Renewables to supply one-third of China's energy by 2050

China’s renewable energy strategy through 2050 envisions renewable energy making up one-third of its energy consumption by then, the China Daily said, as the Copenhagen conference on climate change highlights the world’s dependence on fossil fuels. Coal-dependent China, the world’s biggest greenhouse gas emitter, said it would reduce the amount of carbon dioxide produced for each yuan of national income by 40-45% by 2020, compared to 2005 levels. By 2020, renewable energy should account for 15% of national primary energy consumption, supplying the equivalent of 600 million tons of coal, the China Daily said, citing a renewable energy blueprint laid out by Han Wenke, director-general of the Energy Research Institute which is under China’s top planning body, the National Development and Reform Commission. By 2030, renewable energy’s share should rise to 20% of the national energy mix, displacing 1 billion tons of coal, Han said, and by 2050, it would supply one-third of China’s energy, displacing two billion tons of coal, the paper said. (December 6, 2009)