New 5-year plan to raise goals for renewables

Wind, solar power targets raised, while oil exploration expanded in offshore regions

China has outlined the 13th Five-Year Plan (2016-2020) on energy, which will increase offshore oil and gas exploration and raise output targets of renewables, especially wind and solar power, according to a senior official with the National Energy Administration.

The country will increase offshore oil and gas exploration in the Bohai Sea, the East China Sea and the northern part of the South China Sea, which was newly added to the plan, said He Yongjian, deputy head of NEA's planning department, during an energy forum in late September.