Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Table 6.2
2015 RENEWABLE ENERGY DEVELOPMENT
TARGETS IN CHINA
2009
2011-2015
2015 Projection
Hydropower (MW)
197,000
+120,000
317,000
Wind power (MW)
42,000
+70,000
112,000
Solar PV (MW)
200
+5000
5,200
Nuclear (MW)
10,800
+40,000
50,800
Author's calculations based on data from China NDRC ive-year plans. China NDRC website.
here are also indications that the CPC is currently revising its 2007
Medium and Long-Term Development Plan for Renewable Energy in China.
he revised plan purportedly targets 300,000 MW of hydropower, 150,000
MW of wind power, 30,000 MW of biomass power, and 20,000 MW of solar
PV, for a total of 500,000 MW of renewable power capacity by 2020. If
achieved, this would account for almost one-third of China's expected total
power capacity (1,600,000 MW) by 2020.
23
Certitude of meeting alternative energy development targets, progres-
sive improvement in energy eiciency (albeit lower than planned) and a
massive reforestation program intended to add 40 million hectare (ha) of
forest area between 2006 and 2020, have seemingly provided the Chinese
government with the conidence necessary to play a less tentative role in
international climate change mitigation negotiations. Prior to the Fifteenth
Conference of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol (COP15) in 2009, the gov-
ernment announced an intention to reduce carbon intensity (as a percent-
age of GDP) to 40 to 50% of 2005 levels by 2020, efectively eclipsing the
objectives set forth by the United States.
24
During the subsequent COP17
conference held in South Africa, China broke from its reactive negotiation
approach by expressing a willingness to discuss adopting GHG reduction
targets provided that industrialized nations were willing to commit to fur-
ther GHG reduction targets.
6.3 HISTORY OF WIND POWER DEVELOPMENT IN CHINA
One of the reasons why CPC leaders feel empowered to proactively engage
in international GHG reduction negotiations is the remarkable progress
the nation has made in wind power development over a short period of
time. Although there is evidence of wind power research initiatives as
early as the late 1950s, when a number of 10 kW turbines were erected
