Renewable energy laws for '05
26 November 2004
China's first laws setting minimum requirements for electricity generation from renewable resources are expected to come into force next year, state media reported. The draft laws, currently being circulated in government departments, are intended to both reduce soaring demand for fossil fuels and help cut pollution, the reports said. The plan calls for the generating capacity of renewable energy to more than double to 120,000 megawatts by 2020 while the proportion of renewable energy in total electricity generation will increase from the current 8% to 12%. Renewable energy options include hydropower, wind power, bio-mass and solar energy. China currently relies heavily on non-renewable energy sources with coal accounting for two-thirds of the total consumed and oil making up a quarter.