Datong aims to transform from a city of coal to a city of solar energy

The city of Datong in Shanxi Province in China is known for its rich coal resources. Datong has a huge reserve of coal. The total coal output in 2011 was 103.48 million tons. However, plans are being made to transform it into a center for solar energy. $536.4 billion is the total investment for the 432 projects for the city. The city's target is to raise the proportion of clean energy produced to 25% by the end of 2015. Mayor of Datong, Geng Yanbo, states that construction of polysilicon factory will start next month. Polysilicon is the main material used in solar panels. Golden Concord Holdings, one of the world's largest polysilicon manufacturers, plans to invest 14.68 billion yuan on five solar energy projects in the southeast of Datong.