China hydropower to near double by 2020: state media

Tourists view the Three Gorges Dam in central China's Hubei province
Tourists view the Three Gorges Dam in central China's Hubei province. China's hydropower capacity is expected to nearly double to 300,000 megawatts by 2020, state media said, as the nation powers ahead with the development of renewable energy sources.

China's hydropower capacity is expected to nearly double to 300,000 megawatts by 2020, state media said, as the nation powers ahead with the development of renewable energy sources.

Water resources minister Chen Lei, who was quoted by the official Xinhua news agency as giving the target, also said hydropower would play a more important role in China's strategy for energy security in the future.

By the end of 2008, the nation's installed capacity of hydropower was 172,000 megawatts -- the largest in the world -- Chen said according to the report late on Saturday.

China is dependent on highly-polluting coal for 70 percent of its needs, and the government is developing renewable sources such as wind and hydropower in a bid to improve the environment and to secure future supply.

(c) 2009 AFP

Citation: China hydropower to near double by 2020: state media (2009, September 20) retrieved 18 March 2024 from https://phys.org/news/2009-09-china-hydropower-state-media.html
This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only.

Explore further

China's great dam in midst of eco-debate

0 shares

Feedback to editors