Antinuclear

The government is offering generous incentives to encourage renewable energy sources to become more popular and reliable in the country with a population of 1.35 billion people.

After three weeks of Beijing being covered in the thick fog of pollution and with temperatures as cold as minus 14C in the capital this week, the question now is whether Xi can deliver on his promise of a cleaner, greener energy future in China.

Since the coal cap was announced, the Chinese government has moved to ready the population for the proposed increase in renewable energy. As part of its clean-green policy, the State Council announced on Thursday night that geothermal energy would provide 50 million tonnes of coal equivalent by 2020.

It said the renewable source would then provide 20 million tonnes a year and a national information system would be set up to help the population adjust.

It is estimated that as part of the change geothermal energy will provide heating for 500 million square metres of housing within the same timeframe.

The government also announced that up to 5000 small coalmines would be closed in the next two years. The move was attributed to improving mine safety, in which China has a poor track record, but no doubt the reduced reliance on coal played a part in the decision.

Like most governments, China has been keen to lift its solar power production as part of its renewable energy transformation….