Beijing touts wind energy gains

BEIJING, Sept. 19 (UPI) -- Chinese wind energy capacity is expected to increase at least 15 gigawatts this year as part of an effort to expand green capacity, a report said.

The Chinese government aims to have 100 GW of installed wind capacity on the grid by 2015. A report released by the Chinese Renewable Energy Industries Association said its installed capacity of 17.6 GW of new wind power last year represented 43 percent of the world's total, the official Xinhua News Agency reports.

At least another 15 GW of installed wind power is expected on the grid this year, the report adds.

Overseas, the U.S. government in July filed a preliminary ruling that stated Chinese manufacturers were selling wind tower components at less than the cost of production. Similar complaints have emerged in Europe over solar panel components manufactured in China.

The Chinese report said China is the largest wind power producer.