China to become 'global leader in green tech'

November 14, 2009 by Philip Lim Wind power turbines in Dali, in China's southwestern Yunnan province

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Wind power turbines in Dali, in China's southwestern Yunnan province. China can become the world's top exporter of "green technology" if it carries out crucial energy and ecological reforms, leading environmental campaigners said here Saturday.

China can become the world's top exporter of "green technology" if it carries out crucial energy and ecological reforms, leading environmental campaigners said here Saturday.

"For , I am absolutely convinced that it will become the world leader in green tech," Tim Flannery, chairman of the Copenhagen Climate Council, told a business forum on the sidelines of an Asia-Pacific summit.

"I think that China is in a position where, as manufacturer to the world, if it goes down that green route, it will open up enormous new markets," he said.

The Copenhagen Climate Council is a global collaboration between businesses and scientists which promotes solutions to climate change that are acceptable to governments and companies alike.

In addition to improving the environment, Flannery said that investing in would be profitable for any country.

"The opportunities for businesses in addressing are simply enormous," he said, adding, "Whoever does reform developing ... will reap enormous benefits."

Flannery, regarded as one of the world's most influential explorers and conservationists, said China's green energy industry would become "critically important" for domestic security.

"It will also secure its own internal stability, because the environment problems in China today threaten to overwhelm parts of the country," he said.

Dorjee Sun, chief executive officer of the Carbon Credit Trading Group, said the "Green Wall of China" project could boost the country's chances to become the top green technology player.

The project could spur massive reforestation, energy efficiency and renewable energy development in China, he said.

Carbon credits are derived from the amount of prevented through environmentally-friendly practices, such as the preservation of forests.

Sun's group serves as a broker between landowners and businesses that want to invest in sustainable development.

The Green Wall of China is the communist state's effort to hold back creeping desertification from the Gobi Desert by planting forest strips along the borders. It will stretch 2,800 miles when completed in 2074.

China in May announced it was planning a stimulus package worth 440 billion dollars to expand its renewable energy use as it aims to rely more on cleaner ways to power its growth.

The country has also set a goal to cut energy consumption per unit of gross domestic product by 20 percent, and pollution by 10 percent, by 2010 from 2005 levels.

(c) 2009 AFP


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  • jerryd - Nov 14, 2009
    • Rank: 2.5 / 5 (2)

    China needs to use it's green tech, not export it!!

    Every country needs to do their own RE as most is rather simple machine like wind generators, Concentrated Solar power/CSP, CHP, Solar ovens/stoves, etc.
  • Doug_Huffman - Nov 14, 2009
    • Rank: 1 / 5 (1)
    Who fails to do arithmetic is doomed to nonsense and poverty.

    Here, the avoided cost (less infrastructure) of electricity is $0.06 kWh^-1. Calculate the payback time on alternative electrical power production.

    The Solar Constant is 1350 Watts meter^-2
  • John_balls - Nov 14, 2009
    • Rank: not rated yet

    China needs to use it's green tech, not export it!!

    Every country needs to do their own RE as most is rather simple machine like wind generators, Concentrated Solar power/CSP, CHP, Solar ovens/stoves, etc.


    They are using and creating one of the largest solar plants in existence. You should not talk when you don't know what you're talking about.I't makes you look cheap.
  • Husky - Nov 14, 2009
    • Rank: not rated yet
    The Chinese are betting heavy on nuclear as the backbone of their grid, I suppose that as long as you can contain the radwaste, this counts as green.

    The explosive growth of China is both a curse and a blessing for the environment. A curse in the sense that had to fuel their early growth with insane amounts of burning coal, a blessing, because they will be probably be the among the first ones to massively embrace new technology
  • jerryd - Nov 14, 2009
    • Rank: 1 / 5 (1)

    John, you shouldn't talk as it does make you look bad.
    China needs massive energy other than coal as it's killing many there and too much even makes it to the US west coast. Their RE is tiny compared to their need.
    They have just ordered the first phase, not started and not the whole plant of what MAY be the largest solar PV farm. That's far from being done or even have money for.

    FPL a few miles from me just built the biggest US PV farm and soon will have CSP farms. Facts are more RE is being done in the US than coal which is dropping fast, down 15% in the last few yrs.

    I've designed, built a bunch of wind and tidal generators myself, others have lived on offgrid , installed a bunch of PV so I do know what I'm talking about unlike an armchair ranter like you.

    While nukes are not cheap they are far cleaner than coal. But good RE can beat new nukes easily in costs, even coal.
  • dirk_bruere - Nov 15, 2009
    • Rank: 5 / 5 (2)
    China will do what is cost effective and in its national interest. End of story.

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