China is looking to expand wind power generating capacity to 100,000 megawatts by 2020, or fivefold the previous target. China’s top industry planning body the National Development and Reforms Commission concluded that the wind power capacity in the country could be increased to 100,000 MW, more than three times higher than previously targeted 30,000 MW.
China aims to get 15 percent of its power consumption from renewable sources by 2020, though the majority of the capacity will be contributed by hydropower projects. To meet this binding target, besides hydropower, wind has to play a major role as others like solar and bio-energy will only generate small amounts out of the total.
China has 5,600MW of installed wind capacity at the end of last year, though nearly a quarter of them are not connected to grids, according to the electricity regulator and industry association. Distributors in China are not keen on wind power as they have to secure back-up energy during times when the wind is not strong enough, and wind power costs more than coal-fired electricity. But Anil Kane, president of the World Wind Energy Association, said in terms of operating costs, which include fuel prices and maintenance, wind power is more competitive than other sources such as nuclear and solar. It has been projected China's wind capacity could reach as high as 120,000MW, or equal to the capacity of five Three Gorges dams, by 2020 if the state reforms a subsidy system to give wind power larger premiums over coal.
To promote investment China’s Ministry of Finance has decided that value-added tax and import tariffs on key wind turbine component imports would be refunded with retrospective effect from Jan. 1, 2008.
China aims to get 15 percent of its power consumption from renewable sources by 2020, though the majority of the capacity will be contributed by hydropower projects. To meet this binding target, besides hydropower, wind has to play a major role as others like solar and bio-energy will only generate small amounts out of the total.
China has 5,600MW of installed wind capacity at the end of last year, though nearly a quarter of them are not connected to grids, according to the electricity regulator and industry association. Distributors in China are not keen on wind power as they have to secure back-up energy during times when the wind is not strong enough, and wind power costs more than coal-fired electricity. But Anil Kane, president of the World Wind Energy Association, said in terms of operating costs, which include fuel prices and maintenance, wind power is more competitive than other sources such as nuclear and solar. It has been projected China's wind capacity could reach as high as 120,000MW, or equal to the capacity of five Three Gorges dams, by 2020 if the state reforms a subsidy system to give wind power larger premiums over coal.
To promote investment China’s Ministry of Finance has decided that value-added tax and import tariffs on key wind turbine component imports would be refunded with retrospective effect from Jan. 1, 2008.
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