Kingpin in Energy Conservation

By staff reporter ZHANG MAN

Neglect of brandname building will cause a plateau in the rise of small private enterprises. China Foto Press

THIRTY years ago, Du Deli, a high-school dropout, concealed his real age to get a construction job in a suburb of western Beijing. Discouraged by the heavy workload, he gave up after only five days and returned to his hometown. Today, Du is Chairman of the Board and CEO of China Solar & Clean Energy Solutions, Inc. (CSCE) – the only Chinese company in solar energy development to be listed on the NASDAQ. In over ten years of operation his company has helped save 6.8 million tons of standard coal, representing a reduction of carbon dioxide emissions by 11 million tons.

One Foot in New Energy

Du found a job at home, as it turns out, on a construction team affiliated with a local hospital. He worked there for 12 years, working his way up from odd jobs to technical services in plumbing, heating and welding. In 1993, Du was promoted to supervisor of post-construction services. Besides performing his duty well, Du led his staff to establish a salesroom for plumbing equipment.

In the beginning, Du and his colleagues only acted as sales agents for solar water heaters, but with the rise of the new energy industry in China shifted their business from sales to manufacturing. From making accessories for solar water heaters to producing the complete appliance, his enterprise was enjoying incremental growth.

In 1996, with only the humble desire to support his family, Du resigned and went into business by setting up the Deli Solar Energy Heating Co., Ltd. in Bazhou City, Hebei Province. Since then Du has formed an unbreakable bond with the new energy sector. Just two months after founding his company, Du took the bold decision to establish a branch in Beijing and located it just opposite the Beijing Solar Energy Research Institute (BSERI). At that time, the Beijing Sunpu Solar Energy Technology Co., Ltd. affiliated with the institute was the leading company in the sector, boasting advanced technology, a professional staff and the best products. Many of Du’s friends had concerns about his decision because of the very fierce competition the company might have to face, but Du thought otherwise: “We have much to learn from first-class companies.” His insight later proved prophetic.