The upcoming Beijing 2008 Olympics will be a "green" one thanks to the use of renewable resources, according to one of the city's top officials on Friday.

Speaking at a seminar on China's circular economy, Tian Maijiu, deputy director of the Standing Committee of Beijing Municipal People's Congress, revealed that Olympics venues and facilities would make full use of new energy sources.

Wind power will generate 20 percent of the electricity supply for Olympics venues in 2008, while terrestrial heat and hot pump technology will provide central heating and air conditioning for an area of 400,000 square meters.

Between 80 percent and 90 percent of the street lamps will use solar power, which will also heat 90 percent of bathing water, according to Tian.

"Beijing is aware of the environmental and economic benefits of new and renewable energy, and has already mapped out related development plans," Tian said.

Solar power, biomass and wind power development will be the three main projects in the city's rural ecological park, Tian said.

In addition, a series of large recycling projects will be developed to upgrade the capital's energy saving and environmental protection capability.

Two large refuse incineration plants, two comprehensive refuse-processing plants and one disposal center for dangerous wastes are under construction.

By burning refuse, the two incineration plants will process about 600,000 tons a year and generate 250 million kilowatt-hours of energy annually.

The two comprehensive refuse-processing plants are model projects to demonstrate the benefits of processing refuse in the production of methane gas, for example.

The disposal center for dangerous waste such as chemicals and radioactive materials will be able to handle 85,000 tons of waste through recycling, burning and by using landfills.

Beijing also has plans for a project that can recycle 1.2 million obsolete and old electrical household appliances a year, Tian said.

"Once completed, these projects will surely give a push to Beijing's plan to build a circular economy."

Tian said that the municipal government would fully support key projects with direct investment or interest-free loans.

(China Daily May 29, 2006)