CHINA BECOMES BIGGEST INVESTOR IN RENEWABLE ENERGY|中國太陽能生產全球No.1 鄉村賣綠電給政府

Almost four decades have passed since then-US President Jimmy Carter lined the rooftops of the White House with solar panels, in hope of jump-starting the country's renewable energy industry. One of those panels now rests halfway across the globe at a solar museum in Dezhou, China. Today, the city is home to one of the world's biggest makers of solar energy products. It's here at the solar museum in Dezhou, China that a piece of White House history is on display. This solar panel was once installed by then-US President Jimmy Carter at the president's official residence. The panel was one of 32 installed atop the West Wing in 1979. ==MUSEUM GUIDE== At that time the technology was excellent, but it's been almost 40 years after all. Thirty-eight years later, the shift to renewables remains elusive in the United States. Meanwhile, China has become the world's biggest investor in renewable energy with more than US$100 billion invested in 2015, according to a World Economic Forum report. The United States in contrast committed to less than half that amount at US$44.1 billion. At the forefront of China's renewables renaissance is Himin Solar Energy Group, the largest manufacturer of solar water heaters in China. The company has more than 1,100 patented technologies and exports its solar products to around 80 countries worldwide. It is also home to China's Solar Museum. == HUANG MING, Chairman of Himin Solar Energy Group== We built the world's first solar energy museum, it is still the only one in the world, so it is necessary for us to have this kind of museum piece. It is a symbol of our spirit. Near the Chinese solar factory, residents of the village of Da Yang Zhuang, are also embracing solar energy. One villager says, most homes began installing solar panels for heating water around a decade ago, but more is to come. Last year, with the help of a government subsidy, this father of two decided to invest and build an energy-efficient solar room and heating system with an indoor bathroom and toilet. The cost, he says, will be offset by selling electricity to the government over the next 25 years. The house generated 13,500 Kilowatt-hours of energy last year, for which the government is due to pay around US$2,000. Their daily life has since had a marked change. Their bedroom was about 8 degrees Celsius on average in winter - now they can sleep at around 15 degrees using only solar power. ==VILLAGER of Solar Valley== As for heating in the evening, water is heated to about 70 to 80 degrees (Celsius) during the day, through this solar panel water heating machine. In-room heating goes through a circulation system, and then in the evening, it will reach the temperature we need. An even bigger incentive is about to begin for Chinese renewable companies to invest even more. In early January, China's government energy agency announced the goal of investing $360 billion over the next five years on renewable energy and said it aimed to create more than 13 million jobs. TRANSLATED BY：JESSICA OY