China's renewable-energy sector is growing substantially despite the simultaneous growth of its famous dirty-energy sector, according to a study by nonprofit The Climate Group. While China recently took the lead as the world's largest carbon emitter and continues building roughly one coal-fired power plant a week on average, the country's renewables industry is also setting records. In 2007, China's $12 billion investment in renewables was second only to Germany's; by 2009, China's renewables-investment is expected to be the world's largest. According to the report, China already has the world's largest installed capacity for renewables generation, due in large part to the huge (and hugely controversial) Three Gorges Dam. But even discounting hydropower, China's renewables industry looks promising. According to the report, China is the world's fifth-largest wind-power producer, the biggest manufacturer of both solar panels and solar water heaters, and will soon be the world's top exporter of wind turbines. "Everybody sees China as this monster polluter, but it is doing so much more than that," said Changhua Wu of The Climate Group. "China has got the green message."
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China’s renewables sector booming, study says 3
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Posted 7:59 AM on 1 Aug 2008
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Gustavion Posted 2:42 am
01 Aug 2008
China
I would think that China is going to do whatever is most profitable. If that means more renewable energy because international markets demand eco-friendly products / infrastructure, then so be it.
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stopgreenpath Posted 2:55 am
02 Aug 2008
but they are such poisoners!
this is the kind of baloney greenwashing that shows an obsession with CO2 to the detriment of the other 95% of the planetary concerns. kind of like "let's kill all the deserts off so we can have big, unreliable CSP plants." there is more than CO2 harming the planet, people.
So, let's not get all warm and greeny over the country that dumps incredibly toxic byproducts in SCHOOLYARDS when they manufacture PV panels, ok?
until all Western nations put Clean and Fair Trade rules into place for every company they are trading with (no poisoning, no sweatshops, etc.), countries like China will continue accelerating the rate of harm to the planet.
poisoning kids is not acceptable "collateral damage" to making solar panels under any scenario. I will absolutely boycott these products, and purchase from US or Japanese producers, which recycle their byproducts. we all should.
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WWAGD?! Posted 3:01 pm
02 Aug 2008
Platforming
Yes, there is a cost during the creation of the alternative energy infrastructure. China is rushing through the 2 centuries of the Industrial Revolution in two decades! But the end result is to get enough power in place to then build the wind-solar-hydrogen economy. After that sacrifice is made...let the good times roll...
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