Risø DTU is signing a collaboration agreement with the leading American research laboratory for renewable energy (NREL) on Wednesday 27 June 2007. The agreement will strengthen existing collaboration on wind energy research, but also ensure progress within other renewable energy technologies. Read the press release from NREL here. Read the agreement here.
To register, please contact Senior Consultant Leif Sønderberg Petersen by e-mail or telephone before 26 June 2007 (Contact: +45 4677 4021 / +45 2421 3832 / leif.sonderberg@risoe.dk)
On 27 June 2007, the American National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and the Danish national laboratory Risø DTU are signing a collaboration agreement on research into renewable energy types. The two parties already enjoy a well-established collaboration in the wind energy area. The agreement will pave the way for expanding and maximising the effect of their existing collaboration, but focus will also be directed at other technologies within renewable energy research.
NREL is the USA’s counterpart to Risø, i.e. leading within research into renewable forms of energy. NREL is funded by the US Department of Energy (DOE), which has an annual budget of USD 1.17 billion.
“It is both exciting and extremely good news that with this collaboration agreement we are formalising and expanding our collaboration with NREL. From a global perspective, it is basically about using renewable energy more effectively on a daily basis,” says Risø’s Managing Director Jørgen Kjems, and adds: “With this agreement, we hope that a solid platform can be established for the collaboration between our nations. I also think that the collaboration sends a clear signal to us that change is under way in American energy policy-making.”
The two parties are being represented by Jørgen Kjems, Managing Director of Risø DTU, and Dr Dan Arvizu, Director of NREL. Present at the ceremony at Risø will also be representatives from:The Danish Energy Authority, the Danish Embassy in Washington D.C. and the US Department of Energy, DOE.
The representative of the US Department of Energy is the USA’s Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Alexander Karsner, who plays a key role in both the planning and the strategic work being carried out within energy efficiency and renewable energy in the USA. Alexander Karsner has been personally appointed by the President and is currently co-responsible for supporting the “Asia-Pacific Partnership (APP)”, which will focus on global CO2 emissions and the market-based mechanisms.
Alexander Karsner is giving a short speech at the signing ceremony and is happy to answer questions concerning the USA’s recent initiatives within energy policies and the possibility of seeing the USA getting back on track with the Kyoto Protocol. He will also be available for interviews after the ceremony.
Programme for Wednesday 27 June 2007:
9.30 – 11.30
Introduction to Risø’s advanced renewable energy and energy-efficiency programme by Jørgen Kjems (Risø DTU)
Presentation of NREL by Alexander Karsner (DOE) and Dan Arvizu (NREL)
Wind energy research at Risø DTU by Erik Lundtang Petersen
Energy efficiency programme at Risø DTU by Hans Larsen
Visit to the Department of Fuel Cells and Solid State Chemistry (Risø DTU) with Søren Linderoth
11.30 – 12.00
Signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)
Speeches by Alexander Karsner, Dan Arvizu and Jørgen Kjems
Questions from the media
Present at the signing ceremony are:
NREL and the US Government:
Mr Alexander (Andy) Karsner, Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), US Department of Energy
Dr Dan Arvizu, Director, National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), US Department of Energy
Ms Amy Chiang, Director, Office of Technology Advancement and Outreach Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, US Department of Energy
Risø DTU:
Jørgen Kjems, Managing Director
Henrik Bindslev, Vice Director
Erik Lundtang Petersen, Head of Department, Wind Energy Department
Hans Larsen, Head of Department, Systems Analysis Department
Søren Linderoth, Head of Department, Fuel Cells and Solid State Chemistry Department
Other:
Ms Anne Mette Mosekjaer Madsen, Royal Danish Embassy, Washington, DC
Hans Jørgen Koch, Deputy State Secretary, Danish Energy Authority
Nicolai Zaganis, Head of Department, Danish Energy Authority
Relevant links:
NREL - http://www.nrel.gov/
Risø DTU - www.risoe.dtu.dk
The Danish Energy Authority - http://www.ens.dk/
Office of EERE - http://www.eere.energy.gov/
Alexander Karsner - http://www1.eere.energy.gov/office_eere/karsner_bio.html
Dan Arvizu - http://www.nrel.gov/director/biography.html
Organisation diagram of the US Department of Energy |