Coal hub seeks its place under the sun

Shanxi province, China's coal hub in the north, has charted a plan to replace "dirty" coal with cleaner energy sources like solar power due to the steep fall in commodity prices and the government's determination to reduce carbon emissions.

In June, Datong, a major coalfield in the province, got approval under the National Energy Administration's "Top Runner" program to pilot photovoltaic technology research and development.

Wang Mingsheng, deputy head of Datong's Development and Reform Commission, said the city can no longer rely on the past growth model of coal production, as demand has fallen sharply due to slower economic growth and the government's clean energy initiatives.