NEW ENERGY IN CHINA NOW

Talk about protectionism: A Chinese law requires 70% of wind turbine equipment for Chinese wind farms be made in China. The result: All the big wind developers are opening subsidiaries in China.

Renewable and Clean Energy in China
Michelle Thomas, 03 August 2007 (Eversheds via Mondaq)

WHO
A perspective on Chinese wind and biomass investing from international law firm Eversheds

WHAT
The state of China’s development in wind and biomass.

Ambitious goals for an ambitious nation. (click to enlarge)

WHEN
- Wind Target of 11th 5-year plan was 5000 megawatts of wind energy by 2010. It is expected to be met by 2008. 2006: 22.7% of Chinese wind came from locally developed installations.
- Biomass Target of 11th Five-Year Plan: 5,500MW by 2010 and 30,000MW by 2020. 2006: record development of biomass to electricity; 2007 expected to be bigger.

WHERE
The Chinese market for wind and biomass.

WHY
- Wind: Most investment is in supplying parts and components to overseas businesses. Chinese wind resource potential is among the world’s largest. The 2003 "Wind Power Concession Projects" from China’s National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) is driving development. As in the west, grid development is a lynchpin to wind energy growth. Chinese companies do not yet have the technology to compete with the world’s largest wind turbine manufacturers (Spain’s Gamesa, Denmark’s Vestas, Germany’s Nordex and the USA’s GE Wind). 40% of Chinese domestic market: Goldwind, China
- Biomass: Also primarily in supplying components and parts for overseas but beginning to develop in straw, animal waste, wood waste and crop residue. Government subsidies will keep biomass-generated grid electricity competitive for 15 years. Ongoing obstacles to Chinese domestic biomass investment: feedstock supply, transportation costs, storage, lack of proven technologies. Of these, new supply access may result in IPOs.
- Biofuels and fuel ethanol are also being developed.

Some regions of great wind potential in China. (click to enlarge)

QUOTES
- “One of the key concerns for foreign investors and developers is the public bidding process which creates a project structure which many find financially untenable… The past four rounds of concessions have caused investors and experts concern. The low prices won by successful bidders are considered too low to ensure that these projects are financially viable for foreign investors.”
- “Despite pressure from other overseas governments to refrain from committing to a global renewable energy policy and carbon emissions cap and trade system, China appears to be committed to developing a sustainable renewable energy industry. The opportunities for funders and investors, and their advisors, are immense but an understanding of the market and its likely course is important.”