China targets 90 GW wind capacity in 5 years

China’s new five year plan for renewable energy will include pledges to boost wind power capacity to 90 GW. It also intends to dam the UNESCO protected Nu River in the southwestern province of Yunnan.
According to the China Securities Journal, citing information obtained from China National Energy Administration, a draft of the plan which covers the 2011-2016 periods had already been submitted to other government departments for consultation.

The wind target will be met in part by the construction of seven 10 GW wind power projects, five of which are expected to be completed before 2016. Previous proposals to dam the Nu River to generate electricity were shelved following the intervention of Premier Mr Wen Jiabao but China is now anxious to step up hydro construction in the southwest in order to raise the proportion of renewables in the country primary energy mix to 15 per cent by 2020.

The new five year plan will also include a commitment to accelerate dam-building on the Jinsha River, the upstream section of the Yangtze also situated in Yunnan.

A target to raise solar photovoltaic capacity to 5 GW by the end of 2016 will also be set. The plan will push the renewable power quota system that forces local grids to buy a certain proportion of their electricity from clean energy sources. It will also include policies to construct grids capable of delivering renewable power to customers.
The plan is expected to be completed and published in March 2011.