China and Germany will collaborate to build Asia's largest wind
turbines in Qingdao in east China's Shandong Province.
According to the plan, five wind turbines each with a generating
capability of five mega-watts will be installed in the sea off
Qingdao. They will serve as power generating units for the maritime
events of the 2008
Olympic Games to be held in Qingdao.
Tourists will be able to go up elevators within the turbines in
order to get views of the surrounding area. An exhibition center
will also be set up to provide information on environmental
protection.
One of six projects to be signed at the three-day second
Sino-German Forum on the Environment from January 11-13 in Qingdao,
the project is expected to receive a 50 million euro (US$61
million) investment from Germany. The six projects will cost nearly
US$121 million.
The forum, which focuses on cooperation to develop sustainable
energy and a circular economy, attracted representatives from
economic and environmental protection circles from the two
countries.
"The forum will highlight issues surrounding sustainable
development and a circular economy, since they are a top priority
for China" said Zhu Guangyao, vice minister of the State
Environmental Protection Administration (SEPA).
"Germany is well-known for its advanced technology and rich
management experience in the fields of renewable energy and a
circular economy," Zhu said. "The future for cooperation between
the two countries looks bright."
"A strong environmental policy could help to support further
economic developments," said Matthias Machnig, State Secretary of
Germany and Federal Minister of the Environment, Nature
Conservation and Nuclear Safety.
(China Daily January 13, 2006)