nuclear-news

Wind power in China is growing at a blinding pace. China commenced construction of its first wind turbines in 2005 and in just six years has installed 58GW worth of wind power, which now contributes 128TWh to its grid. …

What’s remarkable about China’s wind sector is the speed and scale of its expansion. Wind generators are up and operating within nine months of breaking ground. This has resulted in the dramatic upward revision of the country’s wind deployment targets. Three years ago China’s 2020 target was set at 30GW, today it’s a massive 200GW.

Last month, the National Development Reform Commission Energy Research Institute released China’s first wind development plan to 2050. A whopping 1000GW – enough to provide 17 per cent of China’s electricity needs – will be built and operating by mid Century.

Given China’s track record of smashing its own deployment targets – such as the seven-foldupwards revising of their 2020 target in just three years – it is entirely possible that in 2050, China could have in excess of 3000GW of wind power operating, providing half of the country’s electricity demand.

Nuclear power, on the other hand, is a tale of decline.

China’s wind sector overshadows the 11GW worth of nuclear in their electricity supply. In only six years, wind has blossomed to deliver 55 per cent more electricity to the grid each year than nuclear – an energy source the Chinese have been building for the last 26 years.

The growth of nuclear in China, although slow, has slowed further since the Fukushima disaster in Japan. The Chinese have downgraded the country’s forecast for nuclear power’s contribution to the electricity supply – the original 2020 target of 86GW has been abandoned in favour of a modest 40-60GW.

Government concerns about the safety of existing nuclear reactors is now the key factor in slowing the expansion of nuclear power. Chinese Environment Minister Zhou Shengxianconcedes, “Safety standards of China’s early-phase nuclear facilities are relatively low, operation times are long, some facilities are obsolete and the safety risks are increasing.” Worryingly this prognosis includes a plant owned by China Light & Power, the parent of Australian company TRUenergy, which hopes to list on the ASX in 2012.

Cheap Chinese nuclear relied on outdated second-generation designs that could be built with more than 70 per cent local content. China won’t be rushing to build third-generation plants when over 80 per cent will require imported content. Then there’s the fact no third generation plant has been built and completed anywhere worldwide.

In China, and globally, wind power will stay well ahead of nuclear for decades and replace it altogether…..

http://www.climatespectator.com.au/commentary/china-s-path-renewable-superpower