Project Scope and Relationship to China's Agenda 21

The project seeks to supply large wind turbines that are cost effective and reliable in operation, to meet the rapidly growing demand of wind farms in China. The project is based on programme area 13D of China's Agenda 21 and is relevant to programme area 12C.

1. Background

At present the proportion of power generated in China by fossil fuels, such as coal and oil, is more than 80 percent, resulting in harmful emissions. But pollution is not China's only acute energy-related problem. So is shortages of energy. Thus, both problems could be alleviated by using alternative, and cleaner, energy resources.

China is rich in renewable sources of energy and the development and utilization of new energy sources on a large scale will improve the country's energy structure.

China's wind energy potential is large, with estimated utilizable wind energy equivalent to 1.4 times the 1993 level of total power generation installed capacity of the whole country. The geographical and seasonal distribution of potential wind energy resources are also fairly good, with the potential for complementing other sources of energy.

Wind power generation, moreover, is the most economic new energy source available, and can be commercialized on a large scale. By the end of 1993 the global installed capacity of wind farms equalled 3000 MW. Successful foreign experiences on installed capacity and manufacturing technologies could be helpful to China in its efforts to harness wind energy resources.

Wind turbine generators ranging from 55 KW to 200 KW have been developed in China, and some of these have been put into small-scale production. Since 1986 several demonstration wind farms have been constructed with international cooperation, including farms in Shandong, Fujian, Xinjiang, Inner Mongolia, Guangdong, Zhejiang and Liaoning, with a total installed capacity up to 14 MW.

The technology of integrating electricity generated by wind-farms to local power grids has proven to be feasible. Also social and economic benefits are increasingly tangible. For example, in Guangdong Province, the electricity production of Nan'ao County Wind Farm in 1993 is equal to 25 percent of the total power consumption for the whole county, whereas wind power generating cost are lower than that of the local conventional oil fired power plant.

The Ministry of Electric Power is planning to set a target that byar 2000 the installed capacity of wind farms in China should reach 1000 MW, reducing greenhouse gas (CO2) emissions by 2 million tons.

To expand the application of wind power, it is necessary to enlarge the size and the installed capacity of wind turbine generators. For this purpose, it is urgently necessary to introduce the technology for the manufacture of a 500 KW wind turbine generator.

2. Objectives

• Long-term Objectives
  • To supply large wind turbines that are cost effective and reliable in operation, in order to meet the rapidly growing demand for wind farms in China. The project aims in particular to transfer to China the technology for large size wind turbine generators, the organization of R&D and production, and the creation of a wind power market.

• Immediate Objectives
  • The construction of a demonstration wind farm consisting of large size wind turbine generators
  • The establishment of a large size wind turbine generator manufacturing capacity
  • The completion of a scientific research, training and test base for high level wind energy utilization technology, for personnel training on management and technology, and the strengthening of international cooperation

3. Activities

• 3.1 To construct a demonstration wind farm with an installed capacity of 5 MW.
  • By means of international aid and technological exchange, to import 500 KW commercially mature wind turbine generators
  • To install 10 imported 500 KW wind turbine generators for demonstration and test under China's wind conditions

  Duration of this activity will be three years.

• 3.2 To establish a manufacturer with the ability to produce 200 units of 500 KW wind turbine generators per year.
  • Based on the experience gained in the demonstration wind farm mentioned in above activity 3.1, as well as in the development of 200 KW wind turbine generators through the National Key Technologies programme during the Eighth Five Year Plan (1991-1995), to digest and absorb the introduced technology of 500 KW wind turbine generators
  • Collaboration with foreign enterprises to set up a production line for a 500 KW wind turbine generator, and gradually increase the proportion of locally made components, in order to lower the cost and upgrade the production capacity up to 100 MW annually

  The duration of this activity will be four years.

• 3.3 To establish a base for scientific research, training and testing.
  • With the development of large size wind turbine generators, to conduct basic research on wind energy technology, strengthen the capacity to digest and absorb introduced technology, and establish related laboratories
  • Develop software packages for large size wind turbine generator design, wind turbine operation modelling system, and wind farm site selection
  • To perfect the measuring system for large wind turbine generator

  The duration of this activity will be five years.

  Implementing agencies are the State Planning Commission, the State Economic and Trade Commission, and the State Science and Technology Commission. The Chinese Wind Energy Development Centre, and others relevant units, will also be involved.

4. Inputs

• 4.1 Chinese inputs
  • Management of projects
  • Domestic experts and other personnel, local transport, office facilities and necessary equipment available in China
  • Related scientific and technical information
  • Engineering equipment for the demonstration wind farm and infrastructure for the wind turbine generator manufacturer

• 4.2 International cooperation
  • Technical consultancy, personnel training and technology exchange
  • Provision of machines for demonstration and technology transfer
  • Establishment of a manufacturer for large wind turbine generators by joint venture.

5. Benefits

The demonstration wind farm proposed in this project will produce 10 million KWh annually, thereby meeting the demand of electricity for 10,000 families. Air pollution will be reduced as 10,000 tons of CO2 emissions are avoided.

More jobs could be created by the establishment of a large wind turbine generator manufacturer. The key technology on wind energy will be developed, more qualified personnel will be trained, a scientific research and demonstration base will be perfected, and the capacity to produce domestically large wind turbines would be strengthened. A solid foundation will be laid for the development and large scale utilization and the improvement of the electric power industry in the 21st century.

A foundation will be laid for creating a market for wind power market which is beneficial to foreign enterprises entering China's market.