China aims to blow away pollution with wind

To reduce carbon emissions and combat air pollution, China rose last year as the world’s biggest single investor in renewable energy, according to a June report on renewables by consulting firm McKinsey and Co.

And before panel manufacturers started going bust after growing too fast, solar had been the bright spot.

Now, hopes are riding on wind.

There are good reasons for that. Over the past decade, the wind energy sector has grown hundredfold, both in terms of capacity and production: China boasts the highest expansion rate in the world, even during a global slowdown.

And since 2010, China has been the largest wind power producer, as well. It generates more than 153.4 billion kilowatt-hours, making it the third most popular energy source in the country after coal and hydro.

In 2014, China added just more than 23 gigawatts of new capacity, compared favourably with 16 GW in 2003, the most for any country in history, and it has set its sight on doubling capacity to 200 GW by 2020.

Source: Globe Mail