"In the past, we believed that wind speeds of 4m/s and 5m/s weren't worth developing. But with the progress in low-wind-speed projects, we're now seeing their real potential," said Wang Haibo, president of Goldwind Technologies, during the opening ceremony of the 2017 International Wind Energy Conference.
As wind curtailment and power shortages continue to affect the Three North regions, and large-scale wind farms are being developed, wind power developers and manufacturers have turned their attention to low-wind-speed areas in the eastern and southern parts of China. This has led to two major trends: lower wind speed development and decentralized wind power.
But why hasn’t decentralized wind power taken off?
Many people feel that it was a "big morning but a late set." In fact, the National Energy Administration introduced guidelines for decentralized wind power back in 2011, aiming to standardize its development. The 13th Five-Year Plan for Wind Power Development in 2016 emphasized local consumption and flexible use of wind resources, promoting onshore wind development in the east and south. More recently, in June this year, the Energy Bureau issued a circular encouraging faster development of decentralized wind power, simplifying approval processes and expanding access.
Despite these efforts, six years after the initial push, China hasn't seen significant progress in decentralized wind power. According to Yu Jiangtao from Beijing Fishery New Energy, only about 1% of China's total wind power is decentralized—far below Europe’s level and even lagging behind distributed solar PV.
So why the slow growth? One issue is the approval process. “It takes half a year to approve a large wind farm, but for a small decentralized unit, it can take just as long,†said Wang Haibo. Decentralized wind power is less flexible than PV and more capital-intensive, making it less attractive for smaller developers who lack the financial strength to handle the risks.
Land use is another challenge. Many good sites for decentralized wind are on farmland, which requires special approvals. Additionally, regulations require turbines to be at least 500 meters away from residential areas, limiting project locations.
Industry experts like Qin Haiyan argue that the slow pace is also due to outdated investment thinking among developers. Many still prefer large projects over smaller, decentralized ones. Yang Xiaosheng added that land ownership is a key issue, as farmers have no incentive to lease land to wind companies when the state owns it.
Is decentralized wind power the next big step for the industry? Qin Haiyan compares the situation to “smashing sesame seeds†after the “watermelons†(large projects) are gone. He believes the future lies in decentralized wind, citing Germany’s high capacity per square kilometer as an example.
However, not everyone is optimistic. Bi Yaxiong of the Three Gorges Group warns against blind investment, noting that China already has surplus electricity and that wind and solar subsidies are reaching 60 billion yuan. Jin Xiaolong of Shanghai Electric Wind Power Group agrees, warning that focusing too much on decentralized wind could conflict with cost-reduction goals.
To move forward, social capital must be involved, and machine manufacturers need to take responsibility. Tian Qingjun of Vision Energy suggests that involving farmers, governments, and investors can help solve land issues and share benefits. Manufacturers must also adapt by designing efficient low-wind-speed turbines and leveraging digitalization for better operations.
“Predicting the future means creating it,†said Qin Haiyan, who remains confident in the potential of decentralized wind power. So, is decentralized wind power the next big opportunity? What do you think?
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