China's wind power can reach 230 GW of installed capacity by 2020, which is equal to 13 times the current capacity of the Three Gorges Dam, according to a report released on October 13.

China Wind Power Outlook 2010, a new report jointly released by Greenpeace, the Chinese Renewable Energy Industries Association (CREIA), and the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC), predicted that China's annual electricity output of 464.9 TWh could replace 200 coal fire power plants.

In 2009, China led the world in newly installed wind-energy devices, reaching a capacity of 13.8 GW (10,129 turbines) – a rate of one new turbine every hour. In terms of overall capacity, China ranks second, at 25.8 GW. "The rapid wind power growth in China was propelled by both the growing need for energy and the government's eagerness to develop low-carbon technology," said Li Junfeng, secretary general of CREIA.

"China’s speed of wind power development is remarkable," commented Steve Sawyer, secretary general of GWEC. "In 2005, only one Chinese company was among the top 15 manufacturers in the world. Today, there are five."

The report projects that by 2020, China’s total wind power capacity will reach at least 150GW, possibly up to 230GW, which, if realized, could cut 410 million tons of CO2 emission, or 150 million tons of coal consumption.

"This positive projection of 230 GW of wind energy equals 13 times the capacity of the Three Gorges Dam, with the ability to replace power generated from 200 coal fire power plants. However, it is only achievable with the implementation of effective incentive policies and a thorough overhaul of the national grid," said Yang Ailun, head of the Climate and Energy Team of Greenpeace.

"The advantages of wind have never been more apparent – reduced greenhouse gas emissions, reduced pollution, sustainable development, poverty alleviation in historically rural regions, etc." said Yang. "China is at a crossroads. It can choose between the dirty, dangerous world of coal and fossil fuels, or the new, clean future promised by wind. The answer is obvious."

Speaking of benefits that local resident could gain from building wind power stations in inner land, Li Junfeng took Spain as an example. "The wind-energy-plenty areas in China always accompany with poverty. Because the crops won't grow due to strong wind and drought," he explained.

"Spanish government ordered wind power firms to pay 5% of their income as a subsidy to local residents. I hope China could publish similar regulations to boost local economy as well."

(www.greenpeace.org October 14, 2010)