China is the largest clean energy investor in the world, and this year they plan to increase their solar and wind power capacity by more than 21 per cent, a goal driven by their plan to cut down on greenhouse gas emissions by reducing coal reliance and usage.
According to the National Energy Administration, China has a target of an extra 15 gigawatts of solar power capacity and a minimum of 20 gigawatts of additional wind power installations.
The nation has made a pledge that by 2030 their Co2 carbon emissions will peak, and by this time they hope to be using clean sources for at least 20 per cent of their energy needs.
In the next few years coal mines in China will no longer be approved said Nur Bekri, the head of National Energy Administration.
It was expected that by the end of 2015, the largest contributor to carbon emissions, China, would in total have 43 gigawatts of solar, 120 gigawatts of wind power and 320 gigawatts of hydro power. The National Energy Administration also said that in order to accommodate the additional clean energy sources, the nation will encourage the building of electricity networks.
Construction of hydro power in China’s southwest will also be accelerated.
According to the National Development and Reform Commission, China’s top-economy agency, a surcharge raised by 27 per cent will be added onto electricity bills, reaching 0.019 yuan/ kilowatt-hour.
This surcharge was introduced on the 1st of January, and it’s hoped that it will ease the difference between what renewable power developers are paid out by the government and the surcharges.
Currently, the nation’s target of using clean energy as a means of combating climate change is threatened by this gap.
Solar target raised in 2015
Last year China raised their overall solar installation target by 30 per cent, with an additional 5.3 gigawatts added on top of their previous goal of 17.8 gigawatts.
However, China media reports pointed out that these installations could result in even more overcapacity, in view of limited grid capacity which made it hard to new plants to deliver power.
National Energy Administration data indicated that almost one tenth of the total solar power generated from early 2015 could not be delivered, which is limiting the country’s solar growth.
By 2020, the Chinese government aims to increase their non-fossil fuels share from 11 per cent to 15 per cent in order to meet their climate vows to the United Nations, however the solar industry remains troubled by panel quality and subsidy collection which makes investors of the sector wary.
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