According to researchers from the China Society for Hydropower Engineering and the state-owned Power Construction Corporation of China, the technically exploitable capacity of hydropower in Tibet could reach 178 gigawatts, and more than 100GW for wind power.
04:20
Indian villagers resist mega dam meant to counter China water threat
Indian villagers resist mega dam meant to counter China water threat
“Technically exploitable renewable capacity” refers to the portion of theoretical energy resources – such as the total solar radiation that hits the Earth – that could be harnessed for human use considering technical, geographic and environmental limits.
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Despite the region’s significant energy potential, its fragile ecosystem warranted careful expansion of green power projects, the researchers said in a paper published in the Chinese journal Water Resources and Power on January 8.
China also faces the challenge of a surplus of renewable energy being locked up in its energy-rich western regions, meaning transmission and storage infrastructure must be expanded for it to reach the power-hungry urban regions.
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In 2010, China’s total installed solar capacity reached 1GW. Last year, it became the first country to surpass 1,000GW of installed solar power, making up about half the world’s solar capacity.
Despite the country’s unprecedented green energy transition, it still has a long way to go to meet its dual carbon goals of peak carbon dioxide emissions by 2030 and achieving carbon neutrality by 2060.
