Renewable Energy to Contribute 10% of China's Energy Needs by 2010. (March 27, 2008)

Were China to have 10% of its energy needs contributed by renewable resources it would be the equivalent of burning 300 million tonnes of coal. Which will give our coal export industry something to think about.

Nevertheless this is the goal published last week by China's National Development and Reform Commission.

Plans call for the use of biofuels, wind power, solar energy, hydropower but also natural gas and the government has promised tax concessions, price regulation and subsidisations but details have not been made public. Which might give manufactures of wind turbines and solar energy harvesting equipment export incentives.

In addition China intends to increase construction of nuclear power plants with a view to have them provide by 2020 at least 5% of the nation's energy. The government's stated intention is that nuclear and renewable sources will contribute at least 50% of China's energy by 2050.

That said, at the end of the first year, of its five-year plan it had met its interim target.