China to boost solar power in green energy drive

In a further bid to tackle its growing air pollution problem, China is set to see more green energy sources installed. The country, which has been at the centre of climate change controversy for its continuously high levels of emissions, has set a new target that will see the amount of solar power installed tripled by 2017.

As part of the country's efforts to improve air quality and cut down on coal reliance, China has announced via the National Development and Reform Commission's website that it is seeking to increase solar capacity from around 20 GW to 70 GW by 2017. The move seems to make sense, as China has become the largest renewable energy market in the world over the last few years.

The central government has recently made a number of changes to laws and emissions targets in a bid to deal with its ever-increasing levels of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions. Currently China is the largest carbon dioxide emitter in the world, with numerous health issues being linked to air quality and tourism being dented by heavy smog in many city regions.

As part of its target of sourcing at least 13 per cent of the country's energy from green technology, China's central government has permitted a large increase in the amount of investment being made into low-carbon energy. The solar power goal is the final aspect of the clean energy strategy, which includes incentives for companies and regions to make use of renewable energy. New regulations have also been designed to curb emissions as part of the strategy.

Wind energy is also set to increase in the next few years, offering an alternative power source to coal, which has been the country's main source of energy for years. According to reports, around two per cent of China's electricity was derived from wind technologies. It is expected that this will dramatically increase.