THE gap between limited electrical power output capacity and increasing demand for electricity by the public has pushed professionals in the energy industry to seek effective solutions.

From nuclear power to solar power, some of these solutions are being put into practice in Shanghai, a metropolis where electric power is the lifeline for activities of all kinds. One such idea has captured the public's imagination, primarily because it is totally eco-friendly.

Along the tranquil coast of Fengxian District, four gigantic windmills overlook the East China Sea. These four windmills make up the first wind-power plant in Shanghai, which was financed and built by Shanghai New Energy Environmental Engineering Co Ltd. It went on-line in November, 2004 and its four Spanish-made generators immediately began cranking out up to 3,400 kilowatts of power per day.

Functions of the plant are monitored and controlled through a remote control system.

Initial steps

The wind-power plant was first proposed by Shanghai New Energy Environmental Engineering Co Ltd in July, 2003. The following February, after the proposal was granted by the Shanghai Development Planning Commission, the company signed a contract with Gamesa Eolice of Spain to purchase the necessary power generators. In May, 2004, work on the power plant began. It was finished on October 30 the same year.

The existing four windmills comprise only the initial phase of a wind power exploitation project. Two larger wind-power plants, to be located on the eastern end of Chongming Island and in the southeastern region of the Nanhui District, are expected to become operational this year. These two plants, financed with US$13 million from the World Bank, are owned by Shanghai Power Industrial and Commercial Company, a subsidiary of Shanghai Municipal Electric Power Company. Their combined output capacity will reach 21 megawatts per day.

Eco-friendly resource

Zhang Kaifa, the chief engineer of Shanghai New Energy Environmental Engineering Co Ltd, who is in charge of the Fengxian wind power plant, is optimistic about the future of wind power in China.

He believes that, because of the limited reserves of non-renewable energy resources, such as coal, renewable and cleaner methods will be applied to power generating in the future.

Comparative data provided by the International Energy Agency shows that the total reserves of crude oil in the world can only supply us for 40 years, the reserves of natural gas can only supply us for 50 years, and coal for 240 years. These figures indicate the necessity of introducing new forms of energy.

"Unlike other wind power plants, which were built in inland provinces of China, such as Xinjiang, the Fengxian wind power plant is the first one built in a large city like Shanghai. This presages a bright future for this kind of clean energy,?Zhang commented.

Workers at the Fengxian plant also have high expectations for the future of wind power. Xu Lizhong, a technician at the plant said: "After the plant was completed, it has worked well. Although this plant only provides local residents with electrical power, this clean and sustainable way of producing power should be developed aggressively in the future because of limited non-renewable natural resources. We even have built a small solar power plant here, which is also an eco-friendly method of power generation.?

Slight portion

Zhang also pointed out the problems that they are facing.

"The Fengxian wind power plant is not a large-scale power plant. Rather, it is like an experimental step, we're presently only supplying residents of the Fengxian District with electrical power, the plants to be built in Chongming and Nanhui will produce considerably more electricity. Still, when compared with the output capacity of traditional power plants, these wind power plants are far from being adequate,?said Zhang.

He pointed out that in Europe, especially in Germany, wind power has become a relatively practical alternative for power generation.

"In Germany, the output volume from wind power plants now provides 4 per cent of the total electricity output volume. This will drastically increase over the next 20 years. In China, on the other hand, the output from wind power plants only accounts for a very small proportion of power generation. It will take a long time for us to develop this type of new energy,?Zhang added.

According to statistics recently released by the National Business Daily, Shanghai Municipal Electric Power Company has predicted the maximum demand for electric output capacity this year will reach 18,800 megawatts. The gap between the output capacity of electrical generation facilities and demand for electricity will hit 4,200 megawatts.

Yet the initial investment in wind power is also a problem.

"The initial cost of investment in wind power plants is considerably higher than that for traditional thermal power plants. We have to invest in brand-new facilities and train new staff. Many parts of the facilities are imported from abroad, and they are relatively expensive. But all that aside, wind power generation is much cheaper and more eco-friendly than thermal power generation, because it requires little maintenance and management. Now we also have our own wind power equipment manufacturers, many of them in Shanghai.?

Tourist attraction

The wind power plant in Fengxian does not only provide electrical power for locals. The white shiny windmills situated on the coast also attract many tourists.

"Another concern for us when building windmills in Fengxian is the local tourism industry. Many people have never seen windmills before, they are attracted by them, especially in summer, because enjoying the breeze at the seaside and watching these giant windmills is a pleasing way to spend time,?Zhang said.

Some local residents also appreciate the booming tourism industry the windmills have brought. "Every weekend, a lot of people come from downtown Shanghai to Fengxian. My restaurant receives many customers. My wife and I are absolutely busy on those days. But we are very pleased because it brings us money,?said a local restaurant owner surnamed Zhang.

The sight of working windmills will become more familiar to Shanghai residents after the plants are finished on Chongming Island and in the Nanhui District. As Zhang Kaifa indicates, the economic and environmental benefits brought by this modern way of generating power will change our future significantly.