China gives subsidies for more renewable power projects

China increased its renewable power projects qualified for state subsidies.

Under the countries tariff surcharge program, those newly eligible for the grants are 62 solar power projects although windmill farms account for more than three quarters of the 496 projects.

The rest are biomass energy projects. This is the third batch of projects eligible for the subsidies.

Wind power plants have accounted for the majority of eligible developments in the first two batches of projects unveiled last year.

The ministry said it paid 8.6 billion yuan or US$1.4 billion in subsidies for renewable power under the program last year. Wind power took 5.85 billion yuan, solar power 723 million yuan, and 2.02 billion yuan were used to subsidize electricity generated from biomass energy projects.

The 496 projects span 19 provinces, regions and municipalities, including 139 in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. Shanghai has six wind projects and one solar project on the list.

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