China Commits $180 Billion to Renewable Energy

Agence France-Presse

China said Monday it would spend about 180 billion dollars over the next 15 years to increase its use of renewable energy to 15 percent of the total generated, from the current seven percent.

Zhang Guobao, vice minister of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), revealed the plan at an international conference on renewable energy in Beijing, the state news agency reported.

"Renewable energy, including solar, wind power and hydropower, will contribute to better energy security in China," said Zhang.
"It also delivers substantial economic and environmental results, alleviating poverty."

In the coming 15 years China will develop biomass energy, which stems from plant and animal matter, and hopes to replace ten million tons of petroleum with renewable energy annually, Zhang said.

China also plans to expand the heat collection area of solar heaters to 300 million cubic meters (390 million cubic yards) by 2020, replacing the use of about 40 million tons of standard coal each year.

In a speech at the conference, Chinese President Hu Jintao called on the international community to improve cooperation in research and development, transfer of technology and funding to promote the use of renewable resources, Xinhua news agency said.
"China attaches great importance to the utilization of renewable resources, making it one of the important moves to promote economic and social development," Hu said.

Chinese Vice-Premier Zeng Peiyan told the conference China will make better use of its water resources, build wind power plants capable of generating a million kilowatts each and use more solar energy and methane in rural areas.

Zeng called on developed countries and international organizations to honor their commitments made in 2004 in Bonn, Germany, to offer assistance to developing countries for the use of renewable energy, including funding, technology, expertise and management.

China aims to provide electricity to many homes still living without it by developing renewable energies, especially solar energy, Zhang said.

China has spent some 600 million dollars in the past few years on installing solar batteries in 700 small towns far from the country's power grid. It planned to provide the batteries to more towns in coming years.

FAIR USE NOTICE: This site contains copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyrightowner. We are making such material available in our efforts to advance understanding of environmental, political, human rights, economic, democracy, scientific, and social justice issues, etc. We believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use', you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.