China Makes Huge Breakthrough in Wind Power Technology
Zijun Li July 4, 2006 5:53am
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Chinese developers unveiled the worlds first full-permanent
magnetic levitation (Maglev) wind power generator at the Wind Power
Asia Exhibition 2006 held June 28 in Beijing, according to Xinhua
News. Regarded as a key breakthrough in the evolution of global
wind power technologyand a notable advance in independent
intellectual property rights in Chinathe generator was jointly
developed by Guangzhou Energy Research Institute under Chinas
Academy of Sciences and by Guangzhou Zhongke Hengyuan Energy
Science & Technology Co., Ltd.
The Maglev generator is expected to boost wind energy generating
capacity by as much as 20 percent over traditional wind turbines.
This would effectively cut the operational expenses of wind farms
by up to half, keeping the overall cost of wind power under 0.4
yuan ($US 5 cents), according to Guokun Li, the chief scientific
developer of the new technology. Further, the Maglev is able to
utilize winds with starting speeds as low as 1.5 meters per second
(m/s), and cut-in speeds of 3 m/s, the chief of Zhongke Energy was
quoted as saying at the exhibition. When compared with the
operational hours of existing wind turbines, the new technology
will add an additional 1,000 hours of operation annually to wind
power plants in areas with an average wind speed of 3 m/s.
Xinhua News reports that more than 70 million households in China
lack access to electricity, with most of them living in areas
unconnected to power grids. The widely scattered nature of rural
localities makes it difficult to supply grid-based power to these
areas. The use of the full-permanent Maglav generator could
potentially fill the power void in these locations by harnessing
low-speed wind resources that were previously untappable.
With an increasing number of Chinese and international investors
joining the global booming wind power market, the technology is
expected to create new opportunities in low-wind-speed areas
worldwide such as mountain regions, islands, observatories, and
television transfer stations. In addition, the Maglev generator
will be able to provide roadside lighting along highways by
utilizing the airflow generated from vehicles passing by, said
Xinhua News.
The global wind power market has seen tremendous growth in recent
years, with Germany, Spain, and the United States ranking as the
top producers in 2005. The output of wind turbines is increasing
rapidly thanks to the worlds ramped-up wind power capacity. Global
sales of wind power equipment reached $10 billion in 2004 and are
estimated to reach $49 billion per year by 2012, reports Worldwatch
researcher Janet Sawin
http://www.worldwatch.org/node/4217
http://www.greengeek.ca/2006/07/08/magnetic-levitation-wind-turbines/
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2006/07/china_unveils_w.php
http://www.speciesatrisk2004.ca/china-wind-power.php