A brave prediction aiming to enhance the development of new energy was made at the State Grid meeting yesterday. The prediction hopes that 290 million kilowatts of electricity will come from new energy sources in 2020, accounting for 17 percent of the whole. That year's energy use will also consist of 86 million kilowatts from nuclear electricity, 150 million kilowatts from wind electricity, 20 million kilowatts solar electricity, as well as 30 million kilowatts from biomass electricity.

"The total investment will be over 3000 billion yuan (about US$439 billion)," said an official close to the National Energy Administration.

According to Shu Yinbiao, vice general manager of State Grid, China's new energy electricity reached 21 million kilowatts at the end of 2008, which was three percent of the whole. Nuclear electricity reached 8.85 million kilowatts, 113 percent higher than in 2007. Solar electricity reached 140,000 kilowatts, about 40 percent higher than in 2007. The biomass electricity reached 3 million kilowatts.

Shu added, "As of June 2009, China's wind electricity reached 11.81 million kilowatts, 101 percent higher than last year."

For more information, please consult the Chinese coverage here:

http://www.china-cbn.com/s/n/000002/20090731/000000122186.shtml

(China.org.cn by Li Xiaohua July 31, 2009)