China installs 10,000 megawatts of wind

BEIJING, Nov. 6 (UPI) -- China's wind power capacity is on track to top 10,000 megawatts by the end of 2008.

The announcement came from the World Wildlife Fund and the Chinese Renewable Energy Industries Association, SinoCast reported. The 10,000-megawatt goal will be met two years ahead of schedule.

China is also expected to increase its wind power generation capacity to 30,000 megawatts in 2011 and to 80,000 megawatts in 2020.

Nearly $7 billion was invested in the Chinese wind power sector last year, and the industry is continuing to grow at a rapid pace.

In 2007 the nation's newly installed wind power generation capacity reached 3,400 megawatts, more than the previous 10 years, SinoCast reported.

The most recent numbers will put China in the position of the fifth-largest wind power generator in the world.