World Wind Watch | Green Energy News

November 6, 2005 – Vol.10 No.33

WORLD WIND WATCH.

China could become the world’s wind energy capital in 15 years. Today the country has plans to have 20 gigawatts installed by 2020. But, according to a new report issued by the Chinese Renewable Energy Industries Association (CREIA) sponsored by Greenpeace and the European Wind Energy Association (EWEA) China could easily double that amount by then to 40 gigawatts with a further increase to 200 gigawatts by 2050.

So windy is China, experts say, that wind power potential could match existing current total national power generating capacity four times over. Visit the EWEA at http://www.ewea.org/

The first steps for major offshore wind capacity in the U.K. have been completed, according to the British Wind Energy Association.

Since June of this year three companies have submitted formal consent (request for permissions) to government agencies to build three major wind projects in the Thames Estuary. Together the projects will equal 1800 megawatts of nameplate capacity.

In June a consortium of Shell Wind Energy, CORE Ltd, and E.ON asked permission to build the London Array, a 1000-megawatt, up to 270 turbine project that could power 25 percent of London’s homes as well as meet 10 percent of the U.K.’s 2010 target for renewables. London Array will be 12 miles (20 kilometers) from shore.

In October Airtricity and Fluor asked for permission to build the 500 megawatt, up to 140 turbine, Greater Gabbard Project. Gabbard will actually be beyond U.K. territorial waters at 16 miles (25 km) from shore.

Now, in November, Thanet Offshore Wind has asked for permission to build a 300-megawatt, 60 - 100 turbine wind farm near the Thanet coast in East Kent. Thanet will be 7 miles (11.3 km) from shore.

Visit the BWEA at http://www.bwea.com/ , London Array at http://www.londonarray.com/ Greater Gabbard at http://www.greatergabbard.com/ and Thanet at http://www.warwickenergy.com/thanet.htm