Central planning makes lots of things easier — including renewable energy.
China is upping its target for wind power to 100 gigawatts from 30 gigawatts. The new number equates to about 100 nuclear plants (yes, we know) and more generation capacity than in all of France. From the Shanghai Daily:

“The NDRC has just recently completed an internal meeting to discuss the possibility of increasing wind power capacity to 100,000MW,” Shi Pengfei, vice president of Chinese Wind Energy Association said, referring to the National Development and Reform Commission, China’s top industry planning body. “It’s not 20,000MW or 30,000MW as previously targeted.”

How much is that? The entire world had installed 94 gigawatts of wind power at the end of last year. Germany, the most wind power-friendly country on earth, has about 20 gigawatts. The U.S., one of the fastest-growing wind-power markets, has 16 gigawatts. And wait—it could go higher, if China sorts out wind-power subsidies. The paper notes:

It has been projected China’s wind capacity could reach as high as 120,000MW, or equal to the capacity of five Three Gorges dams, by 2020 if the state reforms a subsidy system to give wind power larger premiums over coal.

Why so much wind? China wants to get 15% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2020. But other than large hydropower projects—like Three Gorges–there aren’t a lot of alternatives to wind power. Solar power in China is still in its infancy.

What’s that mean? It helps explain why Chinese officials are rushing to jumpstart the country’s wind-turbine manufacturing business—global supplies of wind turbines are tight, and shortages mean they’re pricey. But in the short term at least, more ambitious Chinese targets will likely mean even more pressure on global wind-turbine supplies.

It also opens another front for utilities eager to develop wind-power projects. For the past two years, cash-rich (and euro-denominated) European utilities have attacked the U.S. market. But uncertainty over the extension of clean-energy susidies in the U.S. could mean a fallow year.

Despite the recent tax reform meant to limit wind-turbine imports, China’s more ambitious goals could also open the doors for more joint ventures and local business for wind turbine makers like Vestas of Denmark, Suzlon of India, and Gamesa of Spain—all of whom have made China a key part of their global growth plans. And of course, General Electric hopes to make its energy business one of the group’s driving forces.

This message is listed on the Liaoning High Tech Energy Group web site (under “company news”) with a posting date of 7/22/09 (okay, I admit that it loses something in the mangled Google translation…opinions or alternative translations welcome):

AA asked the Thai Energy Group Co., Ltd Liaoning High-tech power plant project to expand the scope of contract

Liaoning High-tech companies to the Thai negotiating team AA feedback message: Thailand AA Hi-Tech Company, Liaoning Energy Group Co., Ltd. in the total power plant EPC contractor to expand the scope of the package.
Thailand AA contracting company requires that all power plants should not be limited to the host station, the main furnace lump-sum EPC Island.
Requirements of our six new power plant EPC lump-sum system (such as: construction systems, chemical water systems, output systems, electrical systems, thermal control systems, etc.).
The two sides confirmed the initial energy of Liaoning High-Tech Group Co., Ltd. as the main contractor, currently the two sides are to discuss business cooperation.

Whats the next megatrend of China for 2020?? 3 megatrends are going to emerge by 2020 and all require alot of new electrical capacity and electricity power. Most Chinese dream of owning a refrigerator and by 2020, alot of new refrigerators will be running in China as more and more of the countryside and cities get 24/7 power. Main reason most Chinese do NOT have a refrigerator as of yet is the lack of 24/7 power inside the cities and especially outside in the rural unpopulated areas away from big cities. Next up on the Chinese dream team for power consumption is electric plug in cars which take alot of plug in power and numbers suggest China will be producing over 100,000 per day by end of 2012 which will increase demands on the already overburdened power grid system. If you were given a wish list by most developing countries, air conditioning would be the luxury of choice but in a country of hundreds of milllion without 24/7 power, China wishes they could turn on the air conditioning !

How will China achieve this power is the main question faced by the Chinese government??? The answer may surprise you, its clean green power being built by China with the idea of producing 10% of all power by 2015 and 20% of all power by 2025. Can China actually produce this much power and especially green power??? The China stimulus plan indicates spending over 12 million per hour 24/7 for next five years so yes, CHINA can produce clean green power. APWR is going to benefit and those that invest today for 10 years out are going to prosper beyond comprehension. GE choosing APWR as a partner in wind power for China is first clue to own APWR. China government investing into Shenyang Power Alliance is 2nd clue to own APWR. Third clue is inside Chinese websites that indicate power projects coming in Nigeria, Sierra Leon, and Thailand along with others down the road. APWR is a must own for the 2020 timeframe if one can look into the future and THINK that long time frame.