China Grows Wind Capacity to Top World Ranking

April 25th, 2011 by Glenn Meyers

Source: http://blog.resource-solutions.org

The world may know China best for its massive consumption of coal and its plume of pollution over the Pacific Ocean.

But today’s China has dramatically expanded its wind power capacity to rank as the world’s largest owner of installed wind capacity. If planned construction deadlines are met, China will end 2011 owning 58 gigawatts (GWs) of installed wind capacity, a number that will expand to as much as 150-230 GWs over the coming decade.

Bottom line, China hopes to derive 15 percent of its power generation from clean energy by 2020.

According to Ivan Castano, writing for Renewable Energy World, China might install up to 18 GWs of wind-power capacity this year alone – new capacity that will be state built and financed.

Wind is likely to lead China’s renewables planning due to its profitability. Renewable Energy World reports that the largest wind developer, Longyuan Power Group, reported its profits had more than doubled over last year to 2 billion Yuan (US $305 million) from 900 million Yuan (US $137 million) the year before. The company said it hopes to install 2 GW of capacity this year, bringing the total it operates to 9 GW.

However, Castano adds that wind power development in China is not without difficulties, including a connection infrastructure. “Longyuan reports around 10 percent of last year’s installed capacity cannot be connected to the network due to grid barriers.” These issues need to be addressed, sooner rather than later.

The investment in wind must also account for the potential of earthquakes, especially with turbine manufacturers set to spend millions to improve their anti-disaster technology in light of Japan’s recent earthquake and tsunami. Japan’s wind industry reportedly survived the tragedy unscathed – due to its anti-quake design – something China is said to lag behind, say insiders. Manufacturers understand China’s vulnerability to earthquakes and tsunamis.

To begin leaving behind a legacy of dirty coal-powered energy and replace parts of it with a renewable infrastructure represents a large first step China is taking that other parts of the world can look at in trying to implement a distributed energy strategy that is both green and cost-effective.

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Tags: Castana, China, cost-effective, green energy, longgyuan, Renewable Energy World

About the Author

Glenn Meyers is a writer, producer, and director. Meyers was editor and site director of Green Building Elements, a contributing writer for CleanTechnica, and is founder of Green Streets MediaTrain, a communications connection and eLearning hub. As an independent producer, he's been involved in the development, production and distribution of television and distance learning programs for both the education industry and corporate sector. He also is an avid gardener and loves sustainable innovation.

Anumakonda Jagadeesh

Yes. China is advancing in leaps and bounds. If they can overcome the criticism of lack of quality,they will capture sizeable overseas market.

Dr.A.Jagadeesh Nellore(AP),India
Wind Energy Expert
E-mail: anumakonda.jagadeesh@gmail.com
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But why China is criticized for its quality ?
http://www.newsflap.com/2011/04/26/10-inch-dell-streak-pro-confirmed-roadmap-leak/ Dell Streak Pro

But why China is criticized for its quality ?
- Anonymous
  
  If you are as old as I am you will remember when saying that something was “Made in Japan” indicated that it was crap. Over a few years Japan emerged from a country with a destroyed manufacturing capacity and became a world leader in terms of quality.
  
  South Korea is well along to path of moving from a low-cost producer to being a country recognized as a maker of quality goods. China is also making its way from a non-sophisticated manufacturer to being a producer of world-class products.
  
  One doesn’t built state of the art factories and train highly skilled engineers and workers overnight.