Northern China wind turbines face oversupply issues

World Today

China made plans to combat climate change and bring down dangerous levels of air pollution by promoting the use of clean energy.

Recently, the country has halted the expansion of wind power in northern provinces.

The new plans, on the surface, undermines China’s ambition towards low-carbon energy growth.

CCTV’s Yu Li reports.

Northern Gansu Province is home to some of China’s strongest gales, making the region a perfect place to build wind farms.

Many wind turbines are located in the city of Jiuquan, where the local government has spent tens of billions of yuan on power generation in recent years. But at present, only 60 percent of the city’s turbines are in operation.

Power generation in Jiuquan is now restricted, as the region produces more electricity than currently required.

Six regions in northern China were ordered to suspend new wind projects this year, because the power being churned out by current turbines was being wasted.