Well while coal power is for the most part the dirtiest way to generate electricity, using the natural power of water flowing downhill is seen as a better alternative.
But as Andrew Livingstone reports, this supposedly clean alternative is having serious environmental impacts of its own in China.
The 7th Changsha International Automobile Exposition closed on December 19th and the tally has been made. The expo generated sales of 20 thousand vehicles to Chinese dealers.
Power shortages are becoming a fact of life for many in China, as the country's fast growing economy puts increasing pressure on its electricity supply.
Now after a long cold winter of power rationing, one large province is preparing for summer shortages.
The Chinese solar power industry is facing limitations in exports to the US and to the EU. The NDRC is planning to double the installed solar power capacity target by 2015 to 40GW. China looks to avoid foreign risks, after industry insiders appealed to expand the domestic market instead.
Well last week we looked at China's power dilemma, of how to provide for the country's growing energy demands without increasing carbon emissions through coal, or destroying wild rivers to produce hydroelectricity. Today BON’s Andrew Livingstone looks at an energy source that’s not just saving on fossil fuels; it’s helping ease another environmental concern at the same time.