Wind is third largest energy source in China

It now supplies 2% of China’s total energy needs.

Wind power has also surpassed nuclear power, said the China Wind Energy Association. Electricity generated from wind power in China came to 100.4 billion kilowatt hours in 2012, or 2% of the China’s overall electricity output in that year and up from 1.5% in 2011.

One analyst said the improvement is in line with the government's efforts to increase its use of renewable energy as a means to reduce carbon emissions and cut reliance on fossil fuels.

This year, CWEA estimates 18 gigawatts will be added to China's wind power capacity. China wants to increase its wind power capacity to 100 gigawatts by the end of 2015.

The wind power industry, however, faces several challenges that include an overcapacity of wind turbines, rising trade protectionism and grid connection problems.

Wind power development in China, however, slowed down in 2012, with only 14 gigawatts of newly installed capacity, a decline from 20.7 gigawatts in 2011.