Wind energy in the industrialised southern province of Guangdong alone could surpass that generated in Germany, the current leading country in wind power, the environmental group said.

Wind-generated electricity in Guangdong, China's richest and most populace province but one of its biggest producers of carbon dioxide emissions, could reach 20 gigawatts by 2020, enough for the whole of neighbouring Hong Kong, Greenpeace said.

That would reach the national target for the same period and cut carbon emissions by 29 million tonnes.

"There should be more bolder policy... Wind potential in Guangdong is very large. There could be a real confidence in wind power. China is taking its first step, and that's the right path to take," said Robin Oakley, Greenpeace China's Energy spokesman.

"This report confirms that with political and industry will Guangdong's uptake of clean wind power could become a model for renewable energy development not only in China but for all of Asia," Oakley said.

"This would be a gigantic step forward in reducing the threat of climate change and powering the sustainable growth of the region's economies."

China recently published an action plan which foresees renewable energy sources accounting for 10 percent of the nation's total installed electricity capacity by 2010.

Coal-burning is the number one source of pollution in China, the world's number one coal producer whose cities are often hit by thick smog.

Auto sales soared 29 percent in the first three months of 2004 and China last year overtook Japan as the world's second-largest importer of oil after the United States.

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