Wind Energy Development In China Research Articles

Spatiotemporally explicit pathway and material-energy-emission nexus of offshore wind energy development in China up to the year 2060

The temporal dynamics (e.g., pace and scale) and spatial heterogeneity (e.g., turbine location and wind speed) of offshore wind power systems (WPS) are critical to maximize the carbon gains from wind energy development and avoid trade-offs among climate, resources, and waste targets. However, such a spatiotemporally refined understanding of WPS development and the associated material cycle, energy use, and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions is largely missing from the current research. In this study, we deployed a spatialized, technology-specific, stock-driven material flow analysis model to reveal the spatiotemporally explicit pathway of China's offshore WPS development and the associated material-energy-emission nexus up to the year 2060. Our results indicate a cumulative raw material requirement of 96–140 Mt, waste generation of 6.5–48 Mt, net energy payback of 2.9–12 PWh, and net reduction in GHG emissions of 2.9 – 9.7 Gt when substituting coal power until 2060 under different scenario combinations. Specifically, China's future offshore WPS development will need to address the increasing demand for critical materials (e.g., 3.8–5.2 Mt of copper and 55–140 kt of permanent magnets cumulatively until 2060) and challenges for end-of-life management (e.g., 0.3–2 Mt spent blades generated cumulatively until 2060). The spatiotemporally refined results that consider, among other key parameters, water depth and capacity factor at a 1 × 1 km resolution, revealed low values in the northern provinces (e.g., Hebei and Tianjin) and high values in the southern provinces (e.g., Guangdong and Fujian) for material flows, energy payback, and net GHG emission reduction. This combination of spatial and dynamic material flow analyses can also be applied to WPSs in other countries and regions.

Dynamic Responses for WindFloat Floating Offshore Wind Turbine at Intermediate Water Depth Based on Local Conditions in China

Offshore wind energy, a clean energy resource, is considered to be a possible alternative to fossil energy. Floating offshore wind technology is considered to be a proper concept to develop abundant wind energy in deep water. Considering the reality of offshore wind energy development in China, the floating offshore wind turbine concept is expected to be developed at moderate water depths. In this paper, a mooring system of the WindFloat semisubmersible floating offshore wind turbine (SFOWT) at a water depth of 60 m is designed. The dynamic responses of the WindFloat SFOWT under different wind–wave combination conditions are investigated using the coupled method and the simplified method, which do not include the effect of the tower top motion in the aerodynamic calculation. The results show that the dynamic responses of the WindFloat SFOWT, including the platform motions, tower loads, and mooring line tensions, perform fairly well at a moderate water depth. A comparison between the coupled method and simplified method shows that the calculated results are slightly different between the different conditions for the time domain results, response spectra results, and fatigue results. In addition, mooring line 1 (ML 1) suffers higher fatigue damage than ML2, which should be paid more attention.

Effect of wind farms on wintering ducks at an important wintering ground in China along the East Asian-Australasian Flyway.

Wind farms offer a cleaner alternative to fossil fuels and can mitigate their negative effects on climate change. However, wind farms may have negative impacts on birds. The East China Coast forms a key part of the East Asian–Australasian Flyway, and it is a crucial region for wind energy development in China. However, despite ducks being the dominant animal taxon along the East China Coast in winter and considered as particularly vulnerable to the effects of wind farms, the potential negative impacts of wind farms on duck populations remain unclear. We therefore assessed the effects of wind farms on duck abundance, distribution, and habitat use at Chongming Dongtan, which is a major wintering site for ducks along the East Asian–Australasian Flyway, using field surveys and satellite tracking. We conducted seven paired field surveys of ducks inside wind farm (IWF) and outside wind farm (OWF) sites in artificial brackish marsh, paddy fields, and aquaculture ponds. Duck abundance was significantly higher in OWF compared with IWF sites and significantly higher in artificial brackish marsh than in aquaculture ponds and paddy fields. Based on 1,918 high‐resolution satellite tracking records, the main habitat types of ducks during the day and at night were artificial brackish marsh and paddy fields, respectively. Furthermore, grid‐based analysis showed overlaps between ducks and wind farms, with greater overlap at night than during the day. According to resource selection functions, habitat use by wintering ducks was impacted by distance to water, land cover, human activity, and wind farm effects, and the variables predicted to have significant impacts on duck habitat use differed between day and night. Our study suggests that wintering ducks tend to avoid wind turbines at Chongming Dongtan, and landscape of paddy fields and artificial wetlands adjoining natural wetlands is crucial for wintering ducks.

Applicability of Low Frequency Transmission Technology in Offshore Wind Power Transmission Scene

This paper investigates the worldwide development status of wind power and the main opinions and advantages of offshore wind power development in the industry, and summarizes that the development of offshore wind power will be in the direction of large capacity and distant sea area. At the same time, the distribution of wind energy resources in China’s coastal areas is investigated, and combined with the constraints of offshore wind energy development in China, it is concluded that offshore wind power development in China will also develop to distant sea areas. Secondly, three transmission modes including power frequency AC, flexible HVDC and low frequency AC are briefly described, and the technical economy of the three modes is analyzed with typical cases. In addition, the technical feasibility of 400 MW offshore wind power Grid-connected through low-frequency transmission technology is verified by system model building and simulation. Thirdly, combined with the development trend of offshore wind power, current research and manufacturing level, the opportunities and challenges of the application of low frequency transmission technology are analyzed. Finally, the main points of this paper are summarized. It is preliminarily clear that the low-frequency transmission mode has better technical and economic performance within a certain transmission distance, and can be used as a beneficial supplement to the conventional power frequency and flexible HVDC transmission mode.

Economic Assessment and Policy Analysis on Wind Energy Development in China

Considering rapid development and emerging new challenges of China's wind energy development, this paper summarizes and analyzes five critical problems. First, according to an economic potential assessment, if the feed-in tariff is set 0.60 Yuan/kWh, the economic potential of wind electricity of China will reach 6.63[Formula: see text]PWh, it could meet as much as 2/3 of total power demand by 2030, thus the targeted wind power proportion in future high renewable energy penetration can be achieved. Second, wind energy is abundant but little consumed in Northwest, Northeast and North China while it is insufficient in South and East of China, where grid-connection condition is well. Due to this reverse distribution pattern of wind power endowment and consumption in China, grid-connection transmission must be strengthened in the future, particularly the West–East and North–South power transmission projects must be pushed forward. Third, to address the issue of increasing wind energy curtailment in Northeast, Northwest and North China, stimulating local consumption of wind power by multiple ways is a possible solution in the short term, however, in the medium and long run, it is necessary to accelerate the construction of Ultra-High Voltage power grid in order to expand power transmission to other provinces and regions. Fourth, a new electricity market mechanism should be established as the fundamental measure of promoting new energy development, while green certificate trading market and carbon trading market will form the basis for such market mechanism in the long run. Fifth, though wind power development can bring multiple benefits to economy, employment, and environment, large-scale wind power development will, to some extent, affect local and regional climate. As global warming continues, the wind power resource distribution of China and the world may experience significant changes.

What moves wind energy development in China? Show me the money!

China’s wind industry has grown rapidly over the past decade. Continued growth in this industry is critical for China’s domestic energy security and the global environment. However, little is known about the microeconomic drivers that move wind energy development in China. Based on a survey of experts in Mainland China and Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, this paper finds that the most important drivers of wind energy investment in China are perceived to be those that can have an immediate impact on a wind energy developer’s cash flow: government financial assistance, easy and inexpensive transmission access, wind energy cost decline, and a high feed-in-tariff. A renewable portfolio standard, tax incentives and international research and development cooperation are seen as less important. These findings underscore the importance of reducing the financial risk in wind energy development. However, none of the key drivers is directly tied to energy output, which suggests that China’s wind energy policies must be modified to incentivize energy output, rather than just installed capacity.

Cost-competitive incentives for wind energy development in China: institutional dynamics and policy changes : Liu, W. et al. Energy Policy, 2002, 30, (9), 753–765

Cost-competitive incentives for wind energy development in China: institutional dynamics and policy changes : Liu, W. et al. Energy Policy, 2002, 30, (9), 753–765

Wind energy development in China: institutional dynamics and policy incentives

China is endowed with rich wind resources. During the early 1990s, China's wind power capacity grew at an average annual rate of 50%. Total installed wind farm capacity reached 344.8 MW by 2000. However, the pace of wind power development has slowed down in recent years. Through economic analysis and identification of the institutional barriers that led to the rise and fall of wind energy development, this paper points out that the development of wind power and large-scale expansion in commercialisation will be directly subject to rationalisation of policies, incentive mechanisms and institutional framework adjustment. It recommends a number of policy incentive changes and an institutional reform.

Cost-competitive incentives for wind energy development in China: institutional dynamics and policy changes

This paper presents an overview of the development of wind power in China. The factors that affect the directions of wind power development are analyzed. It examines the economics of windfarm development and compares it with conventional energy sources. The major constraints in wind technology development, and defects of the current policies, are discussed. It points out that wind power development should be subject to rational policy change and institutional adjustment. It discusses the incentive mechanisms and institutional frameworks for future development. Particular importance is attributed to market incentives for wind power to reach the objectives of industrialization and commercialization. A number of cost-competitive incentive measures and policies are recommended: (i) introducing market based mechanisms through standard power purchase agreement; (ii) establishing effective investment policies and regulations to attract private investment; (iii) promoting localization of wind turbine production; (iv) adjusting tax and subsidy policies; and (v) reforming governmental institutions to make clear rules and responsibilities for policymaking, and enhancing communication/coordination between relevant government agencies in order to formulate uniform and effective policies.

Wind energy development in China — Reality and market forces

Economic reforms in China started in 1978, which led to profound changes as a result of a consistent structural adjustment and stabilisation policy. The national economy is now characterised with high growth and low inflation. In 1997, GDP was US$ 767 billion and foreign exchange reached US$ 140 billion. This paper examines the outstanding contribution of rural industries to rapid growth of national economy and the consequences of increase of energy consumption and its environmental impact. It also emphasises the necessity and benefit of using renewable energy and wind energy in particular. The paper also addresses the issue of joint venture in farm development in line with Chinese market economy.

Wind energy prospect in China

This paper presents wind energy development in China by the description of wind energy resources, development experiences, future development planning, barriers of large scale dissemination and the international cooperation in the further development.

Feasibility study of wind energy potential in China

Remarkable economic achievements have been made in China since the economic reform in 1978. High agricultural and industrial productivity as well as rapid development of the tertiary industry and continuous improvement of living standard have resulted in a jumping power demand. The pressing need for updating the current infrastructure, power industry in particular is the key to the sustainable economic growth and continuous industrialisation. The crucial role of rural industry in economic development and the fact of over 70% of the rural population have brought a great opportunity for wind energy development. One of the most cost-effective ways to diffuse wind power technology is through technology transfer based on joint venture activities due to the enormous initial capital investment and complexity of wind power technology to ease the severe domestic power shortage. Foreign aid and investment will no doubt have a stimulatory effect on wind energy development in China. The future benefits in terms of technology transfer and international trade will easily outweigh the current problems and thus contribute to sustainable economic development in many years to come.