Programme description

Title: Wind Power Research and Training Centre
Commissioned by: German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)
Country: China
Lead executing agency: China Guodian Corporation (CGDC) and State Grid Corporation of China (SGCC)
Overall term: 2005 to 2010

Context

The Chinese government is rapidly increasing wind-generated electrical power.  The 1,280 megawatt (MW) capacity installed in wind farms in 2005 is projected to reach close to 10,000 MW by 2010 – double the figure in the government target (more than 5,000 MW are expected by the end of 2007).  To achieve this, changes in political framework conditions are necessary.  Wind farms, wind-farm developers, turbine manufacturers and transmission system operators (TSOs) will need qualified staff.  The lack of managers and technical staff in China calls for appropriate education.  Training in the field of wind energy is currently lagging behind anticipated growth in the sector.  Technology to optimise the transmission system for wind-farm integration must be improved as more knowledge is gained through applied research.  International wind-power standards and certifications need to be introduced to the wind-power industry to ensure the availability and quality of new and existing turbines.

Objective

The objective is to improve the technical capacities of institutions for a national expansion of grid-connected wind-energy use.  Besides shaping political and economic conditions through legislative changes, the project is helping to provide prerequisites for the attainment of China’s ambitious wind-power objectives.  This project is a building block of China’s development strategy, helping to secure clean renewable energy.

Approach

The project focuses on four working areas in its implementation:

• operation and maintenance
• training and applied research
• wind-power services 
• information and advice

Training is supplied for technicians, engineers, planners and developers.  Applied research into the technical aspects of wind energy, existing power plants, certification, grid connections and providing services is underway.  Technical and commercial advisory services will be available for developers and operators.  A website with information, forums, a helpdesk and online consultancy will be established in Chinese and English.  The project will build on structures that already exist in relevant organisations.  The implementing organisations are China Long Yuan Electric Power Group Corporation (CLYPG) and China Electric Power Research Institute (CEPRI).  Advisory services are also offered to government departments responsible for expanding wind-energy use in China.

The project focuses on four working areas in its implementation:

• operation and maintenance
• training and applied research
•  wind-power services 
• information and advice.

Training is supplied for technicians, engineers, planners and developers.  Applied research into the technical aspects of wind energy, existing power plants, certification, grid connections and providing services is underway.  Technical and commercial advisory services will be available for developers and operators.  A website with information, forums, a helpdesk and online consultancy will be established in Chinese and English.  The project will build on structures that already exist in relevant organisations.  The implementing organisations are China Long Yuan Electric Power Group Corporation (CLYPG) and China Electric Power Research Institute (CEPRI).  Advisory services are also offered to government departments responsible for expanding wind-energy use in China.

Results achieved so far

Since the establishment of the project, ten training courses on wind resource assessment and wind-power integration have taken place.  Representatives from planning and design institutes, various utilities, developers and manufacturers attended.  CEPRI provides training and consulting services on wind resource assessment, wind-turbine prototype IEC-testing, wind-grid engineering solutions and regional grid wind-power penetration.  Two large-scale wind-farm integration technology workshops were successfully held by CEPRI.  The Suzhou Longyuan Bailu Wind Power Vocational Training Center was established as a joint venture between CLYPG and Suzhou Nuclear Power Institute (SNPI).  The centre has been operating since February 2007 and regular technical training courses and specialised courses for engineers are offered by the centre’s instructors, foreign experts and experts from the local Chinese and foreign wind-power industry.

Downloads

• Chinese project description
  cn-projekt-ausbildung-und-forschung-windkraft.pdf, 0.11 MB (Chinese)

Further information

• Local website of the project
  Wind Power Research & Training Project @ CWPC
  www.cwpc.cn