China RE100 is launched at the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Beijing on July 2, 2015. About 20 companies in the world have now joined the campaign and made a public commitment to going 100% renewable. [Photo: CRIENGLISH]

RE100, a global initiative to engage companies committed to 100 percent renewable energy, launched a capacity building program at the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Beijing on Thursday.

Wu Changhua with The Climate Group says the campaign aims to raise awareness of the benefits for going '100 percent renewable' and help companies in China adopt renewable energy.

"Together with the Chinese Renewable Energy Industries Association, we launch the China RE 100 campaign. We would like to invite more Chinese companies to join us. We'll help these companies solve technical, financial problems when switching to renewable energy."

Director of the National Center for Climate Change Strategy and International Cooperation Li Junfeng says renewable energy is needed to deal with environmental pollution for China.

"China needs renewable energy more urgently than other countries as our government is making great efforts to solve environment pollution. We need to use more renewable energy to have clean water and to improve air quality."

About 20 companies from around the world have now joined the RE100 campaign and made a public commitment to going 100% renewable. Household appliance manufacturer Robam and wind turbine developer Goldwind are the first two companies that benefit from China RE100 capacity building program, which is the part of the global campaign.
 

Solar is the most popular renewable power technology for these businesses.

Elion Resources Group was the first Chinese company to join RE100, setting itself a target for going 100% renewable by 2030. (CRI English)