Wind power capacity in China is expected to reach 30 million kW by the end of 2010 based on the current growth rate，said Shi Lishan, vice director for the Department of New and Renewable Energy Resources of the National Energy Administration.
Shi disclosed that wind power capacity in China has been doubling in recent years. By the end of 2008, wind power capacity had reached 12.17 million kW, far beyond the goal of 5 million kW expected in the "11th Five-year Plan". This capacity now ranks 4th in the world.
According to the "Long-run Plan for the Development of Renewable Energy Resources" published in Sep, 2007, wind power capacity will reach 5 million kW by 2010 and 30 million kW by 2020.
By the end of 2002, wind power capacity in China was only 450 thousand kW. With technology development and the support of government policy, construction of wind power facilities has been developing rapidly with the annual growth rate of wind power capacity at over 70%.
In 2008, increase of wind power capacity was 6.14 million kW and wind power generating units were 14.8 billion hours. This could satisfy the needs of residential electricity consumption of 10 million households a year if every household consumes 1500 Kilowatt-hours of electricity every year.
Wind power capacity has been growing rapidly on an upward trend, with annual growth rates approaching 30%. According to rudimentary statistics provided by Global Wind Energy Council, new increase of wind power capacity in the world was around 27.06 million kW in 2008. By the end of 2008, world wind power capacity had exceeded 120 million kW.
At present, the US, Germany and Spain rank the top 3 for wind power capacity. China jumps from the 5th in 2007 to the 4th, taking up 10% of the market.
It is said that promoting the rapid development of the wind power industry is an important item in the development plan of new energy resources that the National Energy Administration is now enacting.
In addition to promoting the development of land-based wind power, China will also promote the development of sea-based wind power. For example, Jiangsu province will build large-scale wind power plant on its coastal areas and gradually form the wind-power station on a scale capable of producing millions of kilowatt-hours.
