Alternative energy: Michael Branco, pictured at a Chinese wind farm in Inner Mongolia.

Bermuda and Inner Mongolia are about as far apart as you can imagine, in more ways than one.

But for budding young Bermudian entrepreneur Michael Branco, the opportunity to visit one of the world's most remote regions on a fact-finding mission looking into the business of wind power generation, as part of his Executive MBA final project, it proved too good to pass up on.

Mr. Branco, who owns technology solutions company Fireminds, learnt everything from the correct way of doing business with government officials to the science of wind energy technology and its green benefits during his five-day expedition.

Working in a team of six, Mr. Branco was chosen to fly to Kialu in Inner Mongolia, via Beijing, to check out and do some research into a Chinese wind energy company that his selected client - a Canadian investment firm, was putting its money into.

Looking at five parts of the company's plans, doing an analysis of them and then offering recommendations, his team will subsequently make the trip out again in May 2010 and carry out a series of follow-up interviews.

"This particular client said it took this project very seriously and were making an investment trip and asked if one of us could go along too," he said.

"Between the six of us we clubbed together to pay for my ticket to Beijing, which amazingly cost $1,300.

"From the moment we hit Beijing, the client took care of us and we met with the investors and got a really good understanding of what their objectives were, and then met with the head of the wind energy company, who is a really dynamic CEO, and government officials, who are actively trying to stimulate this industry."

During his long flight to the Chinese capital, Mr. Branco kept himself busy reading 400 pages worth of documentation on the wind power industry in Inner Mongolia, learning that the area was made up of flat land and tundra off as well as a level two wind turbine quality wind - an abundance of which could be harnessed for renewable energy.

"The Chinese are quite naturally trying to capture all of their natural resources," he said.

"There is not much industry happening in that part of Inner Mongolia and setting up wind farms there is ideal."

Mr. Branco said it was a win-win situation for all parties concerned, with on average 80 jobs being created per wind turbine produced and investors receiving financial backing from the government.

"The government loved it because they are creating jobs and the investors loved it because it is somewhat of a safe industry due to being subsidised and government is buying back some of the energy produced," he said.

"I have to admit I went into it green behind the ears in terms of my knowledge of the alternative energy business in China and it was a huge learning curve.

"It was also a real eye-opener in relation to all of the cultural aspects, carrying out discussions with some government officials speaking through interpreters at the same time as looking them in the eye."

Business Inner Mongolian-style also proved to be a new experience for Mr. Branco, with big banquets laid on by his hosts, and him presenting them with a set of first day cover Bermudian stamps in return much to their delight.

He also managed to squeeze in a bit of sightseeing on his whistle-stop tour with girlfriend Polina, visiting the Great Wall of China, the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square and even a night out listening to the sounds of the Beijing Symphony Orchestra.

And despite a few relics and hangovers from the former Communist era, he believes China is now a fully-fledged member of the capitalist society.

"From what I can see just from my limited trip, it was a pretty capitalised society," he said.

"If you look at all the investments they are making in Africa, they are expanding rapidly - some investors I know who have been doing business in China from 1990 have said it has changed so much in the last 18 years.

"I definitely feel very comfortable with doing business in China having done the crash course and has opened my eyes to some of the opportunities there as well as the whole world of alternate energy and the possibilities available on that front."

The Chinese government has already made big investments in and is subsidising the renewable energy sector across the country, sending out a message to the rest of the world that it is taking the issue seriously and coming up with solutions to address the problem of ever dwindling fossil fuel supplies and Mr. Branco reckons that Bermuda should be thinking along the same lines in terms of developing an underwater current generation strategy to reduce its dependence on oil for power.

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