China home-grown wind turbines to target European market

China has launched production of wind turbines based on domestically-developed intellectual property, with the intention of creating an export market in Europe.

The turbines were designed by Hohai University in Nanjing, which claims that its 10kW vertical axis model operates with less noise and lower maintenance costs than the more commonly used horizontal axis design.

The China Association for Science and Technology, which announced the development last week through state-run Xinhua news agency, did not provide production targets or name the companies that are manufacturing the equipment.

The news closely follows the exit of Acciona from its China wind turbine manufacturing venture. The Spanish company cited differences in strategy with its Chinese partner and a China market that is primarily focused on developing domestic companies as the reasons behind its move.

Acciona’s former venture partner, China Energine International, said it planned to conduct independent research and development to produce wind turbines using its own technology.

China is home to about 100 wind turbine producers, which mostly rely on core technologies from foreign companies such as Suzlon and Vestas, which are among the overseas players with operations in the nation.

According to Chinese media, the government views the local development of core wind turbine technology and equipment as a vital step in advancing home-grown companies, both domestically and overseas.

Foreign companies have already fallen out of the top three suppliers for China wind farms, possibly due in part to the government’s controversial “buy Chinese” policy.

It is likely that officials view overseas exports by the sector as the next stage of advancement, following in the footsteps of China’s solar panel industry, which sells more than 95 per cent of its output to Europe and the US.