Tibet leads nation in solar energy development
( 2003-08-28 16:37) (Xinhua)
Southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, which enjoys over 3,000 hours of
sunlight every year, has placed first in the country in terms of solar energy
development and use, according to a local expert.
Seven major photoelectric stations with their installed capacities ranging
from 10 kw to 100 kw have been built in Tibet, dubbed the "roof of the world,"
said Du Enshe, head of the Solar Energy Research and Demonstration Center of
Tibet.
With special financial allocations from the central Chinese government, the
plateau region has launched a number of programs in the past years to advance
power generation via solar energy and to ease the power shortage in the region's
countryside.
Last year, the State Development Planning Commission, now known as the State
Development and Reform Commission, allocated 810 million yuan ((97.59 million US
dollars) to support construction of smaller power stations in 300 villages in
Tibet.
Power is now within reach to 70,000 residents in the electricity-thirsty
Ngari Prefecture of Tibet, where a scheme to transfer sunlight into power was
completed by the end of last year.
Thanks to the development of solar energy, electricity has become available
to 200,000 people in Tibet. Solar energy is also used for heating and cooking.
Using solar energy can save Tibet 135,000 tons of coal annually, according to
Du.
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