable Energy Based Empowerment
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This project aims to promote green power and clean technologies, and demonstrate sustainable growth through the establishment of “Rural Entrepreneurship Zones (REZ’s).” These REZ’s will demonstrate the institutional and financial viability of renewable energy for micro-enterprises to be stationed in rural areas of India. Economic activity will be encouraged around these renewable power supply zones, with the aim of significantly reducing emissions. Partner countries will establish a management model to develop and operate REZ’s, build partnerships for leveraging policy support and financial investments to accelerate their widespread deployment, and advocate strategic policies that will enhance the REZ business model. The United States and India are participating Partners in this project.

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Project 29. Accelerating the Deployment of “Smart Minigrids” in APP Countries
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This project will help to develop technologies for the reliable and efficient operation of minigrids, and seek to prove the technical feasibility, commercial viability and ability to efficiently integrate renewable energy. Participating Partners will design and develop a pilot smart minigrid in Australia and use this pilot as a model for deployment in India. As part of the design process for the initial Australian deployment, Australia's Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) will cooperate with Japan and Korea, which have active research programs in this field (RDG-06-16 “Feasibility study and development of microgrid smart energy solutions.”) Once the Australian pilot grid is commissioned and fully operational, the design will be used as the basis for a deployment in India through close cooperation with the Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) and the Indian government. Australia, India, Korea, and Japan are participating Partners in this project.

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Project 30. Accelerating Commercialization of Renewable Energy for DG in India
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This project aims to accelerate the commercialization of larger solar photovoltaic (PV) systems for distributed generation in India. Partner countries will seek to create new investment opportunities to reach rural and other customers in India that are experiencing challenges to securing reliable access to power supplies, utilize bank guarantees to enhance financing terms and make solar energy systems more affordable, and improve renewable energy products and lower their costs by utilizing in-country assembly as a means to help reduce costs of high efficiency equipment. The United States and India are participating Partners in this project.

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Project 31. Collaborative Development and Demonstration of an Optimised Model for Remote Village Electrification Using Renewable Energy
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This project aims to develop and demonstrate a highly replicable model for remote village electrification in India, using solar PV and other technologies. In doing so, Partner countries plan to build capacity within India’s renewable energy technical service provider network, and also improve the technical support for, and increase the sustainability of decentralized generation and renewable energy systems. The community renewable energy systems model will demonstrate the reduction of GHG emissions through offsetting and potentially eliminating the need for conventional liquid petroleum fuels in a number of remote communities. The model will be implemented in a minimum of one and up to three rural villages in India, resulting in electricity provision for up to 1,200 people. Australia and India are participating Partners in this project.

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Project 32. Grid Connected Renewable Energy and Distributed Generation Partnerships
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The objective of this project is to facilitate the deployment of renewable energy and distributed generation technology in India by identifying barriers to deploying renewable energy and distributed generation, and creating strategies for overcoming these barriers. This project will include a peer assessment, site visits in various APP Partner countries, and workshops. A handbook outlining best practices and policies for renewable energy and distributed generation deployment will also be developed. The United States and India are participating Partners in this project.

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Project 33. Development and Application of 10kW Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC) Power System
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The development of commercial scale PEM fuel cells has great potential to transform the production and consumption of energy, specifically by drastically reducing the greenhouse gas emissions generated from current methods of energy production.  This project aims to take the lead in commercializing fuel cell technology by promoting a third-generation fuel cell technology that is currently under development by Shanghai Shen-Li and Infinitium Energy.  It is expected to produce a functional 10kW fuel cell module that can be integrated into industrial vehicles or used as a stand-alone stationary power generation system.  The fuel cell developed as a result is intended to be capable of relatively low-cost commercial deployment by 2011.  Participating Partners include China and the United States.

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Project 34. Introduce GE10 Technology to Achieve China Localization of Small Gas Turbine Packaging and Manufacturing
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With the increasing supply of natural gas, the availability of natural gas pipelines, and the continuous development of gas turbine technologies, decentralized power generation using small gas turbine technology is becoming increasingly important in China and throughout the world.  However, the cost of packaging, manufacturing, and service of small gas turbines is a key barrier to wide adoption of the technology.  This project aims to introduce the GE10 small gas turbine to the Chinese market, exploring opportunities for local scaled production, providing market assessment and policy recommendations, developing a small gas turbine demonstration project, and promoting the technology throughout the decentralized power generation market.  The project plans to promote the adoption of small gas turbine technology throughout various energy intensive sectors, including the steel and coal industries.  Participating Partners include China and the United States.

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Project 35. SAIC-GM Cooperate to design/ build/ demonstrate the Roewe fuel cell Car for 2010 Expo
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Fuel cell technology for transport provides a significant opportunity to reduce emissions of greenhouse gasses from industrial, commercial, and personal transportation.  This project is expected to facilitate the development of a fleet of ten fuel cell cars and busses to be showcased at the high-profile Shanghai World Expo from May through October, 2010.  The Expo, lasting 184 days, will expose over 70 million visitors to the potential zero-emission fuel cell transport.  Plans have been made for the cars to serve as transport vehicles for VIPs during the Expo and it is anticipated that they will receive very high visibility.  Participating Partners are China and the United States.

Project 36. Coking Oven Gas (COG) Combined Heat and Power Plant
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The goal of this project is to demonstrate a distributed cogeneration system of power and heat using coke oven gas as a fuel. Coke oven gas is a byproduct of the coking process. Such a system could have energy savings of 20%. This innovative approach seeks to recognize that the value of the annual Chinese 20 million m3 of by-product coke oven gas – often considered a waste product and a pollutant in China – is largely overlooked. This activity will demonstrate both the greenhouse gas emissions savings and also the generated revenue source of using by-product coke oven gas as a fuel source. China’s Shanxi province has China’s largest coke production and was chosen for the facility site. China and the United States are participating Partners in this project.

Project 37. Technical Exchange with China on PV Module Reliability
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The goal of this project is to encourage global uptake of reliability practices for PV modules, emphasizing reliability R&D and quality control throughout the production process. Workshops, technical trainings, and conferences will be the tools used for this transfer of technology. The United States will provide technical resources through collaboration with national laboratories and universities for Chinese manufacturers and qualification/certification specialists on existing methodologies and standards. The United States and China are the principal participating countries in this project.