In China wind energy grows quickly. Implementation of the Renewable Energy Law in 2006 accelerated the implementation nationwide of wind farms.

National Development and Reform Commission recently announced China's Renewable Energy Long-term Plan. The plan set a target of a percentage of renewable energy versus the whole consumed energy from 8% to 15% in 2020. This means China will invest 2000 billion yuan (= 200 billion Euro) to meet that target. This plan encourages the wind power industry and the construction of wind farms. In 2010, the total installed capacity will reach 5 GW and more than 30 GW in 2020. The focus is on the three north provinces and the coastal area in East China.

Besides onshore activities, the development of a 100 MW offshore wind farm beside the Donghai Bridge, in the southeast of Shanghai, has started. A consortium led by major power generator China Datang Corp has won the right from the Shanghai government to build this offshore wind farm. The consortium partners, Datang, China Guangdong Nuclear Power Holding Co, China Power International Holding Ltd and a local energy engineering company will together realise the farm before 2010, according to government plan. The 100 MW capacity is enough to supply 200,000 households in Shanghai.
It is not clear how much the consortium will invest in the farm. But there are indications that it will cost more than two billion yuan (> 200 million Euro).

The proposal for China's first offshore wind farm was discussed in a two day's seminar in Shanghai. General manager of We@Sea, Chris Westra was asked to present the experience and lessons learned in North Europe. In his presentation he outlined the development of wind energy in Europe with a special focus on the offshore technology. Different types of foundations and vessels used, within the framework of application and experience was discussed. In this way Dutch knowledge and experience contributes to the development of offshore wind energy in China. There was great interest from the participants of the seminar for items and lessons learned.

The offshore wind energy potential for China's eastern coast is estimated as much as 750,000 MW. That is three times more than China's onshore wind capacity, according to government estimates. The cost of onshore wind power is expected to come in the range of traditional generation, because the government insists on desulphurisation units for coal-fired plants. The gap between costs for wind power and traditional power will become smaller.

China is expected to become the world's largest wind power producer by 2020. The 2006 Annual Report on China's New Energy Industry says that the 10th Five-Year Plan (2000-2005) period saw a rapid development of wind power industry, with the installed capacity rising by 30 percent on an annual average, from 350,000 kW in 2000 to 1.26 million kW in 2005, ranking 7th in the world.