Upcoming tenders for 2000 MW of wind projects in Northwest China

Nine wind power projects with a combined capacity of around 2000 MW are planned for Northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region by 2020 at a cost of CNY 17.6 billion ($2.2 billion), says the local government. The region currently has two wind farms with a combined capacity of 112.2 MW. Two of the nine projects are underway, but the others are to be put out to tender, according to a source at the energy division of the region's local Development & Reform Commission. The provincial government has pledged that the price paid for wind power will be considerably higher than for coal-fired energy. The projects are being developed at Helanshan, Qingtongxia, Hongshipu, Changshantou, Ningdong, Hongdunzi, Shizuishan, Zhongwei and Guyuan. At Helanshan a 40 MW phase is now under way, adding to the 111 MW of wind turbines commissioned in December 2003. At Changshantou, a 50 MW first phase costing CNY 360 million ($45.5 million) is scheduled for commissioning at the end of the year. Of the other projects, work on the CNY 390 million ($49.3 million), 50 MW first phase of Hongshipu will start some time this year while a second phase project is expected next year, says the Ningxia Hui government.