Shanghai, an economic powerhouse in eastern China, is bracing for an offshore wind power project with a designed capacity of 100,000 kw, according to the municipal economic and trade commission.

Chen Zhenqian, with the commission's department of energy saving and environmental protection, said the project, to be located at both sides of the East China Sea Bridge, would be the largest offshore wind power station in the nation.

Scores of wind-driven generators, each with an installed capacity of 3,000 kw, will be built for the project in the coming five years, Chen said.

Generally speaking, according to Chen, the construction cost of a wind power station is twice that of an onshore one, which is already as high as about 10,000 yuan (1,205 US dollars) for every kilowatt of power generating capacity.

Chen said bids would be invited for the project, which would take investment in various forms. The investment would be returned in 10-20 years, Chen added, though failing to give the exact amount of the input needed.

Shanghai is becoming a mega-metropolis with a shortage of energy supply. It is imperative for the municipality to use more renewable energy, according to Jiao Yang, spokesman for the municipal government.

Shanghai has built four wind-driven generators each with an installed capacity of 850 kw in the Fengxian District. Two wind power stations with a combined capacity of 20 million watts in Chongming and Nanhui counties will be put into operation in mid July. It is forecast that 20 million kw/h of power will be generated by windmill projects in Shanghai this year.

(Xinhua News Agency July 7, 2005)