Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
3500
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0
1990
1995
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2002
2004
2006
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2012
Fig. 4.8
Cumulative installed capacity of photovoltaic power generation in China (unit: MW).
Note: 2011, 2012 are the installed capacity of solar on-grid
4.1.3.3 Solar Energy
In recent years, China witnesses a rapid development in thermal utilization and
has become the largest producer and consumer in terms of solar water heater all
over the world. Till the end of 2012, gross collecting area of China's solar water
heaters is 258 million square meter with annual production capacity of 30 million
square meter, using volume and annual output over half of the total in the world.
In photovoltaic power, China has become world largest photovoltaic battery
producing country. Within the top 30 photovoltaic battery producers in the world,
11 producers come from mainland China. Yet, due to the high cost in photovoltaic
power and weak competition, installed capacity of domestic photovoltaic power
generation remains very low with only 328 million kilowatt in 2012 (see Fig.
4.8
).
4.1.3.4 Biomass Energy
In the past few years, biomass energy exploration and utility in China has obtained
great progress. Till the end of 2012, total utility volume of various biomass energies
is about 28.6 million ton coal equivalent. Among it, biogas usage is about 11.4
million ton coal equivalent. Installed capacity of biomass power is about 8 million
kilowatt. Annual production capacity of fuel ethanol is about 2 million ton and that
of bio-diesel fuel over 0.5 million ton.
All in all, biomass energy in China has a promising future. However, due to the
decentralization of raw material, difficulty in collection, trouble in large- scale plant
of bio-oil crops and immature technology of new generation biomass, the industry
still faces tremendous challenges.
4.1.3.5 Nuclear Power
China has a short history of nuclear power development. In December 1991,
when Qinshan Nuclear Power Station started grid-connected power generation,
China ended its non-nuclear power history in the mainland. However, nuclear
