Zhangjiakou becoming China's first renewable energy pilot zone may help solve the city's air pollution problem. (Photo : New York Times)
Hebei Province's northwest city of Zhangjiakou has been approved by the State Council as China's first renewable energy pilot zone, a feat seen helpful in Beijing's bid to solve its perennial air pollution problem.
The city, which is Beijing's co-host in the 2022 Winter Olympic Games, has rich solar, wind and biomass resources.
Located 200 kilometers from the Chinese capital, Zhangjiakou has established its goal to be a global leader in terms of being a "low-carbon Olympic zone."
According to the development plan approved by the State Council, the city eyes a 55-percent increase in renewable energy generation of its total electricity consumption by 2020. However, experts claim that such goal is too ambitious.
As earlier stated by Zhangjiakou deputy mayor Wu Weidong, should the Chinese cities win the bid, the Olympic Center and the other sports venues will be powered by 100 percent renewable energy.
Furthermore, the utilization of renewable energy is also expected to benefit all city public transportation, and half of commercial and public building power consumption in five years' time.
By the same period, around 40 percent of the city's industrial expenses should also realize zero emission.
The city's installed capacity, set to reach 20 million kilowatts in 2020, "could also provide clean energy for the (Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei) region and alleviate the air pollution facing this area," Wu added.
Official data shows that in 2014, over 90 percent of the region's electricity consumption was generated from fossil fuels.
For Wang Zhongying, China National Renewable Energy Center's director, Zhangjiakou's approval as the first renewable energy pilot zone is "significant because it could be a pioneer for breaking down existing barriers facing China's power system reform."
