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Based on extensive metrological data, the scientists' report concluded that wind energy in China has a potential to provide as much as 24.7 petawatt-hours of electricity supply annually - more than seven times China's current consumption.
The research team evaluated the total potential for wind energy that could be realized at an affordable cost level, which would require installation of 640 GW of wind farms over the coming 20-year period.
Their analysis would theoretically require China to make an investment of around $900 billion (at current prices) over the same twenty-year period.
The scientists consider this a large but not unreasonable investment given the present size of the Chinese economy (annual GDP of about $4.42 trillion in 2008). But whatever the energy source, China will need to build and support an expanded energy grid to accommodate the anticipated growth in power demand.
Ma Xuelu, vice-director of Chinese Wind Association, said he is not surprised by the wind energy potential estimated by the report.
"When it comes to wind energy in China, it is actually not much a question about how willing the government would invest in wind energy, rather about how the government should ensure that such investment will achieve long-term benefits," said Ma.
Wind energy is developing so rapidly in China that Ma is calling on the government and the industry to consider a systemized rather than hasty approach.
"Wind energy is an industry that requires investment in various fields, ranging from material, technology, talents, standard setting and construction of service system. Its impact on environment is also an important issue to consider," said Ma. "However, so far we tend to focus mainly on facility manufacturing. Such an imbalance, if unaddressed, could greatly undermine the country's efforts developing wind energy."
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