The Chinese government will raise about 180 billion US dollars to develop renewable energy from now to 2020, said a senior official at the Beijing International Renewable Energy Conference that opened in Beijing Monday.

By then, the share of renewable energy in primary energy consumption will stand at 15 percent, rising from the current seven percent, said Zhang Guobao, vice minister of the National Development and Reform Commission.

Renewable energy, including solar, wind power, and hydropower, will contribute to better energy security in China, said Zhang. It also delivers substantial economic and environmental results, alleviating poverty.

In the coming 15 years, China will actively develop biomass liquid fuel with crops, said Zhang, to reach the capacity of replacing ten million tons of petroleum each year.

China also plans to expand the heat collection area of solar heater to 300 million cubic meters by 2020, replacing about 40 million tons of standard coal annually.

Source: Xinhua