The local government is encouraging companies to use power from environmentally friendly sources to supplement its current supply, energy officials revealed yesterday.
"The program will find buyers for the clean energy and raise funds for construction of more power plants dependent on clean energy sources," said Yang Jinde, an official with the Shanghai Energy Conservation Supervision Center.
Clean energy refers to power created by solar panels, windmills and hydro electricity.
Currently the city has only one wind power plant with a generating capacity of 3,400 kilowatts, and a small solar power generating system. Both are in suburban Fengxian District.
The annual generation of "green power" in the city is more than 7 million kilowatt-hours. The electricity costs around 0.9 yuan (11 US cents) per kwh, about 50 percent more than that power produced from coal.
The city also plans to build another two bigger wind power plants in suburban Chongming County and Nanhui District.
Companies willing to pay extra to use the environmentally friendly energy will earn the title "green power users."
At present about 20 companies have expressed an interest in using the "green power" for production. Most of them are joint ventures or large state-owned enterprises, said Yang.
"It is a good way for them to boost their company image."
Residents can also purchase the "green power" at local power sale networks, according to Yang.
In other news, local weathermen are waiting for the government's final approval to create man-made precipitation this summer to cool down the city to help relieve the overloaded power grid.
"We have finished preparations for the event," said Huang Jiaxin, an official in charge of artificial rain with the Shanghai Meteorological Bureau.
The project can't begin right now as there are not enough clouds over the city.