In 2012, wind power in China faced significant challenges as the average utilization hours for wind turbines dropped to 1,890, a 30-hour decline from the previous year. In some provinces, this figure fell as low as 1,400 hours, leading to wasted clean energy and investment, while also increasing environmental tensions. The National Energy Administration recently issued a notice addressing wind power integration and curtailment issues in 2013, highlighting that wind power curtailment was severe in certain regions, with an estimated 20 billion kWh of potential electricity lost.
Qin Haiyan, secretary-general of the Wind Energy Professional Committee at the Chinese Renewable Energy Society, pointed out that the economic impact of wind curtailment was substantial. In 2012, direct losses exceeded 10 billion yuan, equivalent to 6.78 million tons of standard coal if the lost energy were generated by coal. Regionally, the northeastern part of China experienced the worst curtailment, with Heilongjiang, Jilin, Liaoning, and eastern Inner Mongolia reporting nearly 10 billion kWh of lost wind power—nearly half of the national total.
Wind power curtailment is not unique to China, but it has become more pronounced due to several factors. China’s wind resources are concentrated in remote areas, far from major load centers. These regions often lack sufficient local demand and have limited capacity to absorb the power on-site. Additionally, wind power's inherent variability and intermittency require backup peaking power, which is lacking in many of the country’s key wind regions. The "Three North" areas (northwest, north, and northeast) suffer from a single power supply structure with little or no peak-shaving capability.
The National Energy Administration emphasized that wind power curtailment reflects broader energy management issues in China. It stated that wind power utilization should be a key factor in planning future wind power projects. Areas with high utilization can proceed with development, while those with low utilization must first address curtailment problems before expanding further.
According to the Twelfth Five-Year Plan, China aimed to reach 100 million kilowatts of grid-connected wind power capacity by 2015 and 200 million kilowatts by 2020. While the planned capacity aligns with current project approvals, the real challenge lies in ensuring these projects are implemented and connected to the grid efficiently.
In February 2024, the State Grid Corporation of China released guidelines promoting distributed power generation, including wind power, and committed to improving grid connection procedures, simplifying processes, and enhancing service efficiency. These measures aim to address long-standing grid connection challenges for wind power.
As an emerging industry, wind power requires continuous innovation and support. Sustained growth depends not only on technological progress but also on stable policy frameworks. With proper support, China’s wind sector can continue to expand and play a vital role in the nation’s clean energy transition.
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