Tibet to Develop Solar EnergyThe Tibet Autonomous Region, known as the Roof of the World, is tending vigorously to construct and develop a new source of energy - solar energy. And now it is making efforts to solve the problem of electricity supply for lighting up its 1.6 million farmers and herdsmen accounting for two thirds of the region's population. To achieve this goal a rough investment of three to five billion yuan is required to put in.The retardation in the development of power industry proves a bottleneck greatly restricting the region's economic development. Tibet, a region with the least power coverage in China, sees an installed capacity of 340,000 kw only, and the annual usage of electricity per capita is not up to one third that of the average in the whole country. Due to its vast territory sparsely inhabited, the population density finds only two persons per square kilometers. And again owing to the low electricity loading, it obviously is not a realistic way to construct large or medium-sized power stations by resorting to extended network for power transmission to the areas of no or shortage of electricity in a conventional way. Authorities held that the problem can be solved by utilizing solar energy, wind energy and mini-water conservancy projects and other retrievable energies, the unique and exclusive energy resources in Tibet. The region has a plan to accomplish the promotion work of the new sources of energy by the year 2005. -To put up 600 mini hydropower stations with a generating capacity of five to 10 kw so as to solve the problem of illumination, broadcasting, TV receiving and part for agricultural use for 600 villages in the southeast of Tibet. - To set up 630 wind-powered water-pumps, each with a capacity of 10 tons and a lift of 20 meters in the dry grasslands of northwest Tibet for drinking water, for pasturing and for the prevention of deterioration or desertification of grasslands as well. - To introduce 25 watts of photoelectric source of power in the areas where there is neither water nor electricity so as to solve the basic problem of lighting for farmers and herdsmen scattered in north and northwest Tibet. - To establish 120 photoelectric power stations with a capacity of five to 10 kw. - To promote and construct sunshine houses of heat accumulation in the agricultural and pastoral areas - To strengthen the promotion of solar energy products in order to boost the development of solar industry in the region. |
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