According to China Wind Energy Development Roadmap 2050, [2] from January to June 2010, 2.76 Tera Watts hour (TWh) of wind electricity were curtailed, of which 1.58 TWh were from north China and 1.06 TWh from northeastern China. This represents a disproportionately high level of curtailment: the northern region accounts for 42% of Chinese wind electricity production but 57.2% of curtailment, while the northeast produces 31% of national production and sees 38% of curtailment.

Yumen City known as "Three Gorges of Wind Power”, is located in the northwest of Gansu Province, one of China’s wind-rich provinces. Take its Datang Changma First Wind Farm as an example. From April to August 2011, the wind power abandoned respectively 13.98 million kWh, 16.92 million kWh, 6.93 million kWh, 7.71 million kWh and 900,000 kWh of electricity, for a total curtailment of 46.45 million kWh of electricity, accounting for 43% of this five-month full-load generating capacity. In other words, 43% generating capacity of the wind farm is abandoned. Almost half of the wind turbines are idle. [3]

On February 29, 2012, National Energy Administration urgently issued “Wind Power Forecasting and Gird Coordinated Operation Implementing Regulations (Trial)”, and pointed out that the grid operator should fully utilize the wind power prediction results, comprehensively consider the system loading forecasting in order to combine with the grid and wind farm operating conditions to ensure that the maximum amount of wind power is consumed.

LVRT Incabability of Wind Turbine

Before 2011, the wind power industry complained that the utilities were not willing to accept wind power to connecting to the grid. But, a series of wind turbines accidents in 2011 indicates that there are other technical problems for wind turbines.   

On February 24, 2011, 598 wind turbines were disconnected from the power grid in Gansu’s city of Jiuquan and resulted in electricity output loss of 840.43 MW;

On April, 17, 2011, 702 wind turbines were disconnected from the power grid in Gansu’s city of Jiuquan and resulted in electricity output loss of 1006.223 MW;

On the same day, 644 wind turbines were disconnected from the power grid in Hebei’s city of Zhangjiakou and resulted in electricity output loss of 854 MW;

On April, 25, 2011, another large grid disconnection accident involving 1278 wind turbines happened in Jiuquan, Guansu Province.

After State Electricity Regulatory Commission (SERC) inspected wind farm safety management, operations, and grid connections, as well as wind turbines, the SERC blamed the absence of Low Voltage Ride Through (LVRT) systems in the facilities as the primary cause for these failures.  LVRT systems allow wind turbines to continue operating during and after voltage dips so the grid can adjust more quickly, which improves overall grid safety and stability.

“70% of wind turbine does not have LVRT capability in Jiuquan, Gansu”, Jiuquan Energy Secretary Shengxue Wu said.

In late November, 2011, a LVRT renovation project bidding started at Tongliao Zhalute wind farm, which is owned by Datang Corporation Renewable Power Co., Ltd. This renovation project is to meet the relevant requirements of a new national standard of “Wind Farm Connecting Power Systems Technical Regulations”, which will imminently be implemented on June 1, 2012.

New National Standards

Though China has the world's fastest-developing wind power sector and the largest installed wind capacity worldwide, it still lacks a national standard on wind power grid integration.  Fortunately some new national standards, which are being jointly drafted by the National Energy Administration, SERC and SGCC, are expected to establish fundamental rules for the wind power industry, requiring that all turbines be equipped with LVRT systems to ensure grid stability.

On December 30, 2011, the National Standards Committee formally approved the release of “Wind Farm Connecting Power Systems Technical Regulations”, which will be formally implemented on June 1, 2012.  

The “Wind Farm Connecting Power Systems Technical Regulations” is the fundamental standard for wind power integration to the grid. It includes standards on power grid dispatching, wind power farms, wind turbine quality, etc. On many levels it will restrict and control wind power grid integration.

This technical regulations, along with another standard of “Large-scale Wind Farm Connecting Grid Design Technical Specifications", will effectively address the frequent wind power accidents and ultimately enhance the quality and efficiency of the wind power industry.

China Wind Energy Development Roadmap 2050

China is already looking past the above mentioned quandaries.

According to a recently issued roadmap drawn up for the country’s wind power industry - “China Wind Energy Development Roadmap 2050”,[4] China’s wind power capacity will reach 200 GW, 400 GW and 1,000 GW by 2020, 2030 and 2050, respectively, making wind one of the five major sources of electricity across the country.

Based on this target, by 2050 China’s investment in the wind power sector is expected to reach RMB 12 trillion (approx. US$1.9 trillion), opening the door to many opportunities for its wind power equipment manufacturers.