Unleashing the Low Carbon Dragon? New Report Highlights China’s Renewable Energy Push
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 08. 1.08
Wind farm outside of Urumqi photo by Ken Driese
It may have recently officially overtaken the United States as the world’s leading emitter of greenhouse gasses, but China also leads the world in another environmental category: Installed Renewable Energy Capacity. A new report from The Climate Group rounds up the steps China is taking to wean itself off the polluting energy forms which are behind both its greenhouse gas emissions and its air pollution problems.
Here are some of the highlights:
Installed Renewable Energy Capacity
China currently leads the world in installed generating capacity with the largest hydro-electric capacity and fifth largest wind capacity. Currently it generates about 7.5% of its electricity renewably and plans to double this by 2020. For point of comparison, if you include hydro power in the equation, this percentage is roughly similar to US renewable energy stats. And I guess we won’t get into messy discussion of whether Three Gorges-style projects are really environmentally friendly.
Three Gorges Dam photo by slumber.six via flickr
Investment in Renewable Energy
China’s US$12 billion investment in renewable energy is, as a percentage of GDP is nearly even with that of the current world leader, Germany. Over the next year, China will become the world’s leading exporter of wind turbines.
Solar Photovoltaic Manufacturing
China is second only to Japan in the manufacture of solar photovoltaic technology, with capacity doubling each year for the past four.
Low Carbon Transport
The Climate Group points out that China has fuel economy standards for cars which are 40% higher than those in the United States. In 2007, 21 million electric bicycles we sold and 1.64 million fuel efficient compact cars. (It’s the increase in proportion of cars to bicycles that’ll get you every time) China is also the world’s third largest producer of ethanol, with an area of land half the size of the United Kingdom under cultivation for ethanol.
Steve Howard, CEO of The Climate Group:
For too long, many governments, businesses and individuals have been wary of committing to action on climate change because they perceive that China – the world’s largest emitter – is doing little to address the issue. However, the reality is that China’s government is beginning to unleash a low carbon dragon which will power its future growth, development and energy security objectives.
I’m sure TreeHugger readers, as well as many industry executives, will take issue with the accuracy of some of these figures, as well as the wisdom of some of China’s policies. In a bit of perfect PR timing, the final report won’t be released until August 8th (the day the Olympics start for anyone who’s been stuck on a desert island for the past year). In the meantime take a look at the executive summary of :: China’s Clean Revolution.
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I want to be impressed, but I find it difficult. I am very happy at how quickly China's renewable energy equipment manufacturing capacity is growing; the world needs another 7 or 8 doublings still. I'm equally glad that one of the richest men in China makes PV. Still, most of that capacity is exported, and most of the growth in China's energy use comes from coal. Mostly, this is because despite China's national pollution laws, local officials are selected based on how much economic growth the create. As such, the laws go mostly unenforced.
Enforcement of existing environmental laws will need to happen before I believe in the low-carbon dragon.
Previously we saw headlines
China is the World’s 5th Largest in installed Wind Power
By 2009, China will be the largest manufacturer of wind turbines in the world,
Now in 2008 China is the largest manufacturer of wind turbines in the world.
Their manufacturing capacity in wind turbines has doubled each year for the past five, and we can expect this trend to continue or even accelerate.
With the Beijing Olympics being in China, the issues of pollution were thrust front and center. Air pollution cannot be hidden. The result is a very strong direction in China towards renewable and non-polluting energy sources.
We see the strong push to develop this green industry in China has resulted in lots of economic benefits for China. (hint hint rest of world)
I predict that soon China will climb to the #1 World’s Largest in installed Wind Power, the only question is how soon.
This highlights some of the real issues we are facing here in Asia: China, with over a billion people, seems to be getting ready to play ball. The question is, is the rest of the world ready?
Solar Photovoltaic Manufacturing
China is second only to Japan in the manufacture of solar photovoltaic technology, with capacity doubling each year for the past four.
With awareness of peak oil issues, and a desire to avoid coal or nuclear power, is it surprising that Asia is investing in alternative energy sources on a massive scale?
Let's face it, the place is huge. The power needs are enormous. It is no wonder things will be done on a large scale.
I just hope Walmart will be selling home solar and wind kits for a few bucks!
vsk
One can only hope that Nanosolar's promise of 99 cent/ watt PV panels is true.