China is preparing to adopt a quota system to promote the use
of energy from renewable sources in the next Five-Year Plan
(2001-05), according to an official with the State Development
Planning Commission.
The new policy requires the power sector in each region to produce
no less than 5.5 percent of electricity from "green"
sources, according to Zhou Huang of the commission.
Regions that cannot fulfill their quota will have to buy electricity
from those with excessive "green" supplies until they
are able to produce the minimum 5.5 percent.
"With the help of these policy measures, the development
of renewable energy will be promoted," said Zhou. "At
the same time, poor regions which are often rich in renewable
energy will gain money by selling power."
Commission statistics show currently wind power, solar energy,
hydropower and other renewable energy resources account for
1.8 percent of the total annual commercial energy used in China.
They also show electricity produced from renewable sources accounts
for 5.8 percent of the total electricity produced annually.
Apart from its non-polluting nature, experts believe renewable
energy will also provide new job opportunities and promote economic
development in the less-developed regions of China.
