solar power companies - China turning to renewable energy to meet growing power needs (08 Jun 2011)

China turning to renewable energy to meet growing power needs By Channel NewsAsia's Shanghai Correspondent Kristine Lim | Posted: 08 June 2011 0753 hrs SHANGHAI: China is turning to renewable energy to meet its growing power needs. Researchers say the cost of solar power is falling and they are confident that solar energy can be widely used to generate electricity for households by 2015. At a solar energy research centre in Shanghai, nearly 6000 solar panels line the walls and rooftop. They generate one million kilowatt-hours of electricity each year, just enough to supply to over 300 families. Researchers are optimistic that this clean energy can be used more widely to ease China's power shortage by 2015. Dr Hao Guoqiang, Vice President of Shanghai Solar Energy Energy Research Centre, said: "The cost of solar energy is reducing over these past few years. The drop is about 10 percent to 20 percent each year. That means in 2015 the cost of supplying solar electricity is basically about the same as our electricity fees right now. That will be an era whereby solar energy is used on a large scale." It is hoped that renewable energy will be widely used in the next couple of years. Perhaps more families will have solar panels on their rooftops. But experts say to better utilise renewable energy and to better address the problem of power shortage, it involves reformulation of policies. For example, when families supply the excess electricity that they cannot finish, how are <b>...</b>