Chinese State Grid Energy Research Institute (SGERI) and wind turbine manufacturer Vestas are involved in a joint study called Joint Study on Coordinated Development of Wind Power and the Electricity Grid, representing an initiative to enhance large scale wind energy project integration into the the power grid. Additionally, the study is also looking into solutions for mass integration of renewable energy in general into the power grid.

SGERI and Vestas have announced the completion of the first part of the joint study, being carried out by the company with its international experience and local Chinese experts. The goal is to provide a holistic solution for the growing problem of absorbing all the renewable energy capacity needed into the national power grid to answer the growing energy demand in China. As far as wind energy is concerned, China is one of the fastest growing markets in the world, with 13 GW of newly installed capacity in 2009 alone. It is expected that the total installed capacity in the country will reach a staggering 120 GW by 2020. It is, therefore, quite clear that the country needs an appropriately large and capable power grid in order to be able to distribute all this power to the consumers. This task is by no means trivial, and involves major development efforts, the scale of which has been outlined in China's new ten year energy development strategy.

Three individual, but related studies are being carried out:

• researching international experiences of realization and development of wind energy
• in-depth research on Jilin wind integration (Jilin Wind Project), with a look at adaptation techniques for wind turbines and the power grid
• presentation of a strategy for an integrated solution in promoting China's wind energy and power grid development

Other activities include wind energy planning, wind farm operation and grid management, recommendations on incentive mechanisms and policies and economic frameworks for coordinated development of wind energy industry and the power grid.

The joint research project is to be concluded in December 2010, when the finalized conclusions should be published.

[source: Vestas]