That’s the conclusion of a recent report published in Science magazine by Harvard University’s School of Engineering and Applied Science. China is a coal-loving nation (it’s cheap and plentiful), but the carbon emissions and air pollution resulting from this love affair could become one of the biggest sources of greenhouse gas emissions as the country grows along with their demand for energy. Currently, China has the second largest power generating capacity in the world, with a whopping 792.5 gigawatts per year being produced and an anticipated growth of 10 percent every year.

According to the study, which uses meteorological data combined with bidding information and financial restrictions on wind power from the Chinese government, estimate that using wind energy alone, the country could provide enough electricity to meet demands for the nation for 2030! At present, only 0.4 percent of China’s electricity supply comes from wind.

But with the recent (2005) passing of the country’s Renewable Energy Law which provides favourable tax status for alternative energy projects as well as low cost of 7.6 US cents per kilowatt-hour could allow wind energy to surge ahead of fossil fuel energies.

“Wind farms would only need to take up land areas of 0.5 million square kilometers, or regions about three quarters of the size of Texas. The physical footprints of wind turbines would be even smaller, allowing the areas to remain agricultural,” said Xi Lu, Harvard graduate student.

To reach this full potential, the Chinese government would have to invest $900 billion over the next twenty years, a cost some consider reasonable for China.