China Energy Monthly - April

GOVERNMENT

“China to set up special funds for green counties” (4-29-11)

A group of ministries will collaboratively support green counties. The Ministry of Finance, the National Energy Administration, and the Ministry of Agriculture jointly issued regulations that will give subsidies to counties that develop alternative energy sources such as biomass and methane gas. There are requirements. For example, a project must benefit at least 20,000 families. This is consistent with China’s goal of building more green cities.

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/usa/business/2011-04/29/content_12423544.htm

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/bizchina/2011-04/27/content_12407351.htm

China Looks Forward to Second Generation Biofuels (4-28-11)

China is looking to produce more second generation biofuels, such as those from agricultural waste. Novozymes, a Denmark-based company, has approximately 50% market share of China’s first generation biofuels production, such as corn ethanol. The 12th Five Year Plan emphasizes second generation fuels, which does not compete with demand for food products. Novozymes predicts that up to 2.8% of China’s total energy consumption can come from biomass by 2015. This could be ten times of today’s levels.

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/usa/business/2011-04/28/content_12412792.htm

Electric Shortages Cause Scheduled Blackouts (4-28-11)

Insufficient coal supplies and rising oil prices cause electricity shortages. The Central China grid network only had coal stockpiles sufficient for nine days, less than the recommended 15 days by the Chinese government. Coal companies in the U.S. however usually only have enough coal for a couple of days. Since last year power was shut off every other day for enterprises that use less than 200 kW a day. Other companies with revenues of less than $770,000 a year were prohibited from using electricity between 7 am to 5:30 pm. Business with revenues over $770,000 can only use power every two days.

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/usa/business/2011-04/28/content_12414549.htm

“China drafting special law on climate change” (4-27-11)

China’s climate change negotiator announced in Brussels that China is currently drafting a climate change law.

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/usa/china/2011-04/27/content_12402439.htm

“Japan nuclear crisis promotes ‘urgent’ drafting of new law” (4-26-11)

State Council plans on drafting new legislation on nuclear reactor safety after the nuclear crisis in Japan. In 1984, Li Peng proposed a similar law. Another similar law was proposed in 2004. Both times, approval did not occur because of differences between the administrative bodies and the lawmakers.

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/cndy/2011-04/26/content_12393701.htm

New Geothermal Plan (4-23-11)

Ministry of Land and Resources announced that geothermal will make up 1.7% of China’s energy by 2015. Geothermal will replace 6.8 million tons of coal and 180 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions. The government has allocated $25.2 million to investigate geothermal as the technology is not fully developed and currently it requires large up-front investment.

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/usa/china/2011-04/23/content_12380533.htm