Xinjiang cuts over 30 bln kWh coal-fired power in new energy trade since 2016

Northwest China's power hub Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region has replaced over 30 billion kWh of coal-fired power with new energy alternatives in the past five years as part of a green energy drive.

Coal-fired plants have bought some 30.19 billion kWh of wind or solar power via a trading scheme, which adds up to a reduction in burning about 9.6 million tonnes of standard coal, according to the State Grid's Xinjiang branch.

The trading volume translates into an emission cut of over 25.92 million tonnes of carbon dioxide, 81,600 tonnes of sulfur dioxide and 71,000 tonnes of nitrogen oxides.

With nearly 180 new energy power generation enterprises, the region's new energy alternative trade neared 1.5 billion kWh in the first seven months of 2020.

Xinjiang, rich in wind and solar resources, boasts a total installed new energy generating capacity of 30-plus million kW, accounting for over 40 percent of the region's total installed power capacity.