Latest News

China's dominance in wind turbine manufacturing

The European Union will investigate aids received by Chinese suppliers of wind turbines destined for Europe, the bloc's antitrust commissioner, Margrethe Vestager, has actually said.

Tuesday's move is the latest in a growing effort in both Europe and the United States to shield domestic clean energy markets from inexpensive Chinese imports, which authorities state gain from anti-competitive state subsidies.

Washington would decline U.S. market being decimated. by China's excess commercial capability in crucial items such as. EVs, batteries and solar panels, U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet. Yellen warned during a see to China this week.

Here is what we understand about China's wind power industry.

HOW BIG IS IT?

China has without a doubt the world's most significant wind turbine production. capability, or 60% of 163 gigawatts (GW) in 2023, says. Brussels-based market association Worldwide Wind Energy Council.

Production capacity in Europe and the United States, by. contrast, stood at 19% and 9% respectively.

China exported about $1.42 billion of turbines and. elements to the EU in 2015.

Its top three makers, Goldwind, Envision. and Mingyang had actually combined orders of 55.3 GW in 2022,. versus just 26.7 GW for the leading 3 Western makers, Vestas. , GE and Siemens Energy, data from. consultancy Enerdata programs.

In addition to output, Chinese turbine producers also. lead in product design and development. The last 4 years have. seen 426 new Chinese turbine designs released, versus simply 29 brand-new. turbines outside China, consultancy Wood Mackenzie said.

In 2015, China set up the world's biggest offshore wind. turbine off the coast of the southern province of Fujian. The. 18MW turbine is 20% more powerful than the biggest turbine built. by GE.

WHAT lags ITS DEVELOPMENT?

China has actually long supported the advancement of wind farms and. turbine production as part of its enthusiastic environment objectives to. reach peak emissions before 2030.

Stimulated by state support, China set up 77.1 GW of wind. power in 2015, representing 65% of the global overall. By. comparison, European Union countries constructed only 17 GW.

China presented feed-in tariffs to support onshore wind. power deployment in 2009 widening them to offshore projects in. 2014.

Although main aids were phased out between 2020 and. 2021, projects continue to get assistance from city governments.

In 2021, the southern economic powerhouse of Guangdong stated. it would provide subsidies of between 500 yuan ($ 69) and 1,500. yuan ($ 207) per kilowatt of offshore wind capability till 2025.

The wind sector likewise continues to receive indirect support. from state banks and inexpensive upstream components.

Manufacturing loans at China's 4 huge state-owned banks. jumped 25% last year to $1.2 trillion, targeting tactical. sectors such as innovation and clean energy.

In a yearly report to China's legislature in March, Premier. Li Qiang swore to let loose brand-new efficient forces to drive. development in modern production as the economy stalls amidst a. home crunch and trade stress.

Li included that Beijing would provide one trillion yuan's worth. of special function bonds - comparable to $139 billion - in 2024. to help fund tactical sectors.

WHAT OTHER FACTORS KEEP CHINESE TURBINE RATES LOW?

The situation in China's wind turbine sector is similar to. that in the solar sector, with massive domestic capability. increases underpinned by comprehensive government support, said. Xuyang Dong, China energy policy expert at Climate Energy. Financing in Sydney.

With a domestic supply glut and world leading technology,. China will significantly look for to export turbines.

Low-cost raw materials and intense competition have likewise pushed. down rates. Prices of Chinese turbines dropped by more than 30%. in 2023, Wood Mackenzie said.

Prices for Chinese turbines have to do with a fifth below rival. U.S. and European items, states research service BloombergNEF.

European industry group WindEurope said Chinese wind. turbines are being provided in Europe at approximately 50% lower rates. than Europe-made turbines and makers provide deferred. payments for up to three years which suggests the turbines are. essentially complimentary until a wind farm operator has up to three. years of profits from a job.

The average bidding costs in China's public wind project. tenders fell 11.4% from 1,755 yuan ($ 242.65) per kilowatt at the. start of 2023 to 1,555 yuan at the end of the year, leading. supplier Goldwind stated in its 2023 yearly report. ($ 1= 7.2322 Chinese yuan renminbi)