Pendulum swings to clean energy in Inner Mongolia

North China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region is understood to be aiming to build itself up as a clean energy hub.

According to discussions that took place at the 11th CPC Inner Mongolia Autonomous Regional Congress on Nov 27-30, the region will move to take the lead in establishing an energy supply system with new energy making up the bulk of the energy mix.

Four industry clusters involving wind power, solar power and hydrogen energy – as well as energy storage facilities – will reportedly start to take shape in Inner Mongolia during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-25).

In 2022, plans are for Inner Mongolia to advance the development of large-scale wind power and solar power plans in the region’s deserts and in the Gobi Desert.

It will reportedly push to resume and start the construction of new energy projects with a total power generation capacity of more than 40 million kilowatts within the year, adding a further 20 million kW of grid-connected new energy projects later.

When completed, they are expected to bring the installed capacity of renewable energy to 40 percent of the region’s total power generation capacity.

Meanwhile, Inner Mongolia plans to restructure its energy industry – accelerating the construction of complete supply chains for wind, solar power and hydrogen energy and upgrading its traditional energy industry that relies on fossil fuels.