Jun 22 - USA Today; New York

China likely will achieve-and even may exceed- its target to obtain 15% of its energy from renewables by 2020, according to a report released by the Worldwatch Institute, Washington, D.C. If China's commitment to diversifying its energy supply persists, renewable energy could provide more than 30% of the nation's energy by 2050. That is the major conclusion of "Powering China's Development: The Role of Renewable Energy," written by Beijingbased researcher Eric Martinot, a Worldwatch senior fellow, and Li Junfeng, vice chair of China's Renewable Energy Society in Beijing.

"A combination of policy leadership and entrepreneurial savvy is leading to spectacular growth in renewable energy, increasing its share of the market for electricity, heating, and transport fuels," explains Martinot. "China is poised to become a leader in renewables manufacturing, which will have global implications for the future of the technology."

More than $50,000,000,000 was invested in renewable energy worldwide last year, and China is expected to invest over $10,000,000,000, second only to Germany. Wind and solar energy are expanding particularly rapidly, with Chinese production of wind turbines and solar cells doubling in 2006. China is poised to pass world solar and wind manufacturing leaders in Europe, Japan, and North America in the next three years, and it already dominates the markets for solar hot water and small hydropower.

"[The nation's] ingenuity and manufacturing prowess are being harnessed to provide leadership to the world on renewables," states Junfeng. "China's position provides a strong example for other developing countries, while helping to drive down renewable energy costs to become competitive with fossil fuels for all countries the world over."

With its booming economy and rapidly expanding energy consumption- particularly its use of coal and oil-it is imperative for China to diversify its energy supplies. The country has suffered frequent power shortages due to its breakneck economic development. China's urban population, which uses nearly three times more electricity and commercial energy per person than rural residents do, increased from 375,000,000 in 1999 to 577,000,000 in 2006. The nation's automobile fleet also continues to balloon, with an estimated 1,000 new cars appearing on Beijing's streets every day.

Coal provides 80% of China's electricity, and national electricity demand doubled between 2000 and 2006. As a result, China's economic development, environment, and public health severely are affected. For example, only one percent of urban Chinese breathe air that meets European air quality standards. Coal generation also leads to the build up of toxic metals, such as mercury, in water supplies and on agricultural fields throughout China.

China has doubled its already substantial output of solar cells.

Copyright Society for Advancement of Education Apr 2008

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