| File photo taken on Nov. 7, 2003 shows a villager fixing a bulb powered by solar energy in Xigaze, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region. Over the past 60 years, Tibet has stepped up exploitation of its clean energy resources, like hydropower, wind power, geothermal energy, and solar energy, hoping to protect the plateau ecology while seeking economic growth. Today, clean energy resources are now widely used by Tibetan families, especially solar energy. Nearly 400,000 solar stoves have been installed in Tibetan kitchens, 10,000 square meters of homes are heated by solar energy and 200,000 households rely on solar energy for lighting. Tibet's regional government estimated solar power helped save at least 162,800 tonnes of coal equivalent last year. Tibet has abundant solar energy resources, with an average 3,000 hours of solar radiation annually, or about 6,000 to 8,000 megajoules per square meter. During the period of next five years, besides highlighting hydropower projects, Tibet will further develop solar energy and make effort to drive the installed capability to reach 160,000 kilowatts. (Xinhua) |
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