By Liu Weixun (刘伟勋)
Economic Observer Online
Oct 20, 2011
Translated by Zhu Na
Original Article: [Chinese] 

Wind power will account for 17% of China's total electricity production by 2050, according to predictions made in "China's Wind Power Development Roadmap 2050" (《中国风电发展路线图2050》),"  a report jointly produced by the National Development and Reform Commission's Energy Research Institute and the International Energy Agency (IEA).

The report also says that China will have 1,000 gigawatts of installed wind power capacity by 2050 and that over the coming 40 years, 12 trillion yuan will be invested in wind power developments, generating 720,000 jobs.

Han Wenke (韩文科), the Director of NDRC's Energy Research Institute said the report is more of a forecast and therefore does not carry the same weight as the industry development plans launched by various government departments, but it can provide a reference point for government when setting mid to long-term policy.

According to Liang Zhipeng (梁志鹏), the Deputy Director of the Division of New and Renewable Energy at China's National Energy Administration (NEA) there are two major difficulties facing China's wind power development. The first is related to the economic constraints that come with the current gap between the price of wind power and other power generating platforms. The second problem is related to limitations with the electricity networks ability to incorporate wind power. Liang says that the first problem will become less of a problem in the future and may one day disappear, but argued that the problem will only get more severe.