英闻天下——410 Alternative Energy to Improve China's Air Quality

 　　China's energy production relies heavily on coal-fired power stations. As the world's highest emitter of greenhouse gasses, China consumed more than 400 million tones of coal last year.

 

　　As many parts of China have been shrouded¹ in a gray haze² over the past few months, the issue of air quality has been frequently raised. A recent study shows that coal-burning and motor vehicle emissions³ make up 60 to 70 percent of the PM2.5 particles. Therefore, looking for new alternate energy sources to replace fossil energy is becoming urgent for both the Chinese government and its population.

 

　　Actually, China's renewable energy capacity installation growth has been impressive, and an increasing amount of government attention and investment has been put into this sector⁴. Take solar thermal⁵ as an example. It works by using energy that comes solely⁶ from the sun, and is transformed into heat energy that generates electricity.

 

　　Wang Zhifeng, chairman of State Solar Thermal Energy Alliance, says this new technology is totally environmentally friendly, and has unique advantages over photovoltaic systems.

 

　　"During bad weather or at night, the heat storage system allows electricity output to continue even if the sun isn't shining. Also, this new technology source doesn't need expensive solar panels, so the cost is comparatively low."

 

　　However, Wang says the development of alternative energy especially the solar thermal power still faces many obstacles.

 

　　"Alternative energy sources are important to ease the air pollution problem. But solar thermal projects in China are still in the experimental stages. It faces the problems of low efficiency and maintaining stability. Also, the lack of an industrial supply chain is also a problem."

 

　　China has already set a target of increasing its total renewable energy consumption to 478 million tones of coal equivalent. This would represent approximately 9.5% of the overall energy consumption in the country by 2015.

 

　　Another major smog contributor is motor vehicle emissions. The country's auto⁷ sales hit more than 19 million units in 2012, but alternative fuel cars only made up 0.6 percent of those sales.

 

　　The government has enacted⁸ new policies, such as tax exemptions⁹, to support the growth of alternative fuel vehicles.

 

　　Consumers, however, still have their concerns.

 

　　"The cost of changing the battery is too expensive. It's hard for me to accept."

 

　　"I'm a bit concerned about the high maintenance cost in the future. Besides, the supporting facilities need to be built more comprehensively."

 

　　Though alternative fuel cars are barely on the radar¹⁰ at the moment, the country has set a target to have five million on its roads by 2020.

 

　　Moreover, China may also continue the subsidy¹¹ on new-energy vehicles for another three years, according to Miao Wei, deputy to 12th National People's Congress, and Minister of China's Industry and Information Technology.

 

　　"I think chances are high that the subsidy policy will be extended. Talking about the growth of the new-energy vehicle industry, buses were the majority of such vehicles in the past, but the good news is that more and more individuals are purchasing them lately. Next, we plan to boost the development of new-energy cars for private use."

 

　　For CRI, I'm Wang Xiao.

1 shrouded   

v.隐瞒( shroud的过去式和过去分词 )；保密

参考例句：

• The hills were shrouded in mist . 这些小山被笼罩在薄雾之中。
• The towers were shrouded in mist. 城楼被蒙上薄雾。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 haze   

n.霾，烟雾；懵懂，迷糊；vi.(over)变模糊

参考例句：

• I couldn't see her through the haze of smoke.在烟雾弥漫中，我看不见她。
• He often lives in a haze of whisky.他常常是在威士忌的懵懂醉意中度过的。

3 emissions   

排放物( emission的名词复数 )； 散发物（尤指气体）

参考例句：

• Most scientists accept that climate change is linked to carbon emissions. 大多数科学家都相信气候变化与排放的含碳气体有关。
• Dangerous emissions radiate from plutonium. 危险的辐射物从钚放散出来。

4 sector   

n.部门，部分；防御地段，防区；扇形

参考例句：

• The export sector will aid the economic recovery. 出口产业将促进经济复苏。
• The enemy have attacked the British sector.敌人已进攻英国防区。

5 thermal   

adj.热的，由热造成的；保暖的

参考例句：

• They will build another thermal power station.他们要另外建一座热能发电站。
• Volcanic activity has created thermal springs and boiling mud pools.火山活动产生了温泉和沸腾的泥浆池。

6 solely   

adv.仅仅，唯一地

参考例句：

• Success should not be measured solely by educational achievement.成功与否不应只用学业成绩来衡量。
• The town depends almost solely on the tourist trade.这座城市几乎完全靠旅游业维持。

7 auto   

n.(=automobile)(口语)汽车

参考例句：

• Don't park your auto here.别把你的汽车停在这儿。
• The auto industry has brought many people to Detroit.汽车工业把许多人吸引到了底特律。

8 enacted   

制定（法律），通过（法案）( enact的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• legislation enacted by parliament 由议会通过的法律
• Outside in the little lobby another scene was begin enacted. 外面的小休息室里又是另一番景象。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹

9 exemptions   

n.（义务等的）免除( exemption的名词复数 )；免（税）；（收入中的）免税额

参考例句：

• The exemptions for interpretive rules, policy statements, and procedural rules have just been discussed. 有关解释性规则、政策说明和程序规则的免责我们刚刚讨论过。 来自英汉非文学 - 行政法
• A: The regulation outlines specific exemptions for some WPM. 答：该规定概述了某些木质包装材料的特定的例外情形。 来自互联网

10 radar   

n.雷达，无线电探测器

参考例句：

• They are following the flight of an aircraft by radar.他们正在用雷达追踪一架飞机的飞行。
• Enemy ships were detected on the radar.敌舰的影像已显现在雷达上。

11 subsidy   

n.补助金，津贴

参考例句：

• The university will receive a subsidy for research in artificial intelligence.那个大学将得到一笔人工智能研究的补助费。
• The living subsidy for senior expert's family is included in the remuneration.报酬已包含高级专家家人的生活补贴。