Reuters
September 19, 2009 - 12:00 a.m. EST

ANN ARBOR, Michigan (Reuters) - Duke Energy Corp (DUK.N), the third-largest U.S. electricity utility, has signed agreements with several Chinese companies to develop energy technology, including solar power, Chief Executive Jim Rogers said on Friday.

Details of at least one of the agreements will be announced next week at the Clinton Global Initiative annual meeting in New York, said Rogers, who declined to say which Chinese companies are involved.

Duke last month signed a memorandum of understanding with China's biggest utility, China Huaneng Group [HUANP.UL], to "explore a variety of renewable and other clean-energy technologies."

Rogers said the unannounced agreements are similar to the one with Huaneng -- sharing information and seeking ways to be more efficient and cut greenhouse gas emissions. He also left open the possibility of developing projects.

"Our vision is to develop relationships with a number of the leading Chinese energy companies," said Rogers, who spoke at an energy symposium at the University of Michigan.

He said Duke's early partnering with the Chinese will include "a joint venture around solar panel businesses."

Rogers declined to reveal the partner, but said the company had held talks with State Grid Corp, the world's biggest power transmission and distribution company, and CNOOC (0083.HK), a Chinese offshore oil and gas producer.

U.S. TECH, BUT NOT JOBS

Another U.S. power generator looking to increase exposure to China's fast-growing economy is Southern Company (SO.N), which on Friday announced it will partner with KBR Inc (KBR.N) to place its first commercial power plant in China based on "transport integrated gasification" technology, a lower-emissions coal-fired power technology.

Atlanta-based Southern, the top emitter of greenhouse gases in the United States, and Duke, which is No. 3, are seeking ways to cut emissions.

One potential less polluting way to burn coal is carbon capture and storage (CCS), as yet unproven on a large scale.

Duke wants to study a CCS plant as part of a 640-megawatt coal-fired plant it is building in Indiana. Huaneng has built China's first CCS demonstration plant.

President Barack Obama and Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm have both touted new green jobs as a way of lowering U.S. unemployment, but Rogers said China had too big a lead in manufacturing solar panels and wind turbines for the U.S. manufacturers to be competitive.

"We need to be realistic about this," Rogers said.

Because of a global glut of solar panels and wind turbine inventories, along with the money China is spending to develop ways to make better solar panels, the United States should focus on the technology of green energy rather than manufacturing, he said.

Rogers said Chinese energy manufacturing companies can hire Americans to work in U.S.-based plants, like foreign automakers who have U.S. plants.

Rogers said he continued to believe the best U.S. energy jobs are in nuclear power. Duke has plans to build two nuclear plants, in Ohio and South Carolina. (Editing by Gary Hill)