Monday, November 02, 2009 at 12:39:05 PM - by Nate Lew

Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke met recently with Liyou Yang, CEO of photovoltaic module manufacturer Astronergy, to help establish ties between America and Chinese solar energy companies.

Astronergy recently announced that one of its PV module designs was approved for U.S. and Canadian sale by Underwriters Laboratories.

The company, founded just three years ago, has many staffers with work or educational experience in the U.S., says Dr. Liyou, making Astronergy a strong competitor in America. Astronergy believes the U.S. will become the world's largest market for PV equipment. Astronergy already has U.S. offices in San Jose, California.

Locke and Liyou discussed joint Sino-American investments in solar energy utilization and the possibility of establishing research and production facilities in North America. The two men met at the 20th session of the Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade, a forum for economic discussion between China and America.

Also at the JCCT, China agreed to no longer require Chinese-sourced hardware in wind energy projects financed by foreign companies. With this opening of wind energy to foreign investment and future cooperation in solar energy, America and China are poised to become partners in creating a renewable energy future.