Wind power potential in China
Today, wind power (wind energy) in China is developing rapidly and receives particularly strong government support. The new Renewable Energy (Green Energy) Law and its detailed incentive policies reflect the Chinese government's intention to build up this industry.
By 2020, China plans to have 30GW of wind power.
European companies dominate the wind power (wind energy) equipment market in China. Among U.S. companies, only GE Wind Power is active in China. And in year 2005, GE Wind Power occupied 3% of the in-grid wind turbine market in China.
According to the China Academy of Meteorological Sciences, China possesses a total 235 gigawatts of practical onshore wind power (wind energy) potential that can be utilized at 10 meters above the ground. And annual potential production from wind power could reach 632.5 gigawatts if the annual, full-load operation reaches 2,000-2,500 hours. A detailed survey is needed, however, for economically utilizable wind power resources.
The potential for offshore wind power (wind energy) is even greater, estimated at 750 gigawatts. Offshore wind speed is higher and more stable than onshore wind. And offshore wind farm sites are closer to the major electricity load centers in eastern China. Areas of China which are rich in wind power resources are mainly concentrated in two areas: northern China's grasslands and Gobi desert, stretching from Inner Mongolia, Gansu, and Xinjiang; and in the east coast from Shangdong and Liaoning and the Southeast Coast in Fujian and Guangdong provinces.
Below the figure illustrate the onshore wind power potential in different areas of China.
green=great, pink=good, blue=ok, yellow=poor
(offshore & coastal potential not shown)
In 1986, China built its first wind farm in Rongcheng, Shandong. From 1996 to 1999, in-grid wind power developed very quickly, entering a localization stage. By the end of 2004, there were 43 wind farms with 1291 wind turbines in China, with 764 megawatts of installed capacity. Liaoning, Xinjiang, Inner Mongolia, and Guangdong experienced the fastest wind power development, representing 60% of the installed power generating capacity of national wind power. Currently, Xinjiang's Dabancheng is the largest wind farm in China, with 100 megawatts of installed power generating capacity. Most generators range from 500 kilowatts to 1 megawatt, accounting for 84% of China's wind turbine generators.
