Potential huge for China to go 'green' (2)

Challenges ahead

Although the momentum is strong, the development of China's renewable energy industries is still at an early stage.

Among the myriad of challenges is the cost of renewable energy, which remains much higher than the conventional sources. Wind power costs 30 to 50 percent more than traditional fossil energy, and solar energy is much higher yet, some two to three times more.

Support for renewable energy industries will put more burden on the consumers and require more government subsidies.

Also, China's low-carbon energy technologies lag far behind developed countries, except in the use of solar heated water and methane. The technological disadvantage results in higher costs and less market acceptance.

Last but not least, China's geography makes it hard to develop new energies. Wind and solar power resources are rich in the west, yet the demand in those regions is not that big - instead the enormous demand is in the highly industrialized and populous east where resources are scarce.

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