China to Raise Renewable Targets

China is to increase its renewable energy capacity significantly by 2015 with boosts to the previous targets for wind, solar and hydropower.

Chinese state media is reporting that it will install 100GW of wind capacity by the end of 2015, an increase of more than 10 per cent on the 90GW target previously announced by the National Energy Administration. Hydropower and solar has also had its target upgraded by 10GW.

Having recently become a world leader in Solar and wind installation, this is a further sign that China is looking to improve its green credentials.

To ensure renewable power is transmitted and used, the Chinese government could also set mandatory renewable power purchase quotas for grid operators and renewable power use targets on the provincial scale.

China is expected to turn the national targets into regional goals and could use feed-in tariff type policies that make energy companies buy renewable power at above market rates.

It is encouraging to see China taking a proactive approach to climate change and renewables; a country of this size and population will have a huge impact on whether greenhouse gas emissions will stabilise or continue to rise in the coming decades.

When China takes an issue or project seriously it can produce swift and dramatic results; it remains to be seen whether this is one of those situations.