Cleaner Greener China

The article Massive Solar Energy Production Base to be Built in China announces:

To solve energy shortages and improve the urban environment, Kunming’s Government has released “Advice on renewable energy development and utilization”. According to the “Advice”, around the Kunming Dianchi Lake basin, up to 2920 square kilometers of area will be used to utilize solar light and heat. This will achieve a penetration rate of 50% by 2010. The first demonstration zone will achieve 70% utilization. Urban construction with integration of solar energy application should be present in 90% of new architecture. The percentage of urban area that will utilize solar energy will reach 60%, with the percentage in rural areas reaching 20%. The government says that by 2015 the solar light and heat utilization area will amount to 6,000,000 square meters, with solar photovoltaic applications of up to a hundred megawatts or more.

When fully running, this project will make Kunming the largest producer of solar in China (the world?)

Known as the Spring City, Kunming gets a lot of sun and what could be particularly interesting about this project (and the support that it will take to make sure it happens), is that it could provide millions in Yunnan’s poorer regions with their energy needs as well.