Cheng unveils strategy for green cities

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His approach is to identify the world's best, complementary clean technology companies to create entire supply chains, across multiple verticals, to produce integrated solutions on an enormous scale. Cheng's recent investments in solar companies are estimated to be worth nearly $20bn.

Cheng, founder and chairman of Hong Kong-based Asia Pacific Resources Development Investment (APRD), recently unveiled his vision for the 'Age of Green Cities' at The Next Generation Solar PV Finance event in New York.

"Clean energy brings a much brighter future for mankind and Mother Earth. Investors and entrepreneurs should be focused on this sector," said Cheng. "By investing in companies that together bring total solutions, we enable cities to transform the ways they grow and consume resources and we can ensure a high quality of life for us and for future generations."

Cheng, also known as Zheng Jianming, and APRD are focusing on long-term investments to provide solutions to low-carbon cities. In November 2012, he acquired a 30% stake in Shunfeng Photovoltaic International Ltd. With his backing, Shunfeng has quickly evolved from a solar developer and operator into the world's largest integrated clean energy company with capabilities in design, engineering, manufacturing, construction, finance, insurance, operation and maintenance, energy storage, solar products and applications.

Supply chains

Today, Cheng is investing in entire supply chains, across multiple verticals, to produce integrated solutions that create efficiencies, control costs and advance technologies to market. Cheng is currently investing in companies in three complementary business segments including clean power generation, such as solar panels and inverters; energy storage and management, such as battery or heat pumps; and green consumer solutions, including electric vehicles and LED products.

Through Shunfeng, Cheng has invested in several clean energy generation companies, including Suntech, a world-leading manufacturer of PV panels for residential, commercial, industrial and utility applications; Sunways, a leading German manufacturer of solar inverters and S.A.G Solarstrom, a German provider of high-quality photovoltaic systems. Cheng has also invested in TCNT, which is accelerating energy generation from seawater. His goal is to deploy more than 50 gigawatts of installed clean energy capacity in the next ten years - enough to power over 37 million homes.

Energy storage

APRD's stakes in energy storage companies include Powin Energy, a US company that designs and integrates grid-scale storage systems; Boston Power, a US manufacturer of long-range battery systems for electric vehicles, and Nobao Renewable Energy Holdings, the number one provider of fully integrated energy systems in China.

To drive smart consumer decisions that save energy and reduce costs, APRD is investing in a group of companies that are pioneering new technologies for consumers including Lattice Power, a Chinese producer of low-cost, high-performance LED bulbs, and Green Wheel Electric Vehicles, one of the largest and most experienced manufacturers of electric vehicles in China.