The upcoming Beijing 2008 Olympics will be a "green" Games thanks to the use of renewable resources, one of the city's top officials said 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 Olympic venues and facilities would make full use of new energy sources.

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

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.

Further to this, the city will build a series of large recycling projects to upgrade the capital's energy saving and environmental protection capability.

Two large refuse incineration plants, two comprehensive refuse-processing plants and one disposal centre 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 kilowatts a year.

The two comprehensive refuse-processing plants will be model projects to demonstrate the benefits of processing refuse, such as the production of methane gas.

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

The city also plans a project to recycle 1.2 million obsolete and old electrical household appliances in a year, said Tian.

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

Tian said that the municipal government would give full support to key projects, by offering direct investment or interest-free loans.

(China Daily May 29, 2006)