The east China province of Shandong plans to develop 12.6GW of offshore wind capacity by 2030, the provincial government in Jinan has announced.
The government has approved an offshore wind power development plan, confirmed Zhang Fanhua, deputy general manager of Shandong Power Group.
Under the plan, Shandong has ambitions to install 2GW of offshore wind by 2015 and 6GW by 2020. By 2030, offshore capacity will reach 12.6GW, with 1GW in each of six areas: Lubei, Laizhouwan, Bozhong, Changdao, Bandaobei and Bandaonan.
Several developers are already preparing projects in Shandong waters. China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) has completed pre-feasibility research for a 34-turbine 100MW offshore wind farm off Weihai city. CNOOC's longer-term plan is to build 1.1GW off Weihai city.
Huaneng is also preparing a similar 34-turbine 100MW project off Weihai. It has installed two pilot turbines on the coast facing the target sea area.
Meanwhile, Datang plans a 200MW project in Laizhouwan, near Yantai city.
With 3,000km of coastline, Shandong boasts rich offshore wind power resources. It also has a well-developed onshore wind sector, with 3.5GW of grid-connected capacity.
