By By Benjamin Morgan AFP - Friday, November 9, 7:55
SHANGHAI (AFP) - The winds swept the arid northern China may be one response to environmental challenge posed by the huge energy demand growth that the Asian giant has the means to become a world leader in wind power.
China will be the end of the first emitter of greenhouse gas emissions. It should also overtake the U.S. as world's largest consumer of energy, a little after 2010.
If it continues to rely mainly on coal, it has greatly expanded in recent years, alternative energy, cleaner, such as wind.
If it continues to rely mainly on coal, it has greatly expanded in recent years, alternative energy, cleaner, such as wind.
"Two years ago, people thought that wind was a joke," said Li Junfeng, an expert on alternative energy.
"Nobody thought it was possible to achieve the goal of 30 million kilowatts in 2020," he adds.
From 10th in the world two years ago in terms of annual installations of wind turbines, she moved to fifth, behind the United States, Germany, India and Spain.
In 2007, the Asian giant has increased its wind power capacity of 1,300 megawatts, the equivalent of a French nuclear power plant.
But despite a production capacity of 2.6 gigawatts last year, wind still represents only 1% of its energy production, against 70% for coal.
"Accelerating the development of wind energy should be part of China's strategy to reduce its reliance on coal while allowing it to meet its energy demand," J. Yang Ailun of Greenpeace China.
Worldwide, wind power is booming, fueled by the desire to reduce consumption of fossil fuels and to use cleaner energy to combat global warming.
Last year, according to industry statistics, the capacity was increased by a quarter over With 74 gigawatts of new wind turbine installation for the equivalent of $ 23 billion.
For China alone, annual growth of wind power was 46% over the past decade and in 2007 the installed capacity is five gigawatts, an advance of three years compared to the goals of Beijing.
"In some ways, China is leading the dance," said Steve Sawyer, Secretary of the Global Wind Energy, a Brussels-based organization responsible for promoting this type of energy.
In 2006, the Chinese parliament adopted a law on renewable energy, which created a fund fed by contributions mandatory public to cover the additional costs induced by wind.
However, the World Council of wind energy, a more active government could afford to reach 120 gigawatts by 2020, representing 10% of the energy production capacity.
"With more support, China could become one of the three main wind market worldwide in 2020," said Li Junfeng.
"The global fight against climate change will not be won without a role Major China, "said Mr. Sawyer for his part.
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