china and wind power turbines

Chinese wind power scenario

The rise of Chinese wind  turbine manufacturers and their wind power capacities reason being U.S. financial situation have changed the balance of market.

Yet another second year for nearly installed capacity- to the tune of 39.4 GW-the year brought total wind power installed capacity around 200,000 MW. The past five years annual installed capacity has grown by annual average 27.4 percent. Vesta's is still the worlds wind top turbine in terms of percentage of market volume. But Si-novel Chinese manufacturer over taken GE Energy.

Sinovel took full advantage of the boom in Chinese market, enabling it to move from third position to 2009 to second position in 2010.  In their home wind power market Chinese domestic turbine manufacturers made further gains, while foreign owned manufacturers only achieved 10.5 percent  market share in 2010.

Along with Sinovel and Gold wind, two other Chinese manufacturers were listed in this year top 10 in terms of global capacity delivered. Dong Fong, the third largest Chinese manufacturer first entered the top 10 list in 2009 and United Power entered for first time in 2010.

Meanwhile other Chinese companies Ming Yang, Se-wind  and Hara XE-ME listed as no. 11, no.14 and no.15 in world respectively are emerging to challenge positions of traditional market leaders from Europe and U.S.

It is worth noting that in 2010 also saw more MW rated manufacturers turbine exported. During the year five Chinese turbines suppliers install 13 machines in five different foreign markets. Following its first three 1.5 MW direct drive wind turbines installed in U.S. in 2009, Gold wind installed six units of 750 KW rated gear drive turbine in Cuba. Meanwhile , Ming Yang and A-Power installed their first wind turbines in U.S. market in 2010 and Heag also installed three 1.5 MW turbines in Chile and White Russia .

The following are brief descriptions of major Chinese wind turbine manufacturers.

Sinovel ( 4386)

Sinovel has performed well over the last three years. The Chinese company entered in top 10 list in 2007 and became the second larger in the world in 2010. It is increased nearly two percent of its global market share in 2010. This year also saw Sinovel connecting 34 of its 3 MW off shore turbines to grid in Shanghai, china  which is the first projects of this  kind in Asia.

Gold Wind ( 3740 MW)

The pioneer in Chinese wind market installed 3740 MW in year 2010. Its global market share increased 7.2 percent in 2009 to 9.5 percent a figure which represents one of best performances  among top 10 turbine suppliers in 2010.

Dong Fang ( 2624 MW)

Dong Fang, the third largest Chinese manufacturer and world no.7 Installed 2624 MW wind turbines in its home land during 2010. The company entered top list for first time in 2009 and maintained its global market share in 2010.

United Power ( 1600 MW)

United power was established in 2007 by China Guodian  Corporation, one of China’s big five state owned utilities. The company listed as world’s no.12 in 2009, installed more than 1600 MW in China in 2010 making it one of the top 10 players for the first time.

China made the greatest contribution in 2010 and important to note that 48 percent of world’s installation over the year took place in the country. Vestas wind systems and GE energy are still two large manufacturers of wind turbines in the world and now together 24.4 percent of global market. However their leading position challenged by leading Chinese turbine supplier in 2010. Si-novel has already replaced GE energy as worlds second largest turbine supplier and form other Chinese supply companies in top 10 list together account for a total of 31.2 percent of global market share.

The off shore wind sector was expanded with a total capacity of 1444 MW installed in 2010, which represents a 109 percent annual increase. Nine new off shore wind forms, with combined power generating capacity of 1405 MW were installed in Europe, especially in U.K.. The reminder of new off shore capacity was in China where Si-novel installed first off shore wind project in Shanghai in 2010. Although the off shore installation in 2010 represented only 3.7 percent of global total many projects are over pipeline over next couple of years, particularly in U.K. and Germany, China and South Korea are also expected to emerge as significant market for off shore wind.

Asia experienced significant growth, including the OECD Pacific region which increased its cumulative capacity from 42037 MW in 2009 to 63,645 MW in 2010 a growth of 51.4 percent. China was by far and away the leading country, with 18,928 MW new capacity in 2010 . India also saw an increase to see 2139 MW of new installation . The region as a whole accounted for 54.8 percent of year’s  global total.

Among the top 10 markets, China kept its position  as largest in 2010, followed by U.S.

Penetration of wind power in world electricity supply was reached 1.92 percent the proportion expected to be produced in 2011.

Technology trends -direct  drive

Another interesting  change in wind industry is supply of direct drive wind turbines. Until recently this was the sole preserve of German company Enercon,but large part of new installation  in China have come from direct drive turbines most significantly from Gold Wind and Hara XEMC. In total direct drive turbines by these companies in 2010 accounted for 16.8 percent recorded global supply, a 2.9 increase from 2009.