Green Energy in China - Green Low-Carbon Development in China - page 114

Table 5.4 Targets of China's renewable energy development plan (MW)

Proportion in
total energy
consumption

Wind
power

PV power
generation Year Hydropower Biomass Solar heat

300,000,000 m 2 2020 300,000 30,000 30,000 2,000 15 %

Source: Middle and long term program of renewable energy development

5.1.4 New Energy

A characteristic of energy resources of China entails the large proportion of domestic
coal consumption. Thus the problem of carbon dioxide emissions remains nasty.
However, the national energy strategy seeks to balance supply and demand, as well
as provide high-quality alternative energy resources for sustainable development.
After years of development, China has made tremendous progress with explor-
ing and utilizing renewable and alternative energies. Hydropower has become an
important component.
Wind power, photovoltaic (PV) power generation, solar heat application and
biomass energy efficiency have enjoyed robust development. Meanwhile, rural
energy and eco-friendly construction, household biogas and other biomass sources
have been promoted and placed on the electric grid.
In April 2010, the revised “Renewable Energy Law” had come into effect, which
established the Renewable Energy Fund, and improved a full acquisition system along
with priority scheduling of renewable energies such as wind power and solar power. It
set up a legal foundation for the development of renewable energy (Table 5.4 ).
In 2011 renewable energy developed quickly. Installed capacity of hydropower
reached 230 million kilowatts, with 55 million kilowatts under construction. Nine
large hydropower such as Nuozhadu were constructed with installed capacity of
12.6 million kilowatts. New wind power capacity was16 million kilowatts, account-
ing to a total of 47 million kilowatts; annual generation capacity was 80 billion kwh,
increasing by more than 60 %. The photovoltaic power generation increased
substantially, with installed capacity of 3,000,000 kW, more than threefold increase
over that of the previous year.

5.1.5 New Energy

Compared with developed countries, China is not competitive with its solar power
generation.

5.1.5.1 Solar Power Generation
China holds abundant solar energy resources with an average annual solar radiation
of 1,050-2,450 kwh/m 2 at similar levels with the US, as well as Japan and Europe.
The regions of Xinjiang, Tibet, Ningxia and Gansu enjoy average annual amount of
sunlight that reach up to 3,000 h per year.