Roadmap for Sustainable Development of China’s Wind Power Industry

Abstract

Progress in China’s wind power research and development is presented in this chapter, followed by technical trends and key issues for sustainable development of China’s wind power industry. Supported by the national science and technology programs and pushed by huge wind power market, basic mechanical research is conducted and design and manufacturing techniques for large-scale wind turbines are developed. The basic studies mainly focus on aerodynamics, aeroacoustics, aeroelastics, hydromechanics, and structural dynamics. The wind turbines designed and manufactured domestically have been upgraded from megawatt class to multi-megawatt class. The techniques related to wind farm construction, operation and maintenance are gradually developed both onshore and offshore. The standards, testing, and certification technologies are also established. Driven by offshore wind energy exploitation and low-speed onshore wind farm development, the wind turbine size is continuously growing in China. Wind turbine designs are more customized for China’s wind resource, shifting from imported technology. Offshore wind power technology, smart wind turbine design, and intelligentization operation, as well as diversification of wind energy utilization are drawing more attention. To support sustainable development of China’s wind power industry, it is necessary to further enhance advanced large-scale wind turbine design and manufacturing techniques, information technology application, offshore wind power technologies, wind resource assessment and wind farm layout optimization, grid integration of wind power, testing facilities, and standards update.