GNERI/ISEC-UNIDO consists of the 5 management offices：Administration Office, Division of Research and Development, Division of International Cooperation for Technology Promotion and Transfer, Division of Technology Consultation & Training and Division of Finances; 8 laboratories concerning different fields: Research Lab of Solar Thermal Technology, Research Lab of Solar Photovoltaic Technology, Research Lab of Building Design of Solar Energy, Research Lab of Solar Water Treatment, Research Lab of Application of Wind Energy, Research Lab of Biomass Energy, Research Lab of Energy Saving, Research Lab of Rural Energy; 6 technology consultative and service organizations: Testing Center for Solar Product Performance and Quality Inspection, Network Center for Solar Energy Information, Gansu Solar Engineering Technology Center, Renewable Energy Engineering Consultation Center, Gansu Energy Efficiency Center, Gansu Solar and Wind Energy Association. GNERI/ ISEC-UNIDO also owns two Experiment and Demonstration Bases of Solar Energy, three development entities and one Solar Building Design Institute.

GNERI/ISEC-UNIDO has 6 researchers, who have obtained the national level expert titles, 20 more senior scientific researchers, 30 more intermediate and 40 primary researchers or staffs. Till now, GNERI/ISEC-UNIDO has sent almost 20 staffs to USA, Japan, Australia, Italy, New Zealand, Singapore and other countries for further study or cooperative research. More than 90 staffs have been abroad for investigation, academic exchange and cooperative projects.

Since 1978, there are more than 160 scientific research achievements have been gained, of which 32 items obtained the award of national or provincial level. For example, The Passive Solar Heating Technology for Building won the unique National Award of Advanced Science and Technology in solar building field, 19 monographs and comprehensive tool books have been published. Besides, more than 390 papers have been published on domestic and international publications or international seminars.

Under the support of Chinese governments at different levels, 70 domestic training workshops have been held by GNERI/ISEC-UNIDO, with more than 10 thousand participants attended solar water heater, solar cooker, solar building, solar photovoltaic technique, energy saving and coal or firewood saving stove workshops. Furthermore, by the support of Chinese Ministry of Commerce, Ministry of Science and Technology, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, UN and relevant international organizations, GNERI/ISEC-UNIDO has held “International Solar Energy Application Technological Training Workshop” over 48 times, and trained over 1300 solar energy talents for 117 countries throughout the five continents from 1991 to 2013. The international training program is not only the way to spread technology and friendship, but also plays an active role in improving and strengthening the relationship between China and the other countries, developing countries in particular. GNERI/ISEC-UNIDO has sponsored and hosted 22 international academic conferences or forums on solar energy and other renewable energies, together with the UN systems and other international organizations, the concerned commissions and ministries of the Chinese Government, institutions as well as universities. By the end of 2011, around 230 world famous experts have paid visits and given lectures or had technical exchanges at GNERI/ISEC-UNIDO, 3200 ambassadors, scientists and governors in total from more than 110 countries (including 9 Presidents and Prolocutors, more than 100 Ministers) visited GNERI/ISEC-UNIDO. Dr. George Lof, the pioneer of world solar energy development and the former President of International Solar Energy Society, uttered the following words after giving a lecture at GNERI in 1983: “I am greatly impressed with the progress you have made during the three short years since my last visit to your institute in Lanzhou. You have developed a center which, I am sure, will become an important international center for solar development.” The Chairman of International Earth Day Organizing Committee and the former US Solar Energy Research Institute (SERI) Director, Dr. Denis Hayes visited GNERI in 1984 and said “The people of Gansu and indeed the people of China are fortunate to have such fine resources, and such dedicated staff, available to them. I am confident your center will prove to be of invaluable assistance to the nation as it vigorously pursues its ambitious programs to harness the sun for human purpose.” The former President of Peru and leader of People’ s Party inscribed after his visit in 2006 “What you have done shows a glorious prospect of improving life through solar energy utilization for the world’s impoverished countries as well as the poor people. I would like to express my sincere respect and congratulations to your spirits and the achievements you have made.” In March 2006, Dr. Kandeh Kolleh YUMKELLA, Director-General of United Nations Industrial Development Organization(UNIDO) attended the Launching and Establishment Ceremony of UNIDO “International Solar Energy Center for Technology Promotion and Transfer and commented, “Today marks the beginning of a new partnership for promoting renewable energy utilization throughout the developing world—UNIDO-Gansu/China Cooperation.”

With the support from the Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology, Ministry of Commerce and Gansu Provincial Government, GNERI/ISEC-UNIDO has successfully carried out the two phases of UNDP projects on solar energy utilization, set up the “Solar Energy Heating and Cooling Technology Experiment and Demonstration Center” on the outskirts of Lanzhou city, which is the biggest one in Asia covering 80,000m². The center is equipped with the advanced testing instruments for photovoltaic and solar heating techniques, and can serve as an excellent platform for the research and experiment of applied technology, the research and development of high-technology product, the national and international technology cooperation and exchange, and the personnel training. Through decades-long efforts, GNERI has grown from a recipient unit of technology assistance into a successful technology provider and an international agency under UNIDO.

GNERI/ISEC-UNIDO not only provides technical training for developing countries, but also actively participates in the technology communication and cooperation with developed countries. When GNERI/ISEC-UNIDO sends experts to developing countries for technology assistance and technology training, also funds staffs to America, German, Japan, Australia, Italy and other countries for technology cooperation, communication and study. GNERI/ISEC-UNIDO helped Tanzania to develop a national five-year plan of solar energy development, assisted Coted’ Ivories in formulating a countrywide photovoltaic development and dissemination strategy, provided technical training on solar cooker and solar water heater in Djibouti and Pakistan, and implemented the aid project of establishing a solar PV production line in Cuba. At the request of UNIDO, GNERI drafted “The Proposal for Developing & Applying Solar Energy in Africa”. As a specially-invited guest, GNERI has made a presentation at “China-Africa Cooperation Forum: Ministerial Conference, Beijing 2000”. Projects which GNERI is currently implementing include: the first 863 megawatt solar photovoltaic power systems, a national demonstration project under the National High Technology Research and Development Program of China (863 Program); National Key Technology in the 11^th Five-Year Plan Period; UNIDO international solar energy project; Sino-Japanese International Cooperation Project; pivotal international cooperation projects in China; major provincial projects of Gansu Province, and many other projects under the commissions of local governments or enterprises in China. Besides these projects, GNERI/ISEC-UNIDO also has extensive cooperation with U.S.A, Japan, Germany, Spain, Canada, Thailand, Pakistan, Yugoslavia, Romania, Lesotho, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Sierra Leone for technological cooperation; projects of solar energy, and some cooperation projects on solar energy with countries in South-Pacific, Africa, Asia and Latin America are under discussion. Further more, GNERI/ISEC-UNIDO develops a close cooperation with UNDP, UNESCO, UNEP, UNU, WB, ADB and etc.

GNERI/ISEC-UNIDO devotes herself to the transfer of scientific research achievements into productive forces and industrialized products. More than 50% of solar houses in China are designed by GNERI/ISEC-UNIDO, and the GNERI-developed solar water heaters, solar cookers and photovoltaic products also hold an important share in the domestic market, and some products have been sold in the international market, among which the major products like stainless steel frozen resistant solar water heater and various solar cookers have won science and technology achievement awards, and the first prize in national contests for many times. So far, GNERI has designed and developed more than 70,000m² solar houses, implemented solar heating water system more than 115,000m², promoted and popularized solar cooker more than 420,000 and the solar PV station built by GNERI has generated more than 1200KW accumulative electricity.

Solar energy industry has a bright and prospective future. GNERI/ISEC-UNIDO/Asia-Pacific Research and Training Center is keen to cooperate with each and every colleague, at home or from abroad, to upheave the sun of tomorrow and to create sunny and magnificent sun industry of 21^st century.

Contact us:

ADD: No. 20 Renmin Road, Lanzhou 730000, P.R. China

Postal Code: 730046

Tel: 86-931-8386009/8386610

Fax: 86-931-8386011/ 8386612

Mailbox: office@unido-isec.org   interoffice@unido-isec.org

Website: www.unido-isec.org