Age of Partnership

We met Dr. Tiris on the street a day after the SNEC exhibition. He was in a t-shirt and trainers and had a rucksack slung over his shoulder. He pulled out a business card and introduced himself as an entrepreneur in renewable energies and solar power. 

Him and his Partners

We were surprised that he and his partners would come to Shanghai from Istanbul for the convention—without government subsidies and without intention for foreign investment. Yet Dr. Tiris explained that his team was visiting factories across China to explore batteries and panels for installment in their countries. He smiled, telling us they were promoting and improving their corporation. 

Their business, Tdinamik, began 12 years ago with a rough start. Dr. Tiris had just joined a private sector after working at the government research center. He had plentiful knowledge in solar energy to rely on, but starting a business was a uniquely complex matter. It was then that he met his partners, who had built work experience in chemical energy. 

“They had accumulated a bit of money. I had accumulated knowledge. And then we brought these things together and started the company. Then we applied for license to produce electricity and then we got the license. First production license. Construction license. Then it took us 4 years to finish.”

Four years later, they received financing from a mother company, and in 2015, Tdinamik began producing electricity. 

We asked him for factors contributing to Tdinamik’s growth and success as an emerging company, and he chuckled and gave credit to “a little bit of luck” before telling us the importance of choosing a strong location and adequate timing for the company. 

“Timing and subject [are] very important. Solar energy was at the beginning phase when we entered into this business. And then it flourished, so it became very popular worldwide.”

Countries worldwide are currently aiming to produce technology for renewable energy, Dr. Tiris explained, and competition is undoubtedly prevalent in the field. After visiting factories in Shanghai, he observed that very good batteries and panels are manufactured in China, but these products are limited in European markets. 

“By doing that, they’re not stopping Chinese production… they are stopping [the use of] good-quality products coming from China. For example Chinese panels are in good quality and good-price[d], but if you don’t import them, if you try to block them, it means that you are going to produce more costly panels and eventually this will affect the electricity price electricity costs, which is not good for ordinary people.”

Dr. Tiris claimed that competition is healthy for advancements in renewable energy, yielding improved efficiency in panels, cars, and batteries, but excessive barriers bring more harm than benefits. 

Instead, Dr. Tiris pushes for partnership. He explained that in a world powered by fossil fuels and polluting forms of power, affordable clean energy needs to be more accessible worldwide. There are markets to discover and to spread solar energy to, he said, and extensive partnerships should be used to get there. 

“It’s not necessary to block all these panels, because these are clean technologies. We should make them spread worldwide. Solar energy belongs to us. And we need electricity. If we can turn this solar energy into electricity and it’s cheap, it’s going to be good for us.” 

Dr. Tiris said every country has its advantages in different industries ranging from innovative technology to tourism, and these are all advantages to be developed instead of inhibited. In the height of international competition, Dr. Tiris insists on the importance of partnership.

“It’s good for the future of the human being.”

We thanked him and his partners for their time and wished them the best of luck for Tdinamik. When we turned to leave, he told us his retirement plan: to come to Shanghai and enjoy life—in the unlimited conveniences of clean energy fostered through partnership. 

Late afternoon sunlight had gotten warm on our arms. It spilled leisurely on the busy, quietly filling the space between us.