20 March 2013: The World Bank has approved loans for two climate-related projects in China. The first project will install rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) systems on 800 schools and colleges in Beijing, while the second project will support low-carbon buildings in Shanghai.

The Beijing project, called “Sunshine Schools,” received a loan of US$120 million. The project, which runs until late 2019, aims to demonstrate the business model of the Renewable Energy Service Company (RESCO) for distributed rooftop solar PV systems. The capacity of the systems will range from 50 to 200 kilowatt. The project will serve as a test-case for wider deployment in other educational institutions in Beijing.

The “Green Energy for Low-Carbon City Project” in Shanghai received a loan of US$100 million. Focusing on the Changning district, the project aims to support low-carbon investments in buildings, in particular building retrofit and new low-emissions buildings. A second part of the project, which is supported by a grant from the Global Environment Facility (GEF), entails technical assistance and capacity building for green buildings, low carbon energy supply, green mobility, and near zero-emission buildings. The project runs until the end of 2018. [World Bank Press Release] [Sunshine Schools Project Description] [Green Energy for Low-Carbon City Project Description]