Sustainability and renewable energy challenges and strategies in Beijing, China

Abstract

This study aims to provide a better understanding of renewable energy use and its potential in Beijing, by utilizing qualitative content analysis to collect secondary data and coding process to analyze data regarding renewable energy opportunities, challenges, and strategies in Beijing. The results found that Beijing lacks the natural resources of wind and water which affect the development of wind farms and hydro power. Yet, Beijing is one of the major producers for solar water heaters as Beijing contains relatively abundant solar resources. As Beijing is the capital of China, it has enough economic and political supports to vigorously develop the technology of various renewable energy. The most important role of developing renewable energy in Beijing is to lead other Chinese cities to use renewable energy generated energy instead of fossil fuels such as coal, to control the air pollution and mitigate the climate change, by reducing carbon emissions. Thus, this study suggests that Beijing should increase cooperation with other regions which have abundant renewable energy to remedy its deficiency. This research could make positively contribution to understand how renewable energy development increase sustainability and solve environmental issues of energy uses by focusing on the city of Beijing.