Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Corporation and the NDRC's Energy Pricing Bureau valuable insight into the
nature of wind power costing.
In 2004, the government utilized this knowledge in developing on-grid
electricity tarif benchmarks that were based on average social costs of
power generation. hese tarifs varied depending on the province and the
technology.
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hanks to this new system, 196.75 MW of new wind power
capacity was added in 2004—doubling the previous annual growth record
set the year before. By 2005, it was becoming apparent that the CPC's sup-
port for wind power represented a signiicant commercial opportunity.
Newly installed capacity for the year exploded to 506.91 MW, representing
almost 40% of total national wind power capacity.
Despite such impressive development, 2006 marks the true dawn of the
commercial age for wind power in China. In January 2006, the Renewable
Energy Law of China came into efect. he main gist of this law was that it
forced utilities to purchase all generated renewable energy from approved
projects at favorable prices. It also established a foundation for renewable
energy R&D, funding for the development of projects in remote areas, facili-
tated access to preferred inance rates, and instituted tax beneits for approved
projects.
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In response, 1,335.65 MW of newly installed wind power capacity
was added in 2006 alone—doubling total cumulative capacity.
In September 2007, the NDRC clariied the target for wind power devel-
opment in its Medium and Long-Term Development Plan for Renewable
Energy in China—30,000 MW by 2020. Given such a clear declaration by
the CPC regarding renewable energy development strategy, the wind power
development market exploded. As Table 6.4 illustrates, since 2006 cumu-
lative capacity has grown nearly thirtyfold, despite global recession. China
Table 6.4
CHINA'S WIND POWER BOOM
Capacity Added
(MW)
Cumulative Capacity
(MW)
Annual
Growth
Year
2006
1339
2599
106%
2007
3311
5910
127%
2008
6110
12020
103%
2009
13785
25805
115%
2010
16482
42287
64%
2011
20013
62300
47%
2012
13024
75324
21%
Source of data
: Global Wind Energy Council (2013).
