China approves 4.5GW subsidy-free wind farms

China's top planning agency has approved 250 subsidy-free wind, solar PV and distributed pilot projects, with a combined capacity of 20.76GW.

by Craig Richard 24 May 2019

China had vowed to launch subsidy-free renewable energy projects earlier this year (pic credit: Scott Meltzer/Public Domain Pictures)

Wind accounts for 4.51GW of the zero-subsidy capacity included on the National Development and Reform Commission’s (NDRC’s) list of approved projects.

This capacity will be installed across 56 projects in ten provinces and cities.

Meanwhile, 168 solar PV sites (14.78GW) and 26 distributed trading pilot projects (1.47GW) — through which distributed wind and solar projects could seek power deals with end users — are also on the list, which includes facilities in 16 regions.

China’s National Energy Agency (NEA) added  regional utilities should sign power purchase agreements with operators for terms of at least 20 years.

The list’s publication followed the government promoting unsubsidised renewable energy projects in 2019 to tackle a backlog of payments and amid declining costs in the sector.

It also vowed to increase transmission capacity between provinces, which would encourage allocation of non-subsidised renewable energy projects.