China’s energy demand continues to grow rapidly, in which 70% is met with coal and 19% with oil. However, the government has committed to reduce energy intensity as well as increase the use of renewable energy (CCEP Wind-Power Corporation). During China’s 13th Five Year Plan on Energy Development, they unveiled ambitions to generate 20% of its energy from renewable sources by 2030 (2017, Gardiner; Government of China, 2017).
In 2009, China has identified wind energy as a key growth component in its economic stimulus package (Gow, 2009). In addition, research done by Harvard and Tsinghua University show that it is entirely possible for wind energy alone to accommodate the country’s entire demand for electricity in the near future (Rutter, 2009). However, while wind generation has a positive outlook, currently, there are only 37 wind turbines installed offshore while there are 273 wind turbines installed on land (CECEP, CWEA, & British Embassy Beijing, 2014).
Due to China’s large landmass and long coastline, China has exceptional potential for wind power (European Wind Energy Association, 2009). This project aims to locate areas suitable for off shore wind generation, and will be done through a Multi-Criteria Evaluation (MCE) that meet the standards wind of wind power generations based on wind speed, depth, and distance from shoreline.