CNOOC to Build 1.1 Million-Kilowatt Offshore Windfarm

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Researched by Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) (Beijing) will build one of the world's largest wind-power projects offshore from Weihai City in Shandong province. The 1.1 million-kilowatt (kW) plant will cost about $3.05 billion. Construction on Phase I will begin in October, with the total construction time estimated to be about 10 years.

In early March, CNOOC completed Asia's first offshore anemometer tower in northern Weihai as a step toward building the offshore windfarm. Upon completion, the windfarm is expected to generate 2.5 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity every year, which will help to save 1.2 million tons of coal every year. In addition, about 1.88 million tons of carbon dioxide and 2.02 million tons of sulfur dioxide emissions will be eliminated.

The capacity of wind power 10 meters above land in China is estimated to add up to 250 million kW. This capacity is concentrated in northern China. However, because of economic limits in the region, the development of wind power has been slow. On the other hand, the potential for capacity in China's east coast area is about 750 million kW.

Experts say that offshore windfarms require more advanced technology, especially in coastal China where typhoons often hit; therefore, offshore windfarms often cost two to three times more to build compared to onshore windfarms.

China has established strong energy-production capabilities and provision ability. The volume of energy it produces is ranked second in the world, and its energy self-reliance rate is above 90%, much higher than most developed countries.

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