In the short term, the competition between "new and old" energy interests will inevitably lead to some people celebrating and others worrying. However, in the long run, everyone stands to gain from renewable energy because we all share the same air.
Driving 20 kilometers northwest along the Beijing-Zhangjiakou expressway leads you into Yanqing County, Beijing. On a clear day, you can spot a white matrix of wind turbines standing like future warriors in their battle gear. These snow-white turbines are positioned on both sides of Guanting Reservoir, forming the Guanting Wind Farm, one of Beijing's key green energy projects. Despite the fast-spinning blades, the development of wind power has not always been smooth.
After five years of rapid progress, the Guanting Wind Farm was approved in August 2006 and constructed by Beijing Jingneng Clean Energy Power Co., Ltd. It was part of the "Olympic Application" initiative. Construction began in early 2007, and it was officially connected to the grid on January 18, 2008—just one year after approval.
According to officials from the Beijing Municipal Development and Reform Commission, the project supplies an average of 300,000 kilowatt-hours per day, enough to meet the electricity needs of 100,000 households. Once operational, the farm helped reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 100,000 tons, sulfur dioxide by 782 tons, carbon monoxide by 11 tons, and nitrogen oxides by 444 tons annually. It also saved 50,000 tons of coal.
Following the global oil crisis of 1973, wind energy began to emerge as a new energy source. In China, however, it wasn’t until 2005 that favorable policies spurred significant growth. The 2006 Renewable Energy Law played a key role by requiring grid companies to purchase all renewable energy at a higher price than traditional sources, giving investors confidence.
"At that time, the combination of electricity prices and manufacturing costs was profitable. As long as the business model matured, development would naturally follow," said Li Minghui, Deputy General Manager of Beijing Jingneng New Energy Co., Ltd., who witnessed this period of rapid growth.
From 2005 to 2008, less than four years saw over 100 domestic wind turbine manufacturers emerge. Many were still learning from foreign designs, and whoever had access to fans could sign contracts to build plants. Five years ago, there were almost no wind turbines along highways in Inner Mongolia. Now, they are everywhere.
China’s wind power industry developed in just over five years what took developed countries 15 years. By the end of 2012, China had 60.83 million kW of installed wind capacity, ranking first globally, with 100.4 billion kWh of electricity generated. Wind power became the third-largest power source after thermal and hydro power.
Despite this success, wind power utilization efficiency remains low. In 2012, the average annual operating hours for wind equipment nationwide were 1,890, down 30 hours from 2011, with some provinces dropping to around 1,400 hours. This led to significant waste and environmental conflicts.
The "wind curtailment" issue emerged quickly. Li Minghui noted that while it was unexpected, it happened faster than anticipated. The mismatch between wind resources and power demand is a major challenge. Wind-rich areas like the "Three Norths" face issues such as limited local consumption and imbalanced grid capacity, leading to large-scale wind curtailment.
According to the 2012 China Wind Power Development Report, wind curtailment exceeded 10 billion kWh in 2011, with over 12% of wind power wasted—equivalent to 3.3 million tons of standard coal lost. Wind power companies suffered losses exceeding 5 billion yuan, accounting for half of the industry's profits.
"The problem is that electricity cannot be stored. If it’s not used, it’s wasted," Li explained, pointing to a map of the Inner Mongolian power grid. "For example, in Mengxi, thermal power capacity is 3,300 MW, with 1,780 MW of heating units making up 53% of total thermal capacity. But wind power capacity is only 9.87 MW, and the grid lacks transmission channels, leading to curtailment."
Due to the mismatch between wind farm expansion and grid infrastructure, some wind farms are forced to limit generation. Since 2009, power restrictions have increased, with actual curtailment likely higher than reported. Jingneng alone loses hundreds of millions each year due to wind curtailment.
Restricted grid access is only one factor. Resistance also comes from traditional thermal power interests. Although the Renewable Energy Law encourages renewable energy, in practice, wind power often faces "peak shaving" and "making way" for thermal power.
Experts suggest integrating wind power into the broader power system, using pumped storage and natural gas for peak load, and improving scheduling forecasts. Some regions have introduced wind exchange mechanisms to compensate thermal power, reducing curtailment.
However, wind power still faces challenges compared to thermal power. It must bear the cost of fossil fuel pollution while lacking the same support. This imbalance remains a concern.
Looking ahead, the National Energy Bureau set targets for wind power under the 12th Five-Year Plan: 100 million kW of installed capacity and 190 billion kWh of annual generation by 2015. The State Grid Corporation also pledged to integrate distributed wind power into the national grid.
These steps will help overcome current bottlenecks. Yet, wind power must maintain growth and rely on more detailed support. The draft "Measures for the Management of Renewable Energy Power Quotas" aims to set mandatory targets for power companies, grid operators, and local governments.
For example, Beijing is required to consume 11.3 billion kWh of renewable energy by 2015, most of which must come from other provinces. Beijing itself lacks suitable sites for large-scale wind or solar projects, so it depends on regional cooperation, which will drive grid development.
Despite challenges, Li Minghui believes wind power is on track for a brighter future. In the short term, the energy transition may bring mixed reactions, but in the long run, renewable energy benefits everyone.
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