Renewable energy generation soared in 2012

China's renewable energy power generation in 2012 rose 30.3 percent from a year earlier to 968 billion kilowatt-hours, according to the State Electricity Regulatory Commission.

Solar electrical energy generation in 2012 surged 414 percent year-on-year to 3.5 billion kWhs while hydroelectricity rose 29.3 percent year-on-year to 864.1 billion kWhs. Wind electricity increased 35.5 percent year-on-year to 100.4 billion kWhs.

Meanwhile, a total of 21 provinces took part in generation rights trading in 2012 with electricity trade volume climbing to 109.75 billion kWhs, up 2.9 percent year-on-year. The trade volume was equal to 8.33 million tons of standard coal and could reduce sulfur dioxide emissions by 214,900 tons and carbon dioxide emissions by 21.7 million tons.