Shenzhen

Blue Sky Awards

A Shenzhen visit in mid-November came at the invitation of Professor Yu Yuanqi, who runs the Shenzhen International Technology Promotion Center for Sustainable Development (in conjunction with UNIDO). Prof. Yu coordinates the international Blue Sky Awards for renewable energy, and I was part of the nine-member panel of experts who reviewed this year’s technologies. We received info about the nominated technologies beforehand, and each company had a opportunity to make a demonstration/presentation, followed by a Q&A period. We then had an electronic vote, so the audience could follow our tallies. I got to present one of the awards to Mariwasa Siam Ceramics, Inc. of the Philippines, whose ‘Zero Waste Renewable Energy and Raw Materials from Rice Husk for the Ceramics Industry’ was a winner.

Prof. Yu also arranged a technical meeting, coordinated with the China Hi-Tech Fair meeting occurring at the same time, and I was invited to make a presentation about the ‘leapfrog’ emissions trading approach. Shenzhen has an interest in establishing an emissions exchange (much like other cities in China, including Beijing, Shanghai, & Tianjin), and the session included a signing ceremony for an MOU exploring such an entity with representatives from Australia and Hong Kong.