Solar power will be used to heat the inflight meals of up to 30,000 passengers as part of the government's 200 million yuan green energy plan.

Li Zhen, assistant manager of the equipment maintenance department at Beijing Airport Inflight Kitchen Ltd, said Beijing Capital International Airport would expand its solar power capacity, first used during the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

The solar system is one of the clean energy pilot projects being promoted by the Beijing municipal government.

"It now can produce 100 tons of hot water every day, preparing to heat 18,000 airplane meals. The water so far can fully meet the daily demand," Li said.

Li said the airport invested 4 million yuan in the solar system and it helped save 260,000 cu m of natural gas in 2009 and 830,000 yuan.

It heated food for passengers on Chinese airlines and international airlines including Singapore Airlines and Turkish Airlines.

Yan Kai, vice-general manager of Beijing Sunda Solar Energy Technology Co which is responsible for installing the airport's solar system, said the system can only be run from spring to autumn.

"In the near future, the airport wants to produce 315 tons of hot water per day through solar power, which could help make 25,000 to 30,000 airplane meals," Yan said.

The Beijing municipal commission of development and reform (BMCDR) said it planned to build a 70-megawatt solar electricity generating system by 2012, with a total industry output value of more than 20 billion yuan.

"The consumption of new energy and renewable energy in Beijing is set to reach the 5 percent target by 2012, compared with the whole energy consumption," said Wang Yingjian, deputy director of Beijing municipal energy and economic regulation office.

Other clean energy projects include the sunny campus program, under which solar lamps, solar billboards and solar scientific classrooms will be built in half of Beijing's schools by 2012.

"The construction is relatively simple on campus, so it will not affect normal study and work of students and teachers," said Gao Xinyu, chief of division of energy development at BMDRC.

"Besides, the program will enhance the awareness of teenagers to choose green energy."