Wind turbines a blow for clean power
Nicholas Ning
2007-9-4

SHANGHAI has started building 10 new wind powered turbines on Chongming Island increasing its use of clean energy. The turbines will have the largest per unit capacity in the city, with their 71-meter windmill blades producing 15,000 kilowatts, according to the Shanghai Electric Power Co. The city has built three wind energy farms with a combined capacity of 24,400kw, helping answer the central government's call for green energy.

There are already three wind turbines in Chongming which the city government plans to turn into a model ecologically balanced island. The new project is expected to offer an additional 30 million kilowatt-hours electricity every year, enough for about 20,000 households. That is the equivalent to the energy provided from 15,000 tons of coal, which, however, also produces 21,000 tons of carbon dioxide.

The company said companies and residents can apply to use the green electricity, which will be a little more expensive than normal. The city is relatively richer in wind energy resources than other renewable energies such as solar and biological energies but suitable areas for wind farms are limited. The long-term goal is to boost wind power capacity to one million kilowatts, accounting for about four percent of the local capacity from the current level of less than one percent by 2020.

http://www.shanghaidaily.com/sp/article/2007/200709/20070904/article_329837.htm