YINCHUAN, May 31 (Xinhua) -- New energy generating capacity has improved the energy mix in northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region.

Its new energy power generating capacity has reached 16.1 GW, accounting for 41 percent of the total installed capacity in the region, said the Ningxia branch of the State Grid.

Wind power generating capacity has reached 9.9 GW and solar 6.2 GW.

Rich in wind and solar energy, Ningxia is the country's first new energy demonstration zone. After 16 years, it had eight large-scale wind and solar power bases.

However, due to high costs, poor grid connections and the grid's preference for more predictable coal-generated power, some installed new energy generating capacity was left idle.

To address the issue, local authorities suspended some coal-fired plants and used more new energy generating facilities to power central heating systems last winter.

Local authorities have also expanded the public transport fleet powered by new energy to help use more clean energy and reduce oil consumption.

Ningxia has encouraged new energy companies to sign direct deals with local factories and transmit more clean electricity to other regions.

In 2018, it plans to transit 5 billion kwh of electricity generated from the new energy to other regions, up from 3.2 billion kwh in 2017.