by Xinhua writer Hong Zehua

GUANGZHOU, Dec. 4 (Xinhua) -- Shantou, a seaside city in south China's Guangdong Province, is taking center stage in the wind power industry as China pursues low-carbon and green development.

A 13-megawatt (MW) wind turbine, developed by Shanghai Electric, is awaiting testing near the sea. It is set to serve as the main model for an upcoming offshore wind farm in Shantou.

Shanghai Electric, a key player in wind turbine generators, began operations at its wind turbine factory in Shantou in 2019. Its products have undergone multiple upgrades, with the individual unit capacity ranging from the initial 7 MW to the current flagship model of 11 MW, and the upcoming deployment of 13 MW.

Zou Jianglong, director of quality at Shanghai Electric's Guangdong subsidiary, said the company is preparing to start mass production of 16 MW offshore wind turbines next year.

As China forges ahead with its green development strategy, Shantou stands as an example of the country's dedication to reducing carbon emissions and embracing a cleaner, more sustainable future.

Shantou, with rich wind resources, sees an annual offshore wind power utilization of nearly 4,000 hours, attracting major equipment manufacturers to establish a presence.

Shantou's first offshore wind farm, Nan'ao Lemen I operated by Datang Shantou New Energy Co., Ltd., has generated over 1.4 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity. Compared to traditional coal-fired power units, it can save 488,000 tonnes of standard coal and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 917,000 tonnes.

Highlighting the potential of Shantou's wind energy resources and vast market, Lou Shujun, general manager of Datang Shantou, said the company will continue to deepen its presence in the eastern Guangdong region, with Shantou as the core, and gradually expand its influence in Southeast Asia.

China has announced that it will peak carbon dioxide emissions by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2060. To reach this goal, relentless efforts are made to expand the clean energy industry and adopt renewable energy as a substitute, which creates a broad market for wind power.

China's installed capacity of clean energy surged this year. By the end of October, the installed capacity of wind power in the country stood at about 400 million kilowatts, representing a yearly increase of 15.6 percent, data from the National Energy Administration showed.

Shantou has captured global attention, as the wind power industry takes center stage. An international conference on wind power technology innovation took place in Shantou recently, attracting participants from countries such as Britain, Norway, the Netherlands, Thailand, and more.

The event served as a platform to discuss and explore future opportunities for international collaboration in this dynamic field.

Zhou Guiyang, vice president of the Thai-Chinese Exim Association, emphasized Thailand's strong commitment to energy transition and expressed keen interest in collaboration with Shantou in the offshore wind power sector.

"I am here to seek collaborative partners," Zhou said, adding that he looks forward to deeper cooperation between Thailand and Shantou to realize the implementation of more wind power projects. Enditem

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