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Back in 2010, China became the world's largest wind energy producer and the boom is continuing unabated, fuelled by government support and ambitious renewable energy targets. Data from the China Wind Energy Association (CWEA) revealed that wind energy surpassed nuclear for the very first time in 2012 to become the country's third largest source of electricity, after coal and hydro-electric power.
In 2014, wind power production in China stood at 153.4 TWh compared to nuclear's 130.6 TWh. Even though wind has outpaced nuclear, a lack of energy reform and flexibility in the system means that it will prove difficult to displace coal in the short term. A report from the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) stated that China will need to reform its grid operation and electricity market to replace large amounts of coal with reliable forms of renewable energy.
According to a forecast from Statista, the future still remains lucrative for Chinese wind turbine manufacturing with operating revenue expected to reach $2.1 billion by 2020. The Gansu Wind Farm Project is currently under construction in western Gansu province and highlights China's wind energy ambition. When fully completed, it is expected to become the world's biggest collective windfarm.
*Click below to enlarge (charted by Statista)