Energy

China to boost offshore wind power

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2011-06-22 16:52

NANJING -- China will increase its offshore wind power installed capacity to 5 gigawatts (GW) by 2015 and 30GW by 2020, the National Energy Administration said Wednesday.

The public tender for the second round of offshore wind power concession projects with a total installed capacity of 1.5GW to 2GW will be completed during the first half of 2012, the administration said at a meeting held in the city of Nantong, Jiangsu province.

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Liu Qi, deputy director of the administration, said that relevant departments should recognize the importance and urgency of developing offshore wind power.

The country often faces severe power shortages in summers, with power generation and transmission systems unable to cope with rising demand.

China faces a 30GW power shortfall this summer, according to data from the China Electricity Council.

Liu said the country should expedite the establishment of an advanced and fully-equipped offshore wind power industry to boost its large-scale development.

In June 2010, Shanghai's East Sea Bridge's 100MW offshore wind farm project was completed. It is currently the only offshore wind farm that has been put into operation outside of Europe.