China - Report claims wind power could become third-largest power source in China

Wind energy can become China's third major power supply by 2020, with an expected installed capacity of 40 million kilowatts, said an industrial report released on Sunday. The report, jointly released on the eve of the Beijing International Renewable Energy Conference by the China Renewable Energy Industries Association (CREIA), Greenpeace and the EuropeanWind Energy Association (EWEA), said the capacity can satisfy the power demand of 80 million people with an estimated production of 80 billion kwh. It can also help reduce the emission of carbon dioxide by 48 million tons annually in the country, said the report named "Wind Force 12 in China".

The governmental goal for the development of wind energy as an alternative power supply is to reach an installed capacity of 20 million kilowatts by 2020, which was regarded too understated earlier this year. The growth of wind power in China, however, may be hindered by the high cost of the industry, as the country's wind power equipment has to mainly depend on import at present, said Wu.