“uåX˜äŠÊ˜·³Ç

Northwest China's Gansu province has started mapping out the 5 GW second stage of the 10.6 GW Jiuquan wind power complex and is expected to complete an evaluation by the end of this month. Under the guidance of the National Development and Reform Commission, the province plans to identify an area of 3000 square kilometres with a theoretical wind power potential of 8 GW. Wind turbine design firms and electricity companies have been instructed to conduct a general evaluation of wind energy resources and to report on ecological impacts in the target areas. Plans are also being drawn up for access to local power grids. Gansu is said to possess 237 GW of theoretical wind reserve, the fifth largest in the country. About 26.7 GW is readily accessible, mainly around the city of Jiuquan in the west. Jiuquan first proposed building the 10.6 GW wind complex, containing eight wind farms, back in 2007. In August, the regional government called for proposals for 3.8 GW of turbines for the 5.2 GW first stage and top Chinese wind turbine manufacturers Sinovel, Goldwind and Dongfang Steam Turbine Works won most of the concessions. According to Wu Shengxue of the Jiuquan Municipal Development and Reform Committee, the city has now completed 510 MW toward the first stage. Completion is expected by year-end 2010.