China Establishes First Renewable Energy Center

Upon pursuing efforts to cope with climate change and carbon emissions, China has established its first renewable energy related center to conduct research and development programs and policies.

The China National Renewable Energy Center, established by the National Energy Administration with the support of the National Development and Reform Commission, was launched on Thursday and it will be in charge of drafting industry standards and carrying out international cooperation programs.

The center relays on a previously established cooperation with Denmark, which introduced a renewable development program in 2009, and now is providing financial and technology support for the center.

In 2011, installed generation capacity of “clean energy” – hydropower, nuclear, wind, solar power and biomass – accounted for 27.5% of the nation’s total installed electricity generation capacity, up 0.9% point year-on-year, said Sun Yucai, vice-president of the China Electricity Council.

“We have to build up a system of policies and management that can serve the industry better”, said Liu Qi, deputy head of the NEA.

Estimates of the potential for offshore wind power, biomass energy, solar power and the grid integration of renewable energy, four key aspects of renewable energy, will be the focus of the center’s activities.

China has signed agreements with Denmark in relation to the new center and will maintain cooperation with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in the US and energy agencies in Spain.

[mappress]

Source: Offshore WIND staff, February 27, 2012