“The use of new energy is only part of the low-carbon industry, which in fact includes four areas: energy-saving, energy-producing, environmental protection and maintenance of ecological balance,” says Du. New energy development, energy-saving and emission reduction and environmental improvement are equally important and together form the low-carbon industry.

Based on his ideological transformation, Du adjusted CSCE’s development strategy, giving consideration to both commercial and industrial sectors. At the same time, the company strove to become an integrated operator in the new-energy sector, setting up human resources to garner professional expertise on every link of the new-energy industry chain. In 2008, it put forward a low-carbon ecological development model.

Du also clearly understood that China and developed countries are at different stages in terms of economic development. China could draw on the experience of Europe and the U.S., but the foreign solutions couldn’t “cure any diseases” in China. He agrees that the low-carbon industry in China is experiencing fast development, but some regions and companies still don’t have a clear understanding about the industry or the recycling economy and blindly stress large-scale investments and projects. However, due to lack of industrial leadership and an overall strategy, there were problems with overheated investments, and complications from wasteful repeat construction – the hazards of learning as you go.

“Now we need to focus on the concerted development of companies in the low-carbon industry and seek ways which allow each company to give full play to its particular talents. Encouraging the building of an integrated low-carbon industry follows, through which an all-round and sustainable development of China’s low-carbon economy could be achieved,” comments Du.

To mitigate a shortage of capital in some regions and enterprises in China, the CSCE adopted the BOT model (Build-Operate-Transfer), meaning that the CSCE gives direct investment to the project and is eligible to profit from its use within a certain window of time, following which ownership of the equipment will be transferred back.

“I See a Very Bright Future”

Through mergers and acquisitions, share purchases and rapid expansion, CSCE has annexed nine new-energy companies, including the state-owned holding company Tianjin Huaneng (Group) Energy Co., Ltd. CSCE is expected to control 30-odd wholly-owned companies in the next few years. Moreover, the company and the World Bank jointly sponsored a large exhibition center in Beijing devoted to new energy.

With a solid platform underfoot, Du started to promote integrated solutions, a type badly needed in China.

Premier Wen Jiabao announced at the Copenhagen Climate Summit in 2009 that China has set a new 2020 target of cutting carbon dioxide emissions per unit of GDP by 40 to 45 percent of the 2005 level. Further, the index of carbon dioxide emission cuts would be a “binding goal” to be incorporated into China’s medium and long-term national social and economic development plans. New measures would be formulated to audit, monitor and assess its implementation, and increased transparency would be brought to the way emission reduction information was released.

The stage is set and with the encouragement of the national policies, every region in China is vigorously discussing how to accelerate the development of the recycling economy. Regions and companies that used to manufacture new energy equipment, whether solar, wind or biomass, are tuned to the advantages of integrated solutions.

“Such end-to-end systems are in great demand in many places, and the CSCE has gradually expanded the business from selling new-energy products to offering an integrated plan for customers, to promoting a low-carbon life-style and culture. To sum it up, we offer energy-saving and emission-cutting solutions for institutes, schools, hospitals or even an entire city. Our service includes planning, designing, investing, constructing and operating. This way we can avoid redoing work over the long term,” says Du.

At present, CSCE is busy making integrated low-carbon solutions that include a zero-carbon island and a low-carbon hospital, but Du refuses to disclose details. In his view, these projects are still in the initial trial phases that the company needs to accumulate experience for its future operation.

He states candidly that he feels very lucky to have chosen this industry and for the boundless prospects in his career. “If you only dream about something but never do anything about it, your dreams will go unrealized. If you act without objectives and the right environment, your success may be short term. I dreamt it, I did it, and I had my goals plus the agreeable environment. I see a very bright future,” Du says with a smile.