Growth of Renewables Outstrips Coal in China

Recent statistics released by the Chinese government reveal that growth of renewable and low-carbon energy sources has surpassed that of coal. While coal still provides the majority of China’s power, the rapid ascent of cleaner sources of power is impressive. Through the end of 2009, some 180 gigawatts of energy capacity was under construction, with renewables ahead of coal by roughly 16 GW.

Low-carbon energy sources (renewables plus hydroelectric and nuclear power) will combine for more than one-quarter of China’s energy mix by the end of 2010, accounting for more than 250 GW. One notable increase came in Inner Mongolia, where wind power capacity is up to 7.3 GW as of the end of March. That total becomes more impressive when you consider that capacity in the region stood at 170 MW in 2005, increasing by 40 times in only five years.

In the United States, low-carbon sources make up 31 percent of our energy mix, says the Energy Information Administration. Coal still supplies nearly half of US energy consumption at 45 percent of the total. While growing rapidly, solar power still accounts for a minuscule percentage of overall US consumption.

Story and Photos Via Treehugger and Business Green

Posted on April 14th in Solar News by Dan.