Grantee Research Project Results
Final Report: Wind Energy Assessment in China
EPA Grant Number: R824739Title: Wind Energy Assessment in China
Investigators: Rackstraw, Kevin
Institution: American Wind Energy Association
EPA Project Officer: Hahn, Intaek
Project Period: October 1, 1995 through September 30, 1997
Project Amount: $159,972
RFA: Incentives and Impediments to Pollution Prevention (1995) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Sustainable and Healthy Communities , Pollution Prevention/Sustainable Development
Description:
This project seeks to facilitate and accelerate the large-scale use of wind energy technologies which bring power to load centers and remote areas in the PRC through conduct of wind mapping, site-specific monitoring, and technology and project promotion. These activities will demonstrate wind's potential contribution to the country's total power scheme. Several wind farm projects totaling several hundred MW have already received support at the provincial level in known strong wind resource areas, but there is very little information about the total contribution that wind energy could make for both bulk scale and rural electrification purposes. The results of the project will be a wind map of three specific areas in three different provinces, a validation and accumulation of new wind data, and newfound support within the provincial and national decision making arenas to accelerate the development of wind projects.Specifically, the US National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) will obtain existing wind and other meteorological data that would be useful in performing a comprehensive analysis of the wind characteristics, obtain site descriptions and histories for stations where wind data have been collected, obtain available geographic data bases in digital form for use in computerized mapping system, analyze the available wind data to characterize the wind resource, and finally, develop wind resource maps that show the estimated distribution of the annual average wind resource. The analysis will include wind direction distribution and mean speed by direction, diurnal variability and interannual variability. Data sources will include ground stations, weather balloons, ships and satellite imagery.
Objective:
The objectives of this research project were to: (1) demonstrate to the People's Republic of China (PRC) power sector officials at both the provincial and national levels that wind energy can provide, within the next five to ten years, thousands or even tens of thousands of megawatts (MW) of clean electric generating capacity on a cost-effective basis, thereby significantly reducing China's projected greenhouse gas emissions; (2) accelerate consideration of wind projects through the achievement of favored status as a clean, rapidly deployable and modular technology; (3) identify areas or sites for potential wind farm or rural electrification projects; (4) strengthen in-country capability to analyze wind resources and make a credible case for favoring wind projects over other power generation options; and (5) help U.S. industry win a large market share of wind projects in the world's largest electric generation market, where European competitors have a significant head start through tied aid.Summary/Accomplishments (Outputs/Outcomes):
The American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) project on Wind Energy Assessment in China facilitated the use of wind energy in the People's Republic of China through wind mapping and site-specific monitoring in three chosen provinces, through technology training, and wind energy project promotion. Because wind energy produces no emissions or wastes, increased use of wind energy in China will help that country displace emissions from coal power plants upon which the country heavily relies, and reduce its projected emissions of greenhouse gas and air pollutants. Wind mapping experts from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory provided initial recommendations on wind mapping and site monitoring. AWEA concluded an agreement with China-based HGPI for shipment and installation of nine anemometers (wind measuring devices). Delays in China held up installation of most of the anemometers until early 1998. At the time of the final report, only six of the nine anemometers were installed, on Xiaoqing Island in Shandong, Chongming Island of Shanghai, at the Shalingzi and Laoyemiao sites in Jiangxi Province, on Pingtan Island in Fujian Province, and Naozhou Island of Guangdong. The project helped identify several areas of potential wind farm and rural electrification sites, in Shandong and Guangdong Provinces. At the time of this report, over 400 MW of wind energy generating capacity were in the planning process in the provinces that were mapped. In country capability to analyze wind resources has been strengthened. Chinese participating in training by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory now have the training and ability to use the most modern wind resource equipment and analyze the data it provides. The project has been successful in demonstrating to both central and provincial government power sector officials that wind energy can provide clean electricity generating capacity on a cost-effective basis. Over the two years of the projects, wind energy grew over 400 percent in China. Reverse trade missions were instrumental in garnering support for wind energy. Eight Chinese attended AWEA's Annual Wind Energy Applications Training Symposium (WEATS). WEATS led to the creation of a new joint venture between a U.S. turbine manufacturer and a Chinese heavy machinery company. In 1998, over 400 MW of wind power were being planned by the Chinese organizations that participated in WEATS. AWEA also facilitated a private workshop for China Light and Power in Hong Kong and hosted several delegations which came to Washington D.C. The project assisted in developing new policies in China to promote wind energy, such as the elimination of custom duties and Value Added Tax (VAT) charges on imported turbines over 300kW in size. Some provinces have given favored status to wind projects to allow such projects to move through the approval process faster than conventional power projects. Other policies, such as elimination of the Value Added Tax (VAT) on the power produced by windfarms, are being considered at the federal level. European competitors still dominate the wind energy market in China. The prevalence of tied aid?automatic government support for wind energy projects in developing countries from European countries, and soon Japan?gives many Chinese decision-makers the false impression that wind energy is still expensive and that commercial development of wind farms is not economic. More projects need to be undertaken to convince Chinese skeptics that wind energy can be developed on a commercial basis without the use of tied aid.Journal Articles:
No journal articles submitted with this report: View all 1 publications for this projectSupplemental Keywords:
air, global climate, greenhouse gas emissions, human health, air pollution, renewable, clean technologies, alternatives, sustainable development, public policy, decision-making, engineering, monitoring, surveys, wind resource assessment, China, electricity, energy, wind energy, wind farms., Scientific Discipline, Sustainable Industry/Business, cleaner production/pollution prevention, Ecology and Ecosystems, Environmental Engineering, China, cleaner production, sustainable development, energy efficiency, site-specific monitoring, wind mapping, Asia, pollution preventionRelevant Websites:
The American Wind Energy Association (AWEA ExitNREL
Progress and Final Reports:
Original AbstractThe perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.