HK group to pluck 5gW from the sun

Editor's Note: China aims to increase the share of non-fossil fuel in its overall energy to more than 15 percent by 2020 and to 20 percent by 2030, according to the 13th Five-Year Plan (2016-20) for Renewable Energy released by the National Energy Administration in January. Renewable energy companies are key to meeting the targets. To find out whether or not they are on the right course, China Daily interviewed top officials of several companies engaged in solar power, geothermal, wind power and biomass. What we get to see are their ambitious development and overseas expansion plans against the backdrop of China's commitment to saving natural resources and cutting greenhouse gas emissions.

China Merchants New Energy Group Ltd has promised to set up 100 solar power stations in the next five years, with a total installed capacity of 5gW to promote green energy along the Belt and Road trading routes.

The Hong Kong-based company also aims to offer countries along the Belt and Road clean energy projects integrated with photovoltaic, wind power, water and electricity power solutions, it said.

Most countries along the routes are developing countries and they are faced with unbalanced industrial structures, said chief executive Li Yuan.

Li said: "For them, infrastructure and energy are two key areas to optimize allocation of resources. Our projects can assist these countries to accelerate replacement of traditional energy and lower energy costs."

"Panda Solar Power Plants," shaped in the image of a giant panda, are innovative power stations combining new energy with high technology. The aim is to promote youth engagement in promoting world green and sustainable energy development in Italy, Turkey, India, Sri Lanka and other countries along the route.

These power plants will help countries along the route to popularize green power and promote Chinese brands in these countries, it said.

A 100 mW Panda Solar Power Plant could provide 3.2 billion kWh green power in 25 years, which is equal to offsetting 1.056 million tons of coal and 2.74 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions, according to the CMNE.

The CMNE acquired six grid-connected photovoltaic power plant projects in the UK this year. With an installed gross capacity of 82.4 mW, this is the first new energy acquisition project that Chinese enterprises would complete in the United Kingdom following Brexit.

China has the largest capacity for photovoltaic energy in the world, 77.42 million kW at the end of 2016, thanks to 34.54 million kW of capacity added in the year, the National Energy Administration stated.

China's photovoltaic capacity and its increase in 2016 were the biggest in the world, with the country's solar plants generated 66.2 billion kW hours of power last year, accounting for 1 percent of the country's total power generation.

China is to expand its photovoltaic capabilities, adding over 110 million kW of solar power by 2020.