Friday 30 March 2007

Solar flair sparks green revolution

Australian Financial Review
Friday 30/3/2007 Page: 60

In the 17 years since a popular uprising swept away the Soviet backed system, East Germany has turned its back on its mining past and become a centre for wind farms and alternative energy companies promoting solar power and biomass-based fuels. In the communist days there was never enough fuel so the easterners became resourceful. Now they're setting up the world's first factory to convert biomass to diesel, called SunDiesel.

Despite grey skies in winter Deutsche Solar is the world's biggest producer of solar wafers, exporting to Asia and Australia. By 2008 they plan to produce 12 percent of the world's solar wafers. The booming renewable energy sector has finally helped eastern Germany emerge from its post-communism economic gloom.

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