China could become world wind energy giant

BEIJING, Oct. 21 (UPI) -- With the right investments, wind power could increase from 1 percent of the energy mix in China to 17 percent by 2050, a joint report from Beijing concluded.

A report prepared by the National Development and Reform Commissions Energy Research Institute, in cooperation with the International Energy Agency, determined China could have 1,000 gigawatts of wind energy in its grid by 2050.

This represents a 16 percent increase from current levels and would reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 1.5 gigatons per year, the report said. That's roughly the 2009 equivalent of Germany, France and Italy's combined CO2 emissions, the IEA stated.

Wang Zhongying, deputy director general of the research institute, said that scenario would put wind energy alongside coal and nuclear power.

"It will play a vital role in China's energy supply and in our efforts to address climate change," he said in a statement.

The IEA said that to achieve those goals, Beijing would have to invest $200 billion through 2050.

China is the world's largest wind energy market, having passed the United States last year.