Applied materials adopt solar in China

Mar 24, 2008 - cctv.com

As China is making efforts to develop clean and renewable energy, local governments are introducing more international advanced technologies to ensure sustainable development and to protect the environment. The world's largest semiconductor producer Applied Materials has tapped into its solar power generation capacity in Xi'an, capital city of northwest China's Sha'anxi Province.

The world's largest semiconductor producer Applied Materials has tapped into its solar power generation capacity in Xi'an, capital city of northwest China's Sha'anxi Province.

The newly-inaugurated installation guarantees an annual power capacity of over 65 megawatt hours, while reducing greenhouse gas emissions of more than 65 tons per year. It is the first of its kind at an existing corporate facility in Western China.

China has abundant sunlight resources. The volume of solar radiation taken up by the land surface is equivalent to 4.9 trillion tons of standard coal. Two thirds of China's land areas have over 2,200 hours of sunlight a year. With around 26 million people who have no access to electricity, there is great potential in China for the development of solar industry.

China is facing a shortage of petroleum and natural gas resources. The top economic planner the NDRC has released the renewable energy development plan for 2006-2010. Under the plan, annual consumption of renewable energy will reach 10 percent of the country's total annual energy consumption by 2010. In response, local governments are also making efforts to develop clean energy according to their own geographical situation.

Official of Hi-tech Industrial Development Zone of Xi'an City of Shaanxi Province said "The city has attached great importance to developing clean and renewable energy. We are now improving related policies to encourage its development. As for the industrial sector, we will not approve projects with high-energy consumption and bad pollution. Besides, all the road lamps in the development zone consume renewable energy."

China has set a target for its domestic solar photovoltaic market to reach up to 400 megawatts by 2010. The country also plans to have hydropower projects with an installed capacity of 190 million kilowatts, and wind power projects with installed capacity of 10 million kilowatts.