China delivers wind turbine tax breaks

The Chinese government's attempts to position the country as a clean tech hub took a step forward last week after the Ministry of Finance announced it has begun refunding value added tax and import duties on wind turbine parts and materials.

The ministry said in a statement that the rebate would be backdated back to the start of the year, adding the aim of the move was to accelerate the development of clean energy in the country.

Meanwhile, according to China Daily reports, the government is to cancel its tariff-free policy on imports of wind turbines with a capacity of less than 2.5 megawatts as part of an apparent attempt to further bolster the strength Chinese wind turbine manufacturers the ministry said it.

The move is a latest in a series of initiatives designed to help China meet its target of ensuring 10 per cent of energy comes from renewable sources by 2010. Under a strategy unveiled last year by the Chinese National Development and Reform Commission the government plans to generate 190 million kilowatts from hydropower, 10 million kilowatts from wind, and 5.5 million from biomass by 2010.

In related news, analyst firm Point Carbon has reported that official government figures show that has closed 83 small coal-fired power plants so far in 2008, cutting carbon dioxide emissions by an estimated 14.2 million tonnes.