China - Solar energy to dominate renewables

China is world's biggest polluter, and country that has become a synonym for pollution so it is really no surprise that China is mobilising its renewable sector in an effort to make the economy greener and decrease pollution across many Chinese cities. Therefore the Chinese government has offered solar companies support policies including land, bank loans and research fund in order to further boost solar energy sector.

Many people do not know that China has the world's largest rooftop solar power station, located in Weihai City of Shandong province. The 330-kilowatt project uses technology that China holds the intellectual property rights of.

Early this year, the Chinese government has offered a series of favourable policies to support solar energy development. It gives generous subsidies up to about 50 percent of the construction price for demonstrating a roof-top solar power system. Government is also giving its best to ensure favourable polices for solar energy companies, including advantages such as free land, cash for research and development, and lately also very favourable bank loans with low interest rates.

Wang Zhongying, Director of Renewable Energy Development Center of NDRC said "Although the cost for solar power is still high in the near term, in the longer term, many experts think the future belongs to solar energy." This is very true from economical point of view because for instance coal is much more affordable energy source compared to solar energy, but it is also important to look at things from environmental point of view to see benefits of solar energy. With more researches and enough funds solar energy has big potential to become cost competitive with fossil fuels in years to come, and help decrease pollution and climate change effect on global level.

Dahan - China’s First Solar Power Plant - The plant should be completed and running in 2010 with plans to expand it into a five to ten megawatt plant over the following five years.

Chinese companies have already played a leading role in pushing down the price of solar panels in the world's market by almost half over the last year that has significantly contributed to popularity of solar energy sector. And a growing list of Chinese corporations backed by entrepreneurs and local governments are seeking to capitalise on an industry deemed crucial for the country's commitment to a greener country.

Of course this doesn't mean that China is giving up on fossil fuels, most notably coal. Coal is still the most dominant energy source in China, and is very likely that fossil fuels will dominate China's energy sector for at least couple of decades before renewables like solar energy sector become truly competitive. In any case China's efforts to become greener economy by boosting its solar energy sector are really welcome not only for general development of renewable energy sector but also to decrease pollution and fight climate change on global level.