Chinese solar module prices may increase by up to 20% in 2014

Solar PV modules were said to have been over produced in 2011 through 2013 and as a result, prices dropped unrealistically low.

Then there was this 'dumping' of cheap modules from China that caused the trade dispute between western nations (especially US) and Asia.

Research service provider GTM Research noted however, that 2014 is going to be the PV market's tightest supply year and expect higher pricing.


PV module prices increase by as much as 20%

GTM Research expect prices for solar PV modules delivered to the US by Chinese suppliers could increase by as much as 20% by the end of 2014 due to supply constraints, rising input costs and the ongoing US-China solar trade case.


                          Source: Global PV Pricing Outlook: Q2 2014 by GTM Research


The primary driver behind the likely price increases, according to GTM Research, is the ongoing US-China trade case, which has already led to import duties on China-produced solar cells.

Further duties on China-assembled modules as well as Taiwanese solar components would push up US pricing beyond current levels, as Chinese firms pass tariff-induced penalties onto customers, or resort to contracting out cell and module production to OEM vendors based in higher-cost regions such as India, South Korea and Malaysia.

With Chinese suppliers shipping almost 3 GW of modules into the US in 2013, this development could result in meaningfully higher solar costs for US-based developers and their customers.


Also mentioned in the report:

• Global polysilicon spot pricing increased 15% quarter over quarter to $21.20 per kilogram at the end of Q1 2014.
• Q4 2014 base-case forecast estimates polysilicon prices reaching $24 per kilogram and wafer prices 26% per watt.
• Current Tier-1 Chinese module pricing across the globe ranges from 56 cents per watt in Chile to 80 cents per watt in the EU
• Pricing for Japanese modules in the Japanese residential market is still as high as $1.50 per watt, but has fallen below $1 per watt in the commercial segment.

The full report can be found at GTM Research.


TheGreenMechanics: Malaysia has several China-base solar module manufacturers, or factories that are co-owned by Chinese investors. The US pricing may not affect us directly but it is a good indicator of how the future of global solar PV industry is shaping up.

If you are in the solar supply chain (manufacturer, exporter/importer, project implementer, end-user, etc), this should be a good read.

Farmer builds space shuttle and rocket on his roof!

About two years ago I posted a couple of interesting pictures of a 'missile' on a roof top I saw at Wired Aperture. It was actually a dismantled fighter plane oil tank that a man in Yantai (China) turned into a solar water heater for his home. The man's wife said her husband found the tank in a pile of iron scrap at a local recycling station.

This time, also in China, a farmer build a giant 'space shuttle and rocket' on his roof top.


Huang Yuzhan spent more than a year building the 7m high rocket and 3.8m high shuttle.


Realizing his childhood dream

He had always dreamed about building his own space shuttle ever since being a child. But while most people would give up such an ambition as impractical, this Chinese farmer could just not let the dream go.

Mr Yuzhan spent more than a year building the 7m high rocket and 3.8m high shuttle at his home in Xiapu village, in southern China's Guangdong Province. The rocket, complete with two boosters on either side, is now a prominent feature of the Xiapu skyline, rising high above the surrounding buildings.

Not really a 'giant' structure as claimed by Daily Mail

The impressive structure, which appears to be made of ceramic tile, sits proudly on the top of the farmer's house. Earlier this week, Daily Mail reported on former Chinese military man Jian Lin, who built a fully functioning replica of the People's Liberation Army's Type 63A light tank, featuring a cannon that actually fires.



Mr Yuzhan had always dreamed about building his own space shuttle ever since being a child


You can read further about this and see more pics at The Daily Mail.


TheGreenMechanics: That's one pretty cool hobby and imagination put into reality.

World’s largest 4G ultra-broadband mobile network launched by China Mobile

World largest mobile communication operator, China Mobile Ltd had awarded 4G contracts worth around 20 billion yuan ($3.2 billion), with Chinese firms securing more than half of it - particularly China’s biggest telecoms equipment makers, Huawei and ZTE - and foreign firms winning about a third.


China Mobile has more than 750 million subscribers, or 60% of the total mobile subscription in China.


Major foreign players include Ericsson, Nokia, and Alcatel-Lucent with the use of the latter's innovative lightRadio 4G TD-LTE overlay for the nationwide roll-out of the world's largest high-speed mobile broadband network.

Alcatel-Lucent has been awarded 11% of China Mobile's deployment of Phase I of its 4G network. This involves deployment of more than 207,000 mobile base stations in China by the end of 2013.

China Mobile has been actively carrying out large-scale TD-LTE live network trials in China for more than 3 years and is now scaling the deployments. Alcatel-Lucent has been closely involved with China Mobile in developing TD-LTE from the inception of the technology.


China Mobile preparing for iPhone 5S and 5C rollout?

China Mobile will launch 4G services early next year. Apple’s latest iPhones are compatible with the TD-LTE spectrum used by China Mobile, which has led to expectations of a future sales deal to sell the devices.

TheGreenMechanics: It'd be great to see the full scale roll-out of the speedier 4G LTE network in Malaysia. Also, I'd love to see collaboration between the main telcos - Celcom, Maxis, DiGi - to provide consumers with better quality mobile broadband.


Source: Financial Times

Scenic view from Nanpu Bridge, Shanghai

The best way to quickly tour the city without tour guide is by hopping on to the city sightseeing bus operated by Big Bus Tours. The fare starts at RMB100 (approx. $16) and the ticket is valid for 24 hours.

This was taken during our trip to Shanghai earlier this year and the partly-open upper deck of the tour bus makes it perfect for capturing the magnificent views as you cross the Huangpu River via Nanpu Bridge.

Perfect for city sightseeing

The huge H-shape column welcomes you as you enter the bridge

7-lane is wide enough? There are other bridges apart from Nanpu.

Three to four elevated roads criss-crossing each others.

Steel sculpture sighted as we exit the bridge

I love Shanghai & would love to be back here for another trip.

China invests nearly $40 billion in international renewable energy projects

China is known to rank first in the world in attracting clean energy investment, receiving US$ 65.1 billion in 2012.

But new analysis shows that China is increasingly becoming a global force in international clean energy investment, too. Between 2002 and 2012, the country has provided nearly $40 billion (RM126.4 billion) to other countries’ solar and wind industries.

A new update in the findings should include Malaysia in the destination countries list. We have China's investment in West Malaysia and the recent launching of Solar wafer manufacturing plant in Kuching Sarawak.

Figure 1: China's top 10 destination countries for the 2002-2012 period. Source

This investment is consistent with a broader trend of major emerging economies like China, India, and Brazil becoming important sources of global overseas investments.

China’s overseas Wind and Solar investments

Research shows that Chinese companies have made at least 124 investments in solar and wind industries in 33 countries over the past decade (2002 – 2011), more than half of which were made in 2010 and 2011 (see Figure 1). The wind/solar investment by the numbers:-

1. Of the 54 investments for which financial data were available, the cumulative amount invested came to nearly US$40 billion.
2. China invested roughly US$10 billion in 16 wind projects and US$27.5 billion in 38 solar investments.
3. Of 53 investments with capacity data available, the cumulative installed capacity added was nearly 6,000 MW.
4. The majority of investments were in electricity generation. Several investments were made in manufacturing facilities and to establish sales and marketing offices.
5. Most of the investments were in developed countries. A huge amount went to the United States, as well as Germany, Italy, and Australia.
6. A handful of developing countries—including South Africa, Pakistan, and Ethiopia—also attracted multiple investments.

Drivers and challenges to China's overseas investments

Both wind turbine and solar photovoltaic (PV) manufacturing industries have grown substantially – in 2010, four Chinese companies from each industry ranked among world’s top 10 manufacturers for wind turbine and solar PV respectively.

However, their market bases are quite different – China’s wind industry relies on its vast yet oversupplied domestic market, whereas the solar industry relies on the international market for 95% of its sales.

Both industries need to boost sales in international markets, which has not always been easy. Chinese wind companies are relatively new entrants to the international markets.

Declining subsidies in the European solar market have decreased demand for Chinese solar products. As a result, direct investments overseas are seen as a way of retaining and expanding market share, typically through creating demand for the export of products.


Read more at Environmental Expert

Interesting street-view of Shanghai

There are many places of interest in the busy city of Shanghai and it is totally unfair to force yourself to visit all of them in a span of just one or two days. A four- or five-day tour would be more like it.

I asked our host what is the population of Shanghai and was told that it's currently about 24 million. Compare this to Malaysia's (the whole country) 29 million people and you get the idea how condensed people are in the big city.

The followings are some of the not-so-glamorous selection of street photos during our visit:-

They say you miss the Oriental Pearl Tower and you've missed Shanghai. I tend to agree.

It maybe a modern city but there's nothing wrong capping a skyscraper with a piece of history.

Taxi drivers are in a 'cage' of their own, well protected. I think this is a good one to emulate.

This bear glass has Arabic wordings on it. I don't understand what is written there but it somehow feels awkward.[BTW, I don't drink]

In Shanghai, 'honking' seem to be the way of communication and you'll hear pretty much (or rather, too much) of them everywhere. So, that sign up there is necessary sometimes.

Ran out of idea for a catchy website name? Try numbers. They are unique, too.

Minimalist. An umbrella could be your taxi-stand shade when needed.

Smart idea - A trader using solar panel to power up his photo kiosk at The Bund. It costs you RMB20 to RMB40 per 8" frame.

Some people like the idea of a limousine as their wedding car

while...some prefer to wait for the taxi

UFO spaceship ready to 'sail' on Huangpu River? No, that's Mercedes-Benz Arena, the auto giant's show centre.

And...finally my favourite - Solar-powered road signage. It's cool and I like it.

Stay tuned. A posting of a different kind of captures will follow soon.

Huawei launches Ascend P6, the world's slimmest smartphone

China's Huawei unveiled its flagship smartphone, the Ascend P6, at its first standalone launch event in London this week, underlining its ambitions to compete with Apple and Samsung in the top tier of mobile technology.


WORLD'S SLIMMEST: The new Huawei Ascend P6 smartphone during launch in London on June 18, 2013


HUAWEI ASCEND P6 SPECIFICATIONS

BODY
               Dimensions: 132.7 x 65.5 x 6.2 mm (5.22 x 2.58 x 0.24 in)
               Weight: 120 g (4.23 oz)

DISPLAY
               Type: Capacitive touchscreen, 16M colors
               Size: 720 x 1280 pixels, 4.7 inches (~312 ppi pixel density)

MEMORY
               Card slot microSD, up to 32 GB
               Internal 8 GB, 2 GB RAM

COMMUNICATION:
               GPRS Class 10, 32 - 48 kbps EDGE Class 10, 236.8 kbps
               HSDPA 14.4 Mbps, HSUPA 5.76 Mbps
               WLAN Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, DLNA, Bluetooth, NFC
               USB, microUSB v2.0, USB On-the-go

CAMERA
               Primary 8 MP, autofocus, LED flash
               Secondary 5 MP Video Yes, 1080p@30fps

OPERATING SYSTEM
               Android OS, v4.2.2 (Jelly Bean)
               CPU Quad-core 1.5 GHz
               GPS with A-GPS support and GLONASS

BATTERY Li-Po 2000 mAh


LAUNCHED IN LONDON

The company says the device, at 6.18mm thick, is the world's slimmest. It has a 5-megapixel front-facing camera, designed for taking "selfies", or pictures of the owner to be shared on social media networks.

The company picked the launch date - 6/18 (June 18) - to tie in with the smartphone's dimensions. The launch, at an arts venue in North London, takes a cue from Apple and Samsung, both of which have made new product announcements at high profile events for a number of years.

Previously Huawei unveiled its handsets at industry trade shows like Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. Huawei, which also makes telecom networking gear, is looking to drive sales of its consumer devices, a sector in which it has only had its own brand for about three years.

The company was the fourth-largest maker of smartphones in the first quarter of 2013, trailing LG Electronics and the two dominant brands Apple and Samsung, according to analyst firm Gartner. The top two sold more than 100 million units between them, while LG sold 10 million and Huawei 9 million, most of which were in its native China.

The Ascend P6 uses Huawei's customised version of Google's Android operating system.

Industry analyst Ben Wood at CCS Insight said that at the right price the Ascend P6 would attract buyers who had not considered Huawei before.

The device is not, at this stage, compatible with the high speed, next generation 4G networks, which are being rolled out across the world.


Image credit: AFP, sourced from: TechCentral

Malaysia's Hytex to develop wind farm with China’s Gezhouba

Better known as garment manufacturer in Malaysia, Hytex is making its maiden foray into energy generation. Renewable energy to be specific.

Report says that is has signed  a memorandum of understanding to develop and build a wind farm in Guizhou Province, China:

Wind farm capacity        : 50 MW
Turbine type                  : MagLev vertical Wind Turbine
Energy production         : 200 GWh annually
Cost                               : ¥500 million (RM245 million)
Project implementation  : October 2013 - October 2015
Concession period         : 30 years


TheGreenMechanics: Too bad, the wind condition in Malaysia does not permit large scale wind farming. Perhaps, when  technology permits low wind speed to turn large wind turbines, then we'll see different scenario in the local wind energy sector.


Hytex to develop wind farm in China

PETALING JAYA: Hytex Integrated Bhd is collaborating with China's Gezhouba Group Electric Power Co Ltd to develop a 500 million yuan maglev wind farm in Guizhou Province, China.

In a statement, Hytex said Gezhouba had been appointed as turnkey contractor to develop the wind farm on a build-and-transfer basis for Hytex, and it expected a final agreement to be concluded with Gezhouba in the second quarter.

The MoU was signed via Hytex's unit, Hytex Integrated (Suzhou) Co Ltd (HIS), with Gezhouba. Gezhouba is a unit of China Gezhouba Group, a Hubei-based construction and engineering company which was the main contractor of the Three Gorges Project.

“The 50MW Guizhou maglev wind farm project will cost an estimated 500 million yuan to develop and build. Upon completion, it is expected to produce more than 200GW of electricity annually for the China Southern Grid in Taijiang county which has a population of more than 60 million people,” it said.

Work on the project is expected to begin in October and will be completed by October 2015. It would be based on a projected concession period of 30 years with an option extension of 20 years.

Meanwhile, HIS and its green technology partner, Shenzhen Timar Scenery Energy Technology Co Ltd (STSET), will fabricate and supply the maglev wind turbines and other equipment required.

“HIS and STSET will also provide the technical skills and expertise required to develop and build this renewable energy facility.

HIS teamed up with STSET earlier in February under a joint venture wind farm agreement to develop a wind farm project.


Source: The Star biz

Rat meat passed off as mutton in China!

So, you love mutton curry very much, eh?

Be careful. You could actually be eating rats and other small animals passed off as mutton. This is especially if you are visiting Shanghai or Jiangsu province. Ouch! We were in Shanghai just 2 weeks ago.

And those dim sum served by our host were savoury! We didn't consume any mutton in any form though.

Nasi Kandar Line Clear in Penang is quite popular and they serve mutton curry.

Don't worry, that would not happen in Malaysia, but who knows. Especially if you buy a lot of stuff from China. Also, don't forget the food scandal in Europe recently where horse meat passed off as beef.


For your reading pleasure:-

Chinese police bust million-dollar rat-meat ring
The Star

BEIJING (Reuters) - Chinese police have broken a crime ring that passed off more than $1 million (643 thousand pounds) in rat and small mammal meat as mutton, authorities said, in a food safety crackdown that coincides with a bird flu outbreak and other environmental pressures.

Authorities have arrested 904 suspects since the end of January for selling and producing fake or tainted meat products, the Ministry of Public Security said in a statement posted on its website on Thursday.

During the crackdown, police discovered one suspect surnamed Wei who had used additives to spice up and sell rat, fox and mink meat at markets in Shanghai and Jiangsu province.

Police arrested 63 suspects connected to the crime ring in a case valued at more than 10 million yuan (1.0 million pounds) in sales since 2009.

Police confiscated more than 20,000 tonnes of fake or inferior meat products after breaking up illegal food plants during the nationwide operation, the ministry said.

Food safety and environmental pollution are chronic problems in China and public anxiety over cases of fake or toxic food often spreads quickly.

The public security ministry said police had confiscated more than 15 tonnes of tainted pork in Anhui province, although as much as 60 tonnes had been sold in Anhui and Fujian provinces since mid-2012.

But it was the rodent meat in particular that people couldn't stomach, with Internet users turning to the popular microblogging site Sina Weibo to vent their outrage.


(Reporting by Michael Martina and Sally Huang; Editing by Paul Tait) - Copyright © 2013 Reuters

Green awareness levels drop in Beijing

During a week stay in Shanghai recently, China Daily came in handy for daily reading as the tabloid is in English. The following caught my attention:

• After the Olympic Games in 2008, residents' awareness of environmental issues started to decline.

The paper reported that, a new survey shows that the level of environmental awareness among Beijing residents has fallen for the third consecutive year.

Local residents' environmental awareness measured in percentage:

• 2012 - 71.6%
• 2011 - 72.2%
• 2010 - 74.2%
• 2009 - 75.9%
• 2008 - Beijing Olympic Games

I'm quite sure that the government would have carried out aggressive promotion of the environment issues - air quality, water, energy saving - but the study tells us that, in order to keep the momentum going, this has to be done consistently and continuously. The way of communicating this to the public must be dynamic and not static, and one that is appealing and attention-grabbing.

We should take note of Beijing's experience.

: :          : :          : :          : :          : :          : :          : :          : :          : :

Green awareness levels on the decline
China Daily. April 20, 2013

Despite the frequent environmental protection debates and scandals, especially over water and air quality, environmental awareness of Beijing residents - not only general knowledge of environment issues but participation in them - failed to grow last year, according to a survey by the education center under the Beijing Municipal Environmental Protection Bureau released on Thursday.

Local residents' environmental awareness in 2012 was 71.6 points out of a possible 100,compared to 72.2 points in 2011, 74.2 points in 2010 and 75.9 points in 2009. Conducted in December 2012, the survey covered about 2,000 residents 16 and 60 years old who have lived in the city for at least two years.

"The environmental protection issue has been heatedly debated in recent years, but people's awareness has decreased since 2009," said Liu Jingqi, the survey's project director.

"One of the reasons for the peak of people's awareness in 2009 and decrease afterwards was Beijing's hosting the Olympic Games in 2008, when government promotion greatly spurred people's consciousness," Liu said.

Though people are attaching more importance to air and water quality among all environmental issues recently, poor execution and action have contributed to decreasing environmental-protection awareness.

"Many in the public practice energy conservation by saving water or electricity consumption, but the performance is not as good when it comes to disposable tableware, over packed products and other issues," said Liu.

In addition, despite the fact that PM2.5, or particulate matter with a diameter smaller than 2.5micrometers, has been hotly debated in recent years, the number of people knowing this term is relatively small among Beijing's 20 million residents.

Only 24.2% of those interviewed said they had heard of the term PM2.5, and half of those who had heard of it did not know the term is related to air pollution, according to the survey results.

Top 10 websites currently blocked in China

I mentioned in my previous post, Hello Shanghai that, Blogger website (or blogspot) which is owned by Google is blocked in China.

There are a lot of other high ranking websites you might be interested in, that are/were blocked there, such as Facebook, Youtube and Twitter. I found the following sites while in China and tried to 'google' them or simply typed their domain in the address bar.

The search results varied from simply 'invalid URL', to 'server cannot be found', or the browser would just 'hang' with unusually long wait:

1. Facebook

The social website was blocked since 2008 to present.

2. Twitter

I'm not a user of Twitter but as evidenced in my test, this site is currently blocked.

3. Picasa

I occasionally use this site to store images for my blog. It has been blocked since 2009 to present. It is no wonder that many of the images in my blog wouldn't load in that country.

4. YouTube

You wouldn't be able to watch clips and video sharing via YouTube in China.

5. Blogger

Type blogspot or Blogger in the address bar and you know it's blocked. Or, try reading a friend's blog hosted by Blogger and you'll be disappointed.

6. WordPress

The famous blog platform is also not spared. it was blocked since 2011 and it still is, at least so in Shanghai.

7. Technorati

This was said to have been blocked since 2008. Tried accessing and result returned as "This page is not available".

8. Dropbox

Unable to access this site, and search confirmed that it had been blocked by the Chinese government.

9. Wikileaks and Wikipedia

Access to WikiLeaks had been blocked since 2010 and if you like to find information through Wikipedia, you are in for a tough luck, too.

10. Google+

Like many other Google websites, Google+ joined the growing list of blocked websites in 2011.

On why they are/ or were blocked in China, people have different opinion but I wouldn't speculate.

Hello Shanghai

I came to know that Blogger (blogspot) is one of the websites that are currently blocked in China.

So if you are on Wordpress or Blogger platform, you are unlikely to be able to share your story while visiting the land of the dragon.

We visited Shanghai amid news that H7N9 bird flu is spreading in China, and we were there when Sichuan was rocked by an earthquake measuring 7.0 on the Richter scale killing at least 160 people.

But other than that, it was a great trip.

Oriental Pearl TV Tower viewed from across Huangpu River, Shanghai.

I took this picture using the iPhone during hazy morning. Will share more pics taken with DSLR once they are ready.

It's good to be back blogging.

China solar giant Suntech falls back to Earth

The last thing you want to hear from the solar photovoltaic industry is players going into bankruptcy.

Just a year ago, China's Suntech was the world's largest solar panel producer, but has plunged to a near bankruptcy, if what's reported is true.

Top 10 solar module producers in the world. Source: Renewable 12 Global Status Report

"What (Suntech) has done is increase supply to the market so much, that they really almost can't sell anything at a profit now. It is going to be difficult for them going forward. You might end up seeing a very different company down the road."
-- Ben Cavender, China Market Research Group in Shanghai.

Falling back to earth? Source: France24

Bleak day for Solar PV industry

China’s Suntech has made a painful journey from being the world’s largest solar panel producer to flirting with bankruptcy in just a year, highlighting the woes of the industry it shaped.

Oversupply as Chinese producers flooded the market and trade disputes over alleged Chinese dumping caused a sudden and spectacular reversal of fortunes for Suntech, which has defaulted on repayments for a $541 million bond issue.

The board ousted the company’s renowned founder just days ago after 12 years in which he led it from nothing to world market domination and now to the edge of ruin, leaving it scrambling to secure new funding and hold creditors at bay.

The global solar industry has been burned by the economic slowdown in Europe and the United States, together with weak prices blamed on Chinese companies which sought to build market share by under-cutting competitors.

References:
a) Renewables 2012 Global Status Report
b) PVinsights
c) France24 Internation News

Yingli to be largest solar panel manufacturer in 2012

Final data for 2012 is not yet out, but for 2011 top solar module players are Suntech, First Solar, Yingli, Trina and Canadian Solar, in that order. According to Solarbuzz, the top 5 manufacturers in 2012 is expected to remain the same except that Yingli is tipped to be number one for the first time.

Yingli Green Energy, a Chinese solar manufacturer, has more than 20 subsidiaries and branch offices worldwide, including one in Singapore although none in Malaysia.

Poised for No.1 spot

World's largest panel manufacturer

Yingli expects 2012 panel shipments of more than 2.2GW, exceeding an earlier forecast of 2.1GW to 2.2GW. At that volume, Yingli expects to become the world’s largest panel maker. This feat would be at the expense of Suntech, the world number one for the past two consecutive years.

“According to public data to date, we believe Yingli has evolved into the largest PV module supplier” -  Miao Liansheng, Chairman and CEO of Yingli Green Energy in early January 2013.

Will it come to Malaysia?

Yingli distributes its PV modules to a wide range of markets, including Germany, Spain, Italy, Greece, France, South Korea, China, Japan and the United States, with domestic sales contributing to its increased shipment.

European markets for Chinese solar panel have declined and the 'anti-dumping' duties imposed by the US on Chinese imports means that Yingli (and many other China-based manufacturers) will have to look for new markets.

Southeast Asia is one of these markets and you will not be too surprised if PV panels installed on your solar rooftop under SEDA Feed-in Tariff scheme are Yingly products.

I suppose with the reputation as top manufacturer, you will not be far from right choosing Yingli when you install your grid-connected solar power. I may still be wrong though, as many of the Approved Licensed Installers in Malaysia choose either US or German made modules.

Global Wind Installations: China dominates in 2011

Amazing reality!

No matter from which perspective you look at it, China's wind power is marching in leaps and bounds leaving the few pioneer in wind energy. As you may remember, China's wind initiative started less than 10 years ago, and it is now the world leader.

Isn't China an economic powerhouse that need to be reckoned with? I mean in renewable energy industry.

Wind farm in Yantai, China. Photo credit:news.sciencemag.org

Asia Report: China Dominates 2011 Global Wind Installations
via REW
China dominated the global wind market in 2011, installing three times as many wind rotor blades on its wind farms than the U.S., its closest rival.

According to research published by Global Data, China held 59 percent of the global market in 2011, with 37,385 installations, compared to just 18 percent of the market, with 11,085.

The data comes as China’s deputy director of the National Energy Bureau (NEB) predicted the nation’s grid-connected wind capacity will exceed 60 GW by the end of this year, making wind power the third largest power source in China, after thermal power and hydropower. By the end of June, China had 52.58 GW of wind capacity connected to the grid.

But China's wind companies have all struggled this year as installations were slowed by the government as a result of grid-access issues, said NEB deputy director Liu Qi. He told a conference in Beijing that China would innovate by adapting to the intermittent characteristics of wind power generation. The country will use more wind power for heating in winter, irrigation of farmland and have more wind power consumed locally.

Liu added that China should enhance cooperation with other countries with advanced wind power technologies. Chinese wind power companies should strengthen innovation capacity and participate in establishing international norms and rules.

The Global Data analysts predicted that global cumulative wind power installed capacity will show steady growth until the end of the decade, increasing to 658 GW by the end of 2020 from 238 GW last year. It also noted that blades for offshore wind farms will take a far greater slice of the market. In 2011 blades destined for offshore wind farms accounted for just 1 percent of the global market — by 2020 this will rise to 11 percent.

Market researchers BTM said about 470 MW of new offshore wind capacity was brought online last year, comprising of 127 turbines in four countries, with the UK and China representing the two largest markets.

By 2016, the global offshore market will expand 5.6 GW annually, with a quarter of the capacity going up in Asia. And by 2021 China will be the world’s largest market, followed by the UK and Germany — with Europe still accounting for 63% of the overall market, BTM predicts. - Wind Energy News.

China grid-scale energy storage: Outlook in 2012-2016

What's with the huge interest on China's RE initiatives?

Because it is fast becoming leader in renewables, and it has the world’s largest declared investment in renewable energy; no matter how you look at it. Rightly so because this year, China’s electric grid will become the largest in the world in terms of both installed generation capacity and electricity produced.

These facts, according to Greentechmedia, suggest that China is also the most attractive market for energy storage in the world, even though China currently has just 4% of the worldwide energy storage capacity. Japan has the largest installed energy storage capacity at 42% of the cake. This does not take into account pumped hydroelectric.

World's installed energy storage capacity, excluding pumped hydroelectric. Source: GTM


China's focus

Whereas other markets have focused on power quality and ancillary services, GTM noted that China’s grid energy storage market has developed with a focus on renewable energy integration, load-shifting and peak shaving. Azure International and GTM Research forecast that pumped hydro storage capacity will double or triple by 2016 to reach 40-60 GW, while other storage technologies will rise from currently insignificant levels to over 700 MW installed by 2016. Refer to the following Figure:

World's overall energy storage installed capacity, excluding pumped hydroelectric. Energy storage is dominated by Li-Ion and Pb-Acid. Source: GTM


With strong government support and steadily improving technology, GTM anticipate the energy storage market will grow to a US$500 million per year market by 2016.

Credit: There is a full report of the research carried out by GTM Research that you can download for a fee. IFor me, this introductory info is sufficient as I don't have any need for details right now. But for those interested, the more than 140 pages report can be downloaded at Report.


Glossary:

Energy storage - accomplished by devices or physical media that store energy  (potential energy or
                           kinetic energy) to perform useful operation at a later time.

Grid energy storage - a method used to store electricity on a large scale within an electrical power grid.

Pumped hydroelectric - a method used to stores energy in the form of water, pumped from a lower
                          elevation reservoir to a higher elevation. When electrical demand is high, the stored
                          water is released through turbines.

Missile on a rooftop?

"Don't you dare come near"

Source: Wired Aperture

China won the 7th Sabah International Folklore Festival (SIFF 2012) competition

Young Chinese dancers did it again. Emcee, Gan Po Tiau announced that the troupe from China also won the Prime Award last year.

The dance troupe called Zhu Hai Hansen Dancing Group did enough to convince the jurors that they are the team to beat when they emerged champions in the 18-country folkdance competition. I don't quite get the point of competing a folkdance against another, as every single one is unique, beautiful in its way. But I suppose the organiser has another idea and perhaps it is a way to put some sort of pressure on every competing troupe.

Chinese contingent receiving their trophy

Day-1: cheeky performance

Day-1

Day-2: love story

Day-2: One of the tricks up their sleeves during the performance

Day-2

Many, many congratulation to the victorious team!

See you again next year.