IFAT CHINA 2008: Wind energy – the eco-power of the future

The potential is there, and so is the technology and political will. In China things look good for a rapid expansion in the exploitation of wind energy. The environmental trade fair IFAT CHINA, which takes place from 23 to 25 September 2008 in Shanghai, is a chance to find out all about this market and to review the associated technology.

China´s economic boom has also brought with it a huge demand for energy. If these needs were to be met only with coal, this would have a severe impact on the environment. Against this background, there is strong interest in environmentally-friendly energy sources, not least with the aim of diversifying the energy mix and overcoming China´s one-sided dependence on coal. The Chinese government´s aim is to supply 15 percent of its primary energy needs from regenerative sources by 2020. Today that figure is around 7.5 percent.
Green energy is also helping the Chinese government to meet its social responsibilities. Around 30 million people in the poor and remote areas of the country still do not have access to electricity. The use of decentralised eco-power stations is an effective and comparatively cost-effective way of bringing electricity to these regions.

At the beginning of 2006 China strengthened its call to use more regenerative energies by passing a law. This obliges the larger electricity producers in the country, which together have a capacity of over five gigawatts, to generate five percent of the energy they produce from regenerative sources by 2010. By 2020 this proportion is set to rise to ten percent.

Most hopes in green energy in China are pinned on wind energy. Because the country is so large and has a long coastline, it has good wind-energy resources. According to estimates by the Chinese Meteorological Research Institute, the useable wind-energy resources on the mainland amount to 253 gigawatts. In addition, the Institute puts the power potentially generated by offshore wind-energy systems at around 750 gigawatts, bringing the total potential to around 1,000 gigawatts.

Another benefit of opting for increased use of wind power is the well advanced and comparatively inexpensive technology that is now available. Also, turbines can be concentrated together in wind parks generating significant output, which facilitates the logistics for the operators.

In recent years there has been notable expansion in the Chinese wind-energy market. Between 2005 and 2006 the capacity for wind-power systems in China more then doubled. According to the Chinese Wind Energy Association (CWEA) at the end of the year the number of wind turbines in China was around 3,300, producing a total output of around 2.6 gigawatts. The goal for 2020 is around 30 gigawatts.

So far foreign manufacturers have dominated the market, led by companies from Denmark, and then Germany. Smaller, less powerful systems are now being manufactured by Chinese producers themselves. The trend, however, is towards large systems, some producing well above 1.5 megawatts. And almost 90 percent of these systems currently have to be imported.
IFAT CHINA 2008 is a chance to obtain an overview of the situation on the ground in Chinese environmental market. It is an opportunity to get to know the key players and pave the way for successful new business.

Petra Gagel, IFAT CHINA Press Officer
Marketing & Communication, Capital Goods
Tel.: +49 89 / 9 49-20244, Fax: +49 89 / 9 49-20249
E-mail: petra.gagel@messe-muenchen.de
05d/MarComGB1/zi/pet

Further information: www.ifat-china.com

IFAT CHINA
IFAT CHINA is the trade fair in Asia covering an extensive range of practical solutions in the areas of water supply, sewage, waste disposal, recycling, air pollution control, environmental technology and natural energy sources. The exhibition offers an effective business and networking platform for Chinese and international professionals in the environmental sector and is accompanied by a first-class technical-scientific conference program. IFAT CHINA 2006 attracted 284 exhibitors from 25 countries, and approximately 10,000 visitors from 66 countries. The 3rd International Trade Fair for Water, Sewage, Refuse, Recycling and Natural Energy Sources is taking place at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre (SNIEC) in China from 23 - 25 September 2008.

Messe München International (MMI)
Messe München International (MMI, Munich Trade Fairs International Group) is one of the world´s leading trade-fair companies. It organises around 40 trade fairs for capital and consumer goods, and key high-tech industries. Each year over 30,000 exhibitors from more than 100 countries, and over two million visitors from more than 200 countries take part in the events in Munich. In addition, MMI organises trade fairs in Asia, Russia, the Middle East and South America. With six subsidiaries abroad - in Europe and in Asia - and with 66 foreign representatives serving 89 countries, MMI has a truly global network.

This release was published on openPR.