China harnessing more offshore wind energy

China is building its largest intertidal wind farm in Rudong county, Jiangsu province.

The pilot offshore wind farm is being built Longyuan Power, China' s largest wind power developer. Intertidal refers to areas that are above water at low tide and under water at high tide.

Rudong's intertidal wind farm will generate 330 million kilowatts of electric power for the grid, reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 267,000 tons and sulfur dioxide by 1,940 tons while saving 97,000 tons of standard coal, according to the company.

The company says the wind farm will lead the way for China to develop offshore wind power, particularly in site selection, planning and design, installation and maintenance.

China has a great potential for offshore wind power, up to 750 gigawatts, or three times that of onshore wind resources, said the China Meteorological Administration.

Wind power now accounts for 1.5% of China's total power generation.

China's National Energy Administration calls for China to have the capacity to generate 5 gigawatts from offshore wind power by 2015. By 2020, China aims to construct offshore wind projects totaling 30 gigawatts.

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