Li, X, Hubacek, K and Siu, YL (2012) Wind power in China - Dream or reality? Energy, 37 (1). pp. 51-60. ISSN 0360-5442
Abstract
After tremendous growth of wind power generation capacity in recent years, China now has 44.7 GW of wind-derived power. Despite the recent growth rates and promises of a bright future, two important issues - the capability of the grid infrastructure and the availability of backup systems - must be critically discussed and tackled in the medium term. The study shows that only a relatively small share of investment goes towards improving and extending the electricity infrastructure which is a precondition for transmitting clean wind energy to the end users. In addition, the backup systems are either geographically too remote from the potential wind power sites or currently financially infeasible. Finally, the introduction of wind power to the coal-dominated energy production system is not problem-free. Frequent ramp ups and downs of coal-fired plants lead to lower energy efficiency and higher emissions, which are likely to negate some of the emission savings from wind power. The current power system is heavily reliant on independently acting but state-owned energy companies optimizing their part of the system, and this is partly incompatible with building a robust system supporting renewable energy technologies. Hence, strategic, top-down co-ordination and incentives to improve the overall electricity infrastructure is recommended.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Editors: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | © 2011, Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. This is an author produced version of a paper published in Energy. Uploaded in accordance with the publisher's self-archiving policy. |
Keywords: | Wind power; China; Power grids; Back-up systems |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of Leeds |
Academic Units: | The University of Leeds > Faculty of Environment (Leeds) > School of Earth and Environment (Leeds) > Sustainability Research Institute (SRI) (Leeds) |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Publications |
Date Deposited: | 21 Feb 2017 16:25 |
Last Modified: | 17 Jan 2018 19:29 |
Published Version: | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2011.09.030 |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | Elsevier |
Identification Number: | 10.1016/j.energy.2011.09.030 |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:86060 |