CWEA and Vestas Propose Establishing China Wind Power Evaluation System

Chinese Wind Energy Association (CWEA) and Vestas jointly presented a report which contains a proposal for a set of wind power evaluation criteria at a ceremony during the China Wind Power 2011 Conference and Exhibition in Beijing.

The report named “China Wind Power Evaluation System Research” encourages wind turbines manufacturers, project developers, wind park operators and other industry stakeholders to contribute to and complete the wind power evaluation system for China. This is the very first time the industry puts forward such proposal, which indicates that China’s wind industry has entered a stage of carefully considering questions related to the discipline and norms for the industry’s further development.

CWEA and Vestas started the joint study in November 2009. China’s wind power industry has grown rapidly, surpassing several decades of development in western countries in only five to six years. However, a series of problems have also emerged. A widely accepted and effective industry evaluation system is required to ensure a healthy and sustainable development of the wind power industry in China. Vestas China President Jens Tommerup and CWEA President Mr. He Dexin jointly initiated and facilitated the study.

 “Quality and safety have become some of the biggest concerns of the wind power industry in China. We as industry participants need to consider whether we choose to solve these problems as a reaction to policies and regulations, or we proactively address the issues and steer the development in a healthy direction,” says Jens Tommerup. “An objective and transparent evaluation system will support this direction, and those who take the first step towards becoming more self-reflexive and disciplined will eventually take the lead in the competition. Vestas is willing to proactively take this first step.”

Mr. He Dexin says, “An objective, professional, open and transparent evaluation system helps change the development philosophy, improve management, and to respond proactively to the repetitive construction and product quality issues. It also improves the way tenders are evaluated, providing a guide for wind farm developers to select appropriate equipment, enhance the grid support of wind parks for safer operation, and jointly promoting the healthy and sustainable development of wind power industry in China.”

“China Wind Power Evaluation System Research” contains evaluation criteria applicable to six areas including criteria for wind turbines, wind turbine manufacturers, wind parks, post-project evaluation, and evaluation criteria for onshore and offshore tenders. The sustainability of the wind power industry is not limited to the supply of wind turbines only, but is also affected by the utilization of the wind turbines, maintenance and operation, and finally power generation. Thus, the report does not only put forward a number of definitions and parameters on technology, but also evaluation criteria for management and service of wind power projects. The efforts aim at fostering a shared understanding among industry players, reducing the cost of energy of wind power projects in the long run and thereby increase the return on investment and sustainably develop the whole industry.

As the bridge between government and industry stakeholders, CWEA witnessed every important step of the evolution of wind power in China. As the world’s largest wind power solution provider with more than 30 years of experience from over 60 countries, Vestas is committed to the development of China’s wind power industry. Vestas’ commitment is reflected in a number of initiatives over the past years; by establishing the first dedicated non-Chinese R&D Centre exclusively focused on wind energy research, training its customers on wind resource assessment and turbine siting, proactively conducting studies on grid integration issues, and researching on standardizing models for wind turbine verification with national research institutes. Both CWEA and Vestas’ profound knowledge of the wind industry ensured smooth conduct of this research.

The first draft of “China Wind Power Evaluation System Research” is based on a study on international wind power evaluation methods carried out by the international industry consultancy Garrad Hassan & Partners and adapted according to the characteristics of China’s wind power industry. Subsequently, the research report was reviewed and modified 3 times by a professional committee consisting of 15 senior experts in China’s wind industry, and now open for further comments and opinions. The report will be officially published at a later stage.

About Vestas

Vestas is the world leader in wind technology, with a history of technological innovation and over 30 years of experience in developing, manufacturing, installing and maintaining intelligent, high performing and high quality wind power plant solutions. Vestas was a pioneer in the wind industry and started to manufacture wind turbines in 1979.

Vestas installed China’s first wind turbines in Shandong in 1986, and as of 30 June 2011, Vestas has installed more than 3,100 MW of clean energy across 13 provinces in China. This makes Vestas one of the biggest accumulated suppliers of wind power plants in China.

Over the past few years, Vestas has established a firmly rooted presence in China with more than RMB 3.5 billion worth of investments and more than 3,100 employees, committed to delivering high quality wind energy solutions for a sustainable energy future.

Vestas has its largest integrated manufacturing complex globally situated in Tianjin, its China headquarters in Beijing, a factory in Hohhot, a global procurement office in Shanghai and a state-of-the-art foundry in Xuzhou.

In October 2010, Vestas opened its China Technology R&D Centre in Beijing, which is an important part of Vestas’ global innovation network and represents Vestas’ intention to bring the best of its knowledge to China. Furthermore, the R&D Centre is significantly increasing Vestas’ responsiveness to market demands and development trends in terms of new technology.

As the global leader in wind energy, Vestas is committed to help develop China’s wind energy sector into a world-class modern renewable energy sector. Vestas is actively sharing its 30 years of industry experience and expertise with partners and stakeholders in the Chinese wind energy industry.

About Chinese Wind Energy Association

Chinese Renewable Energy Institute Association (CREIA) was founded in 1981, was officially registered by the Ministry of Civil Affairs as a non-profit community group. Approved by the PRC Ministry of Science & Technology, CREIA exercises its functions under the name of the Chinese Wind Energy Association (CWEA).

Chinese Wind Energy Association (CWEA) is comprised of Director, Deputy Director, and members. It exercises the functions under the Chinese Renewable Energy Society (CRES). Professional Committee consists of the Secretariat and a number of professional groups. Secretariat serves as a permanent office for daily work. Professional groups now includes the wind resource group, blade group, gearbox group, electronically controlled professional group, wind power for water group, wind farms groups, and education groups etc. Professional groups work under the guidance of association.

Chinese Wind Energy Association (CWEA) is a window to foreign academic exchanges and technical cooperation in wind field, the bridge and the link between the government and enterprises and institutions. It is aimed to establish a good relationship among domestic and foreign counterparts, unite and cooperate with fellow professional committees, closely contact the vast number of scientific workers for promoting China’s wind energy technology progress, enhancing the development of wind energy industry, and increasing social consciousness to renewable energy.

Chinese Wind Energy Association (CWEA) is made up by group members and individual members, engaged in scientific research, design, manufacture, utilization, education and management department in wind energy. CWEA warmly welcome domestic and foreign enterprises, research institutions and scientific research personnel engaged in wind power to attend this meeting, dedicated to the progress and development of wind power technology in China.

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Source: vestas, October 21, 2011