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Blueprint to Upgrade Wind Power under Way
Windmills may become as common as utility poles over the next 10 years in some areas of the country, as China takes steps to meet its growing demand for power.
A report from the China Classification Society said the society is working to establish China's first certification system for wind generators to help the industry develop under related international technical standards.
China has 253 million kilowatts of potential wind resources that could be used to generate electricity. Most of it is in eastern coastal regions and western China's Gansu Province, the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region and the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.
"The wind turbine generator is an environmentally friendly method of generating electricity, which could erase the pollution that comes from traditional electricity generators," said Li Kejun, president of the non-official China Classification Society.
Although wind power is a bit more expensive than electricity from more traditional sources, the central government has promised to issue preferential policies to accelerate the development of the industry.
Li said the government will subsidize wind generator operators with tax rebate until the industry realizes profits.
Statistics from the society predicted that China will have 1.5-to 3.5-million-kilowatt wind generators by the end of 2005, and by the end of 2010 the generators are expected to increase to 5 million kilowatts.
"It is very important for China to establish a certification system for the industry," Li said.
China now has some 20 enterprises engaged in manufacturing wind turbine generator systems, seven of them joint ventures.
"Though China's wind-generator manufacturers have improved the quality of their products dramatically after 20 years of development, those products are still not able to enter international markets because they lack related technical certification," Li said.
Some European countries and the United States now have industry standards.
The China Classification Society is committed to establishing such certification systems in China, and promises both strict technical requirements and specific considerations to help the development of the industry in China.
The society released its first draft of certification requirements last week.
"A formal certification system will be worked out by the end of this year if related preparation work can be carried out smoothly," Li said.
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