Page 68-69 - Global Renewables Online January 2012

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GLOBAL RENEWABLES ONLINE - JANUARY 2012
GREEN SUN RISING
ADVOCATES SOLAR
ENERGY FOR A
SUSTAINABLE
PLANET
G
REEN SUN R I S ING
Inc.,
based in Windsor Ontario,
has done something that most
companies can only dream of: run a
successful enterprise while educat-
ing the public about the reasons to
care about renewable energy—and
the company is thriving in both
capacities.
Green Sun Rising is focused on
developing and supplying solar
systems, both solar PV for clean
electricity, and solar thermal for
clean heat energy. They are also
looking at developing clean biomass
heat products. Green Sun Rising’s
products are state-of-the-art, and
utilize advanced technology. They
are supported by European and
German solar companies and have
employed the best engineering
designs possible. Owners Tanja
Nuske and husband Klaus Dohring
are very proud of the business
they’ve created and the Renewable
Energy Technology Centre, a facility
open to the public and used for
training sessions on solar—the
company built the RET Centre from
the ground up.
GRO spoke to Nuske and Dohring
about the success of the company,
and the success of the Centre, and
how both can be models for renew-
able development across Ontario.
GRO: How did Green Sun
Rising start a business and
the RET Centre?
Tanja Nuske: Klaus had been
working in the auto industry for over
20 years. Over time, we had moved
back and forth from North America
and Germany, but in 2004 settled
in Windsor. It was at this time that
the auto industry changed dramati-
cally, and we knew that Klaus might
not want to stay in automotive for
the longer term. The original
motivation to get into solar was this
shift. So we started the company by
focusing on biomass, but we were
also interested on solar thermal. In
January 2008, after educating
ourselves for some time about the
potential in solar, we founded Green
Sun Rising. By this point, the
motivation to get into solar was
government incentives.
The Renewable Technology Centre
was something that was established
over the last three years. There was
an old abandoned tool and die plant
that I was driving by on a regular
basis that I kept thinking must be
put to good use. So we came to an
agreement with the owner and
started to renovate the space. In
2009, we had a beautiful grand
opening, and Sandra Pupatello,
Minister of Economic Development
and Trade, cut the ribbon at the
opening.
SOLAR - GREEN SUN RISING