China targets wind and solar

China has doubled its renewable energy target for 2010, when it will have 10,000 megawatts of wind energy installed(1); enough to supply over 4 million Australian homes. Progressive policies towards renewable energy have driven strong growth in China's wind and solar industries and it is now a major manufacturer of renewable energy components.

By 2010, manufacturing of wind turbines and components in China will allow it to double its 10,000 megawatts every two years. Expansion of the wind energy industry will continue to provide demand for China's manufactured components. Although China, like all nations, needs to do a lot more to ensure fossil fuel use falls dramatically and greenhouse emissions are driven down, their progress on renewable energy should set an example to countries like Australia, which has some of the best wind and solar resources in the world.

World's largest geothermal heating

 A new geothermal district heating utility has been built in Xiang Yang, China’s official geothermal city. The project was started by a group of Icelandic and Nordic companies, including the financial group, Glitnir, and various Icelandic power companies. The group is led by Orkuveita Reykjavitur, an electricity company which currently runs the world’s largest geothermal district heating system in Reykjavik, Iceland.

Says Iceland’s minister for foreign affairs, "I am extremely proud to note that Icelandic knowledge is contributing to keeping Chinese households warm. It is indeed humbling to know that the development of pollution-free and sustainable energy resources for heating purposes in China has significant implications not only for China’s energy policy but also worldwide."

The new heating system has the potential to provide heating for 500,000 people. It's the first project of Shaanxi Green Energy (a joint venture between Shaanxi Geothermal Energy Development and Enex China), which receives great support from Glitnir and Orkuveita Reykjavitur. The partnership has the potential to become the biggest geothermal heating facility in the world.

China’s great potential for the development of geothermal power is just being realised and Xian Yang is to be the centre of this development.

Sources: Hugin Press release, 4/12/2006; www.cleanenergyawards.com

(1) Steel Guru website, available 7/7/2008 at http://steelguru.com/news/index/2008/03/24/NDAwOTc%3D/China_doubles_2010_wind_power_capacity_target.html