China to Add 15 GW of Wind Energy in 2012

China’s newly-added installed wind turbines capacity is likely to exceed 20 GW in 2011, according to data from the China Wind Energy Association.

That volume is scheduled to reach 100 million kilowatts by 2015, capable of generating 190 million kilowatt-hours of electric power annually, according to the NEB’s renewable energy development plan.

It is estimated that China, the world’s largest wind power market, generated 70 billion kilowatt-hours of wind power in 2011, up 40% from 50.1 billion kilowatt-hours in 2010, according to the NEB’s new and renewable energy head Shi Lishan.

China last August announced the first group of wind power projects for the 2011-2015 period, aiming to add a total installed capacity of 28.83 million kilowatts. Wind power projects that are not part of either approved group will get approval, the NEB said earlier.

Tensions have been growing between U.S. and Chinese manufacturers after a group of 4 U.S. wind tower companies formed the Wind Tower Trade Coalition to file petitions with the U.S. Department of Commerce and the U.S. International Trade Commission, demanding anti-dumping and anti-subsidy investigations into Chinese wind tower manufacturers.

The commerce department will decide if the investigations will be opened. If they are, a preliminary ruling will be made in February by the trade commission.

Legal sources that were not identified told the Securities Daily that it’s highly likely the dual investigations will be undertaken given previous cases involving Chinese manufacturers of photovoltaic solar power components and tyres.

en.21cbh.com