China raises renewable energy targets

China will raise development targets for renewable energy such as wind power for the five-year period through 2015.

This is due to its efforts to reduce its reliance on fossil fuels.

The country aims to have 100 gigawatts of on-grid wind power generating capacity by the end of 2015 and to generate 190 billion kilowatt hours of wind power annually, according to a government plan.

The goal was higher than a target of 90 GW proposed earlier by the National Energy Administration.

Normal hydropower capacity at the end of 2015 will also be revised up to 260 GW from the previous 250 GW. .

Of the planned 10 GW of solar power capacity in 2015, photovoltaic power installations will account for 9 GW and solar thermal capacity will make up the rest, the report said.

The government will consider setting obligatory renewable power purchase quotas for grid operators and renewable power use targets in each province, to ensure renewable power is transmitted and used, according to Reuters citing newspaper reports.