The environmental revolution needs green technologies

Host City reports on solutions from Siemens that are transforming China’s cities and the world’s biggest events

The world has changed dramatically in last few months. Not only is public investment under much closer scrutiny; social and economical values are being completely redrafted. As a result, the success of a major event is no longer just measured in terms of excellent facilities, security, safety and an emotionally charged atmosphere. An event’s sustainability has become the crux of the matter – and environmental performance counts for more than ever before. Each major event must now be a catalyst for sustainable development.

In January 2009 Siemens signed a framework contract with the Bureau of Shanghai World Expo Coordination to help make the China Pavilion a ‘green’ landmark

Driving and enabling this trend, Siemens supplied several systems and projects for the 2008 summer Games in Beijing with a strong focus on environmental improvements and legacy use. These projects helped to make the lives of the inhabitants and visitors of this mega city much easier and safer. Sustainable energy solutions like the new thermal power plant ensure a reliable energy supply for the city, but also help to improve air quality by emitting less carbon than traditional power plants. Transportations systems like the Metro line 5 help to handle the mass transportation and to reduce the chaotic traffic of this mega-city.

Treating water for the people
Another good example of how Siemens made a major contribution to the people and Games of Beijing is the upgraded waste water treatment plant in Beixiaohe. Located in the north of Beijing in the Asian Games Park, the plant was originally opened in 1990 to coincide with the Asian Games. It had a capacity of 40,000 m3 per day, a service population of 400,000 and a service area of 30 sq km.

Rising demand and the decision to host the 2008 summer Games prompted Beijing to fit the Beixiaohe plant with the largest membrane bio reactor (MBR) in the world – supplied and installed by Siemens. By the end of 2007, capacity was increased to 60,000 m3 per day, including 50,000 m3 of municipal water and 10, 000 m3 of recreational water for the Olympic Park. As well as the MBR, Siemens provided mechanisms, electrical and automation systems, instruments and services. The long term plan is to expand the plant to provide 100,000 m3 per day.

“It's way beyond Beijing 2008," Peter van Gend, President of Siemens One Major Events told Host City. “China is investing not just for the three weeks but also in long-lasting elements of infrastructure to ensure legacay and sustainability.”

Partnering with the 2010 World Expo
Siemens is also playing a central role in boosting the environmental credentials of another of China’s mega-events – the Expo 2010 in Shanghai, under the motto of “Better City, Better Life”. Siemens has been an active participant and strong supporter of World Expositions since the very first London Expo in 1851. In 2007 Siemens became the first wholly international sponsorship partner for the 2010 event, with the title “Global Partner for Innovative Infrastructure and Healthcare”.

Commenting on the agreement, Hu Yanzhao, Vice Mayor of Shanghai Municipality said: “The Shanghai Expo serves as an opportunity as well as a stage, for not only companies in China, but also companies all over the world who have a strategic vision and outstanding performance."

In a statement at the signing ceremony, Dr Richard Hausmann, president and CEO of Siemens China, said: "As a world leader with core competence in infrastructure and relevant fields, Siemens will provide most advanced technology, solutions and high-quality products/services to the World Expo 2010 Shanghai China, in the areas of rail transportation, building technology and healthcare.”

Van Gend told Host City: "The world climate is changing due to the greenhouse effect and average temperatures are rising steadily. We take this dangerous development very seriously. With the Expo partnership, Siemens is already showcasing its stand against this threat with its ‘green portfolio’ in fields like environmental technologies and renewable energy for major events."

Building China’s green pavilion
This partnership was extended in January 2009 when Siemens signed a framework contract with the Bureau of Shanghai World Expo Coordination to provide integrated energy-saving solutions to help make the China Pavilion the ‘green’ landmark on the Expo site. The Pavilion is not only designed to manifest the country’s culture and wisdom, but also to showcase the ‘Green Expo’ concept. Siemens is providing an integrated solution to dramatically reduce the building’s energy consumption.

This will be achieved by intelligent building technology including newly developed insulation materials. A highly efficient air conditioning system will reduce energy usage by 25 per cent and low/middle voltage power distribution equipment will save 50 per cent on energy, as compared to a traditional building.

Sustainable lighting solutions from Siemens Osram will reduce energy consumption in the pavilion by 80 per cent. As well as saving energy, these efficient bulbs operate up to 15 times longer while LEDs operate up to 50 times longer than conventional bulbs.

Dr Meng Fanchen, Senior Vice President of Siemens China and General Manager of Siemens Region East and Shanghai Branch further emphasised, "With some 30,000 patents for environmental and climate-relevant solutions, Siemens fully shares the vision of 'Green Expo', and we are therefore very honoured to have the opportunity to jointly realise the 'green' concept at China Pavilion through close partnership with Expo Bureau".

Mr. Ding Hao, Deputy Managing Director of Expo Bureau said, "With joint efforts from both parties, I'm fully convinced that China Pavilion will become a 'Green Highlight' of Expo 2010."

In the run up to the Expo, Siemens will offer Chinese cities an ‘urban resource efficiency profiling’ approach. This unique method generates a roadmap to increase city sustainability and bring urban energy consumption down. The programme adopts a unique analytical approach to analyse the energy efficient (EE) footprint of urban infrastructure such as buildings and transportation.

Based on the EE footprint, the most effective and efficient technological solutions are identified. The program already proved to be successful in Europe where the first of such an appraisal has been conducted with the city of London. In March 2009, the company also published a study on Munich showcasing sustainable, energy efficient infrastructure solutions for a nearly carbon-free future in large urban areas. Now, Siemens is offering such projects for Chinese cities too.

"The Expo 2010 brings Shanghai unprecedented opportunities to display how city life in a metropolis of the 21st century will ideally look. Siemens is deeply engaged in this process and is well prepared to help make cities greener, healthier and a more enjoyable experience," Hausmann said.