In 1947, the Bulletin of Atomic Scien tists from University of Chicago set up the "Doomsday Clock". This clock was originally used to indicate the degree of danger of acceptance posed from the nuclear disaster threat. The more close to midnight, the closer would be the end of the world. In 2007, the global climate change formally became the key element of affection on the Doomsday Clock. In 2010, it had only left six minutes to go from midnight. I'm often thinking, how should people fight to reverse the future? Obviously, Green energy is one of the answers.

With the rise of civilisation, the gradual depletion of human resources has been accelerated and the amount number of carbon emissions has rapidly increased. To solve the over-reliance on the traditional energy, the renewable energy resource usage has become an important issue for us. The Green energy will have to play an essential role in the future.

Currently, the Green energy's ratio of green energy power to traditional energy proportion is still not high, but looking at it another way, I think this represents a strong potential for future opportunities.

Similar to other energies, green energy needs to be effectively managed, whether in its power generation, power transmission/distribution, or on the end user side. All of the power should be monitored and controlled to optimise the benefits on the supply side. Take solar energy for example, how can wind efficiently receives the largest generator of energy, and how can we significantly increase the conversion efficiency? Furthermore, on the transmission/distribution side, how can the renewable energy integrate with the existing grid network, at the same time interconnect with the latest interface of the smart grid concept - or even, to stimulate in turn and upgrade the power grid? On the user side, how to make the most energy efficient buildings with most effective energy use, and how can we develop better the electric vehicles? This all requires further technology and research. Fortunately, we are stepping on the right direction.

In some of the countries, we do see the power of green energy. Such as in Germany, it was the first to support the global solar energy industry. In 2000, it's had the first renewable energy bill approved in the world. Currently the proportion of renewable energy there is more than 17% of the total electricity consumption in Germany, while Denmark has the most complete national wind power development country in the world. In the late 1970s, Denmark mastered the production of wind turbine manufacturing and wind power technology. According to the increase in demand for domestic market in wind power, Denmark's wind electricity generation industry is being fully able to compete with the fossil fuels power in the market place.

From the two examples, we can see that green energy and economic development has developed from nothing into a win-win industry. At the Smart Planet program of 2008, IBM turned from a Big Blue into a Big Green giant. Now, the economic development and energy saving are no longer on opposite sides. Enterprises and the earth coexist in harmony. Advantech also adopted in 2010 the Intelligent Planet (smart planet) concept. This means all the automation technology does not exist or work independently, but has become more green and makes up part of the green system through Intelligent Planet. We found the right way to go.

Although the current proportion of the green energy supply is not high, and some technologies also remain to breakthrough, I still believe this will be an important trend in the energy industry along the way. Advantech will play as an important promotion role in the future for supply, transportation, and energy use.

Working closely with customers, starting from the layout of greater China, and many different regions around the globe, we will offer for different product strategies to help guide more and more green energy into the industry. Thus stimulating a more environmentally friendly planet, and giving an advanced hope to a better society.

(Excerpts from a speech delivered by Mr Ming-Chin Wu, President, Industrial Automation Group, Advanech Co Ltd., at conference in Taiwan on the 5th of August 2011)

(Advantech India, Bangalore. Tel: 080-23374567. Fax: 91-80-23375898. Email: divya.v@advantech.com)