A solar panel plant in Tahe oilfield, Xinjiang province. Image: ts.cn
China has set specific targets on non-hydroelectric renewable energy consumption for local governments in a bid to improve its energy structure, according to a guideline released by the National Energy Administration (NEA) on Thursday.
By 2020, non-hydroelectric renewable energy should account for between 5% and 13% of total electricity consumption for provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions, and non-fossil fuel sources for primary energy consumption should increase to 15% by 2020 and 20% by 2030，according to the guideline.
Local energy authorities are also encouraged to set higher targets and offer incentives for local enterprises to produce renewable energy.
A wind power project finished in 2010 in Shangchuan Island, Taishan, Guangdong province. Image: gzbgj.com
Power companies, with the exception of some non-fossil energy companies, should produce at least 9 percent of total electricity from non-hydroelectric renewable energy by 2020.
Main non-hydroelectric renewable energies include:
Wind power
Solar energy
Geothermal energy
Bio energy
Heat pump
Energy storage
Yambajan Hydrothermal Power Plant, China's biggest Hydrothermal Power Plant, located to the northwest of downtown Lhasa at the foot of Nyaingentanglha Mountain. Image: xinhua
