Xioa Yan Kou Farm, Rudong, China
Twin challenges of rising energy demand and climate change forge wind power industry
Kyoto’s Clean Development Mechanism is an important contributor to wind power’s economic viability
The threat of climate change and a drastic increase in energy demand has encouraged China to forge a new renewable energy industry out of wind power. The 150 MW (Megawatts) wind park at Rudong in Jiangsu Province is just one of many helping it on its way.
Completed in 2008 on the coastline of the Yellow Sea, Rudong produces enough power for about 150,000 Chinese households. It was developed by the Longyuan Electric Power Group with wind turbines supplied by US company GE Energy.
Driven by the need to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions, China is expected to reach 100 GW (Gigawatts) of wind power by 2020. Last year alone the amount of installed wind capacity was doubled to 12.2 GW, with a similar surge expected in 2009.
Wind farms like Rudong are registered under the Clean Development Mechanism, part of the Kyoto Protocol agreement on climate change, in order to generate carbon credits. These credits, which reflect the amount of carbon dioxide saved, have been purchased in turn by a ‘developed country’, contributing to the project’s economic viability.
China has also created a domestic manufacturing industry for wind turbines. Around ten major companies now produce enough machines to satisfy most of the Chinese market, and are beginning to export to the rest of the world. Overall, over 70 companies are now involved in wind energy domestically.
Announcing the launch of the Rudong project, GE Energy’s then wind business manager, Robert Gleitz, said: "The Chinese government's leadership in encouraging new renewable energy development will bring both cleaner power alternatives and new economic development". In 2008 China was the fourth largest market for wind energy in the world.
The threat of climate change and a drastic increase in energy demand has encouraged China to forge a new renewable energy industry out of wind power. The 150 MW (Megawatts) wind park at Rudong in Jiangsu Province is just one of many helping it on its way.
Completed in 2008 on the coastline of the Yellow Sea, Rudong produces enough power for about 150,000 Chinese households. It was developed by the Longyuan Electric Power Group with wind turbines supplied by US company GE Energy.
Driven by the need to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions, China is expected to reach 100 GW (Gigawatts) of wind power by 2020. Last year alone the amount of installed wind capacity was doubled to 12.2 GW, with a similar surge expected in 2009.
Wind farms like Rudong are registered under the Clean Development Mechanism, part of the Kyoto Protocol agreement on climate change, in order to generate carbon credits. These credits, which reflect the amount of carbon dioxide saved, have been purchased in turn by a ‘developed country’, contributing to the project’s economic viability.
China has also created a domestic manufacturing industry for wind turbines. Around ten major companies now produce enough machines to satisfy most of the Chinese market, and are beginning to export to the rest of the world. Overall, over 70 companies are now involved in wind energy domestically.
Announcing the launch of the Rudong project, GE Energy’s then wind business manager, Robert Gleitz, said: "The Chinese government's leadership in encouraging new renewable energy development will bring both cleaner power alternatives and new economic development". In 2008 China was the fourth largest market for wind energy in the world.
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FACTS: WIND POWER IN CHINA
China has the fourth largest capacity of wind power in the world. In just a few years its growth rate has exploded, together with the establishment of a major wind turbine manufacturing industry.
Current wind energy capacity: 12,200 MW (end 2008)
National target: 100 GW by 2020
Current wind energy capacity: 12,200 MW (end 2008)
National target: 100 GW by 2020
FACTS: RUDONG WIND PARK
Size: The Rudong Concession II wind park, located in the coastal Jiangsu province, comprises 100 turbines of 1.5 MW capacity manufactured by GE Energy. Full operation was reached at the beginning of 2008.
Total capacity: 150 MW
Electricity production: 333 GWh annually
Climate: 234,000 tonnes of CO2 saved annually
Total capacity: 150 MW
Electricity production: 333 GWh annually
Climate: 234,000 tonnes of CO2 saved annually
Who did it?
Global Wind Energy Council, Rue d'Arlon 63-65, 1040 Brussels, Belgium, Tel: +32 2 400 1029, Fax: +32 2 546 1944, Email: info@gwec.net