On 9 and 10 July, ECN Deputy Director Kees van der Klein signed two agreements to work with the China Academy of Sciences on research and development in wind energy, fuel cells and solar panels. By bringing together knowledge and experience in various aspects of sustainable energy, this exciting new partnership will open the door to a variety of markets.
ECN travelled to China as part of a mission led by Dutch international trade minister Frank Heemskerk. With their ambitious policy goals in the field of sustainable energy, the Chinese showed great interest in the way ECN brings together research and practice. Theo de Lange, unit manager at ECN Wind Energy, explains what that means for his discipline. “China is one of the world’s fastest growing markets for wind energy. Over the next six years or so, it will go from a producing a couple of hundreds megawatts to sixth place in the world rankings, with a capacity of approximately 2600 megawatts.” The aim of the first deal signed by ECN is to investigate the feasibility of a Sino-Dutch Wind Energy Research Centre. This would include a large-scale test facility for turbine blades and a trial site for prototype turbines. This is an area in which ECN already has considerable experience, but Theo de Lange insists that there are still benefits to be gained by both sides. “Much of the technology used in China comes from Europe,” he says. “But the Chinese are now developing their own manufacturing industry and catching up fast in R&D. Through this partnership, the China Academy of Sciences will be able to draw upon our knowledge and experience to build up a lot of capacity very quickly. In return, ECN gains access to the rapidly growing Chinese market and will eventually be able to involve Chinese scientists in its own research projects.”
The second agreement paves the way to co-operation in research on fuel cells, catalysis, CO2 separation technology and photovoltaic solar energy. Although drawn up very quickly and therefore in need of further refinement, this deal is a logical follow-up to partnerships already forged through European research projects. “In that context,” says Daan Jansen, leader of the Clean Fossil Fuels programme, “we have been working with the Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics [DICP, part of the China Academy of Sciences] for some time now on high-temperature fuel cells and CO2 separation techniques for large power stations. These are technologies in which both ECN and DICP are leading players. I find DICP an incredibly good institute, with a lot of capability and great equipment.” As a result of the trade mission, the desire to work more closely together has been acted upon more quickly than expected. Under the agreement signed on 10 July, an ECN delegation will travel to Dalian in November to discuss and develop opportunities for mutual co-operation. “This initiative could deliver new technology which we can then elaborate together,” says Jansen. “But we have also agreed to use DICP’s specific knowledge and skills in our own technology development work, as well as to provide it with access to our network in Europe. Conversely, we will gain access to China through Dalian.”
For more information about the agreements, please contact:
Theo de Lange
ECN Wind Energy
Telephone: +31 224 564134
Daan Jansen
ECN Hydrogen & Clean Fossil Fuels
Telephone: +31 224 564571
