China turning to renewable energy to meet growing power needs (08 Jun 2011)

China turning to renewable energy to meet growing power needs
By Channel NewsAsia's Shanghai Correspondent Kristine Lim | Posted: 08 June 2011 0753 hrs

SHANGHAI: China is turning to renewable energy to meet its growing power needs.

Researchers say the cost of solar power is falling and they are confident that solar energy can be widely used to generate electricity for households by 2015.

At a solar energy research centre in Shanghai, nearly 6,000 solar panels line the walls and rooftop. They generate one million kilowatt-hours of electricity each year, just enough to supply to over 300 families.

Researchers are optimistic that this clean energy can be used more widely to ease China's power shortage by 2015.

Dr Hao Guoqiang, Vice President of Shanghai Solar Energy Energy Research Centre, said:
"The cost of solar energy is reducing over these past few years. The drop is about 10 percent to 20 percent each year. That means in 2015 the cost of supplying solar electricity is basically about the same as our electricity fees right now. That will be an era whereby solar energy is used on a large scale."

It is hoped that renewable energy will be widely used in the next couple of years. Perhaps more families will have solar panels on their rooftops.

But experts say to better utilise renewable energy and to better address the problem of power shortage, it involves reformulation of policies. For example, when families supply the excess electricity that they cannot finish, how are power companies going to reimburse them?

Wind and hydro-electricity is more widely used now, but the supply is not constant.

China's unique geography also means wind and hydro-power often have to be transported long distances to users, but the infrastructure is not yet in place to do this.

That's what the research centre in Shanghai Jiaotong University is trying to study.

Professor Cai Xu, Vice-Director of State Energy Smart Grid R&D Centre of China (Shanghai) Administrative, said: "China has huge land area. Hydro-electricity resources are concentrated in the West, a lot of wind energy resources are in the North, but the Central and Southern areas are where most demand for electricity is. "

The long-term goal is to combine new technology with better information flow so that green electricity can match the demand and supply needs of the country.

- CNA/de

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[wangmhmu]

she looks good

[xxclusiveasad]

I hope they succeed.

[Justiceforhumanrace]

Singaporean channel? Cool