CHINA. WWF is working to develop the world’s largest solar power plant, which would supply power to the Chinese city of Dunhuang in Gansu Province.

Representatives from China’s National Energy Bureau, the solar energy industry, regional and local governments, and WWF recently met to discuss the development of a demonstration project for an 8 MWp grid-connected solar PV (photovoltaics) plant in the Gobi desert.

‘We want to create a solar revolution,” said Gan Lin, WWF China’s Climate and Energy Program Director. “Our aim is for solar energy to provide 20 times the government’s target.”

WWF’s vision is to develop 30GW of power generation capacity by 2020, which will equal 3 per cent of the total power generation capacity, or 1 per cent of the total electricity to be generated by 2020. The aim is to realize this through three major developments: large-scale solar power plants in western deserts of China; solar roof applications in buildings in coastal cities; and rural electrification for independent households and village power systems.

Participants at a workshop, supported by WWF, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), the Gansu Provincial Development and Reform Commission, and the Chinese Academy of Sciences, gave a positive assessment of the development of the renewable energy project, which combines private sector investment and international aid with government investments, in contrast with former projects formulated by government investment or subsidies alone. Participants also discussed the development of large-scale solar PV programs in western China with a long-term perspective.

High cost is still the main barrier hindering solar PV development.

According to a NDRC representative, by 2010 China’s central government plans to set up two 5MW solar PV demonstration sites, and by 2020, the government’s current aim is to generate 1.6GW of energy from solar PV.

Burning coal — China’s main source of energy — accounts for 75 per cent of the energy used in China, though per capita energy consumption in China is less than half of the world average.

If economic development continues at current rates, energy consumption in China will double by 2020. Coal consumption has already reached 1.6 billion tons and oil imports at 100 million tons in 2003.

Notes:
Photovoltaic ( PV) cells use sunlight to make electricity. Pollution-free, PVs are an effective way to reduce carbon dioxide emissions released into the atmosphere by power stations.