Shanghai
is pinning big hopes and big investment, especially for
residences, on solar power in an effort to alleviate its
chronic energy shortage.
Shanghai
will invest 100 million yuan (US$12.35 million) through
2007 to develop solar energy, including more rooftop panels
and street lamps, an official said yesterday.
Much
of the alternative energy budget, which triples the city's
research fund in solar technology since 2000, will be
used to import key solar equipment and technology from
developed countries.
"The
city will greatly widen the application of solar-powered
production, particularly in residential sectors,"
Cui Rongqiang, secretary general of Shanghai Solar Energy
Society, said yesterday. He addressed the International
Photovoltaic Science and Engineering Conference.
Over
160 firms from 19 countries and regions, including Japan
and Germany, displayed their solar products at the Shanghai
International Convention Center.
An
aspect of Shanghai's solar plan is to install solar-panels
on 100,000 of the city's total 6 million rooftops.
Solar
energy accounts for less than 0.1 percent of the city's
power.
Most
solar power equipment, including hot water geysers and
street lamps, is located in suburban Nanhui, Fengxian
and Baoshan districts.
However,
Shanghai has an advantageous geographic location in relation
to sunlight, even better than Japan, which generates about
half of the world's total solar power.
Cui
said the city is also considering requiring factories
to use some solar power.
Australian
scientist Martin Green told Shanghai Daily the city initially
should reduce the residential price of solar energy. He
said housing prices are already high and most residents
cannot afford a huge electricity bill after buying a new
house.
He
said the shadows of many high-rise buildings make it impossible
to use solar energy in some places.
(Shanghai Daily October 12, 2005)
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