China plans renewable energy boost by 2020

BEIJING - China will replace huge amounts of fossile fuels with renewable energy in the next five years in pursuit of better air quality.

By the end of 2020, renewable energy facilities will supply 1.9 trillion kilowatt-hours of electricity, accounting for 27 percent of total power generation, according to the National Development and Reform Commission 2016-2020 plan for renewable energy.

China will annually utilize renewable energy equivalent to 730 million tonnes of standard coal by 2020, according to the plan.

Policy support for renewable energy, technological improvements and reduced costs will substantially change China's energy mix, with more wind, solar, and geothermal power alongside biomass energy rendering the economy cleaner and more sustainable.