Society

Wind turbine makers captivated by offshore potentials

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2011-06-20 14:27

Offshore wind a priority

Compared with the surging expansion of land-based wind power, China has only begun to tap offshore wind power, industry officials said.

So far, China has installed only 142.5 mw offshore wind turbines, less than one percent of China's cumulative wind-installed capacity and about one-thirtieth of the global offshore wind installed capacity.

However, China is widely seen as the most promising offshore wind power developer outside Europe before 2020. The next five years will witness the swift expansion of Chinese offshore wind farms, according to China's 12th Five-Year Plan (2011-2015).

China boasts rich offshore wind power resources. According to the China Meteorological Administration, China has about 200 gw of offshore wind resources in sea areas five to 25 meters deep when turbines are erected 50 meters above sea level.

China's offshore wind farms are based along the east coast where the country's economic powerhouses reside, so that makes it easier for users to access.

Shi Lishan, deputy director of the new energy and renewable energy department of National Energy Bureau (NEB), said offshore wind power development will be a priority of China's wind-power industry.

To facilitate the development, NEB and other central government departments are drafting detailed provisions governing offshore wind power development on the basis of an interim measure promulgated in 2010.