Fiat eco-lux

China is on an eco-path. Not the one that other countries wanted in Copenhagen but on one it can engineer at its will. The government has announced a measure to progressively phase out incandescent light bulbs from 2012 onwards. The shift would be impressive: in five years, the plan is to ramp up annual production from 3 billion to 12 billion low-consumption light bulbs (a third of the production is currently intended for domestic consumption). To make sure that the targets are reached, a plan incentivizes eco-friendly light bulb producers.

Let’s hope that the thinking of the government included the re-cycling part of the supply chain since low-consumption light bulb contain mercury. Let’s also hope that the government will monitor the quality of the light bulbs. According to the China Daily, 70% of energy saving bulbs randomly tested in Chinese localities (including Beijing and Shanghai) did not reach the energy-saving standard required while 20% did not save any electricity at all compared with incandescent light bulbs.

P.S.: If one needed an additional proof that China does not want to meddle in other countries’ environmental affairs, Chinese exporters of traditional light bulbs are not concerned by the measure.

Renew-able

After trusting the top spot for Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), China now leads the world in total investment in renewable energy with USD 50 billion.

The indicators listed in the report by REN21 are telling : in 2010 China was the top installer in wind turbines and solar thermal systems as well as the top hydropower producer. It added 29 GW of grid-connected renewable capacity. Renewables accounted for 26% of total installed electric capacity (18% of generation but only 9% of final energy consumption). China accounts for the world’s half of new installed capacity in wind power. It also leads the list of new capacity in solar hot water/heat.

The country plans to have 362 GW of renewable capacity installed by 2020 (the equivalent of 300 nuclear reactors), including 300 GW hydro, 30 GW wind, 30 GW biomass and 1.8 GW solar PV. Central government’s policy are complemented by initiatives at the local level. For instance, Beijing aimed to have 40% of electric power capacity by 2010 and Shanghai aimed to have 200-300 MW of wind and 10 MW of solar PV by 2010. The city of Lianyangang requires solar hot water in all new residential buildings up to 12 stories.

In spite of this major drive, renewable energy (including hydropower) only fills for 25% of its energy needs. The rest comes from nuclear 1% and thermal 73%.