China Wind Power Programme – Applied Research and Training
Project description: China Wind Power Programme (CWPP) – Applied Research and Training, Phase II
Brief description
The project aims to improve the environment for the sustainable development and efficient utilization of wind energy in China. For this purpose, selected key institutions and disseminators are supported with capacity-building measures in the technical and regulatory field.
Project facts
| Project title |
'China Wind Power Programme (CWPP) – Phase II ' (German: Programm Windenergie – Angewandte Forschung und Ausbildung, Phase II) |
| Commissioned by |
Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) |
| Political Partners | Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China (MOE), State Grid Corporation of China (SGCC), China Guodian Corporation (Guodian) |
| Implementation Partners | Subcommittee for Renewable Energies of the Didactical Committee for Energy, under the Ministry of Education (MOE), China Electric Power Research Institute (CEPRI), China Long Yuan Power Group (CLYPG) |
| Overall term | 2010 to 2014 (Phase I: 2005 to 2010) |
Objective
The China Wind Power Programme improves the conditions for sustainable development and efficient utilization of wind energy in China. For this purpose, selected key institutions and disseminators are supported with capacity-building measures with regard to technical questions like grid integration as well as policy advice on regulatory issues. One main focus is the development of curricula and the standardization of vocational education and advanced training for wind energy service technicians. Furthermore, workshops and professional dialogs for grid integration of renewable energies and efficient planning, construction, and operation of wind farms are organized.
Context
In China’s electricity supply, coal is still the number-one energy source: around 80% of electric power is generated in coal-fired power plants. With the introduction of the Chinese Renewable Energy Law in 2006, the Chinese government tried to reduce this dependence on fossil fuels. In the beginning of 2010, in the context of international climate negotiations China set itself a target of a 15% renewable energy share in total primary energy consumption by 2020.
Since 2005, the wind energy’s generation capacity was drastically expanded. At project start, wind parks with a total capacity of 1.3 GW were installed; until end of June 2011, the capacity reached had already 52 GW. However, only two thirds of wind parks are grid connected. Wind farm planning, grid access and integration, as well as operation and maintenance of turbines are major technical and regulatory challenges for Chinese utilities and grid operators. If not addressed properly, these challenges may affect the continued success of wind energy as an alternative source of energy for China.
Approach
The project mainly focuses on four working areas in four components:
- Policy advice on renewable energy and leadership dialogue
- Applied research and training for grid integration of wind farms
- Training of operation & maintenance personnel and applied research in the field of wind farm management and operation
- Development of curriculums, piloting and standardization for professional education of wind power operation & maintenance staff (at vocational colleges)
The programme supports the Sino-German bilateral cooperation in key policy issues of re-newable energy promotion and utilization with workshops and seminars for policymakers as well as representatives of think tanks and influential institutions. One major issue to be ad-dressed is the regulatory environment for grid integration of renewable energies.
In cooperation with the implementation partner China Electric Power Research Institute (CEPRI), trainings for wind farm planning, wind power forecast, measuring and testing methods, and grid integration are conducted. These measures are complemented by study tours and workshops. The participants are employees of utilities, wind farm as well as grid operators.
The implementation partner China Longyuan Power Group (CLYPG) is supported in establishing a new training centre for advanced training of wind energy service technicians. This process is accompanied by advisory in terms of professional, didactical, and organizational concept development. Furthermore, the Suzhou Longyuan Bailu Wind Power Training Center established in the first phase is supported with professional consulting to extend its range of training courses for operation and maintenance technicians. The measures for professional exchange and training for engineers of CLYPG and other wind farm operators are targeted to cover the explicit demand of wind farm operators for knowledge in this field.
Together with the Ministry of Education the further development and standardization of a curriculum for the professional/vocational education and accordingly the specialization “wind energy service technician” is supported. Chosen institutions of higher education (vocational colleges) participate in a pilot programme for practical education based on German experience. Measures include professional and didactical training of teaching staff, competence enhancement of directors and management personnel, and the definition and control of quality standards for vocational and advanced training.
Components two, three, and four are implemented on behalf of GIZ by the consulting company MVV decon GmbH.
Impact
Grid operators, utilities, as well as political decision makers are supported in managing the expansion and utilization of wind energy capacities in China more efficiently. Thus, the project makes an important contribution to strengthening renewable energies as a part of the Chinese power mix.
The programme has contributed to the establishment of stronger ties between major players in the Chinese wind energy sector, facilitating urgently needed coordination work. Through the programme, the mutual understanding of our partners Longyuan and State Grid was improved and a fertile foundation for further cooperation was created. With the beginning of the second phase, the Ministry of Education and selected vocational colleges, offering the specialization of wind energy service technicians, joined the programme. With linking up colleges with each other and with wind farm operators and industry associations, first successes were already achieved. At present, three vocational colleges jointly work on the development of a standardized curriculum for wind energy service technicians. During the piloting of said curriculum, the practical experiences of the most advanced courses will be shared among the group.
Contact:
Dr. Sven-Uwe Müller (sven-uwe.mueller[at]giz.de)
Programme Director Renewable Energy, GIZ China
