Shanghai Electric Power Generation Group has been awarded a clean energy contract by German-based Aerodyn Energiesysteme GmbH to jointly develop the largest windmill in China, in a move to boost the use of wind energy to try and resolve the country's soaring power demand.

 

The installed electric generation capacity of the windmill could reach 2,000 kilowatts while the length of a single blade is longer than 40 meters and the diameter of the wheel is approximately 80 meters, SEPGG said.

 

The first wind power generating unit with more than 70 percent of home-made parts will debut in January 2008. Its annual capacity is expected to be 200,000 to 300,000 kilowatts by the end of 2010, according to an official with the wind department at SEPGG.

 

The contract will also enable SEPGG, the flagship of Shanghai Electric Group Corporation Limited, one of the largest domestic conglomerates making electrical and mechanical equipment, to be the first home-grown firm to participate in the research and development of wind power equipment.

 

"The Chinese government is encouraging the development of renewable energy, especially wind energy, because China enjoys a large territory to take advantage of wind power," said Li Zhipeng, an energy analyst from Xiangcai Securities Co Ltd.

 

"Several projects have been approved since last year, which create a growing demand for wind energy generating equipment."

 

The company also accelerated its development in the wind power sector from this year as it signed a contract with British-based EU Energy Wind Ltd to introduce the technology of a 1,250-kilowatt windmill in January, which will start production early next year.

 

"However, as the wind power project needs more investment and a longer construction period, it is not expected to solve the energy shortage in the short term," he added.

 

Several big wind power plants are under construction mainly in Inner Mongolia, Yancheng City in Jiangsu Province, Qingdao in Shandong Province, and Gansu Province in northern China.

 

Although coal, hydropower and nuclear power are the three major energy sources used in China, accounting for more than 80 percent, wind energy is set to become China's third major power supply by 2020, with a likely installed capacity of 40 million kilowatts, according to China Renewable Energy Industries Association, Greenpeace and the European Wind Energy Association.

 

(Shanghai Daily March 14, 2006)