China's wind power blows away $1.6-B in 2012

China's wind power sector gave way to thermal and nuclear due to government curtailment.

As a result, it lost $1.6 billion in 2012, which is equivalent to 20 billion kilowatt hours in electricity.

According to Qin Haiyan, secretary general of the Chinese Wind Energy Association, a major contributing element was that China’s power generation capacity rose considerably in 2012, and wind power gave way to thermal and nuclear power.

"But this runs against the renewable energy law," said Qin.

He added this was a matter of interest conflicts. In the cold northern areas, thermal power plants, using combined heat and power turbines, operate in full gears to supply heating in winter. And many wind turbines have to be stopped to give way to thermal plants.

He noted that curtailment in 2012 was almost double that of 2011,and that it had forced 20-30% wind turbines to a standstill on average across the country, with up to to 40-50% in some places.

Qin's comments came as Longyuan general manager Xie Changjun said the Chinese government was soliciting public opinions on the third draft of the renewable energy quota system. Once the new mechanism is implemented, the grid will be forced to accept certain proportions of electric power from renewable energy sources.

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