Powering the future

In July, the NEB submitted a draft of the Emerging Energy Industrial Development Program (2011-2020) to the State Council for approval. It lays out plans for the next decade, including an investment of 5 trillion yuan in new and clean traditional energies.

"This program is about utilizing clean energy sources such as nuclear, wind, solar and bio-mass energy," says Jiang Bing, director of programming and development at the NEB.

"It also covers upgrading traditional energy sources, like clean coal, smart grids, distributed power consumption, and vehicle-based new energies," he says.

"Our priority rests with three types of non-fossil fuels -- nuclear, hydropower; and wind, solar and bio-mass energy.

By 2015, Jiang says, hydropower and nuclear power will account for almost 9 percent of the primary energy consumption. Wind power, solar energy and bio-mass energy will make up about 2.6 percent. Natural gas will compose 8.3 percent."

"In contrast, coal consumption will drop from the present 70 percent to about 63 percent."

On Sept.8, the State Council approved the Decision to Speed up Cultivating and Developing Strategic Emerging Industries. It listed seven industrial sectors for policy support, including energy conservation and new energies.

Tao Gang, vice-president of Sinovel, China's largest wind turbine producer, says it, like other businesses in the wind, nuclear, solar and bio-mass energy sectors, will enjoy greater opportunities under the policy.

"The State Council has defined the strategic position of clean energy industries," says Tao. "This will ensure long-term stability of policies essential to clean energy businesses."

In Dabangcheng, Wang Wenqi's long stalled dream is about to be re-energized, when it becomes home to four of the five new wind farms planned for Xinjiang this year.

Xinjiang will have 165 units of 1.5MW turbines installed, capable of feeding clean electric power to 625,000 households a year.

(Xinhua News Agency October 3, 2010)