POWER October 2013 - 10

China Cancels 2-GW Coal Plant on
Pollution Concerns
In a noteworthy measure this August, Chinese authorities
scrapped proposals for a 2-GW coal-fired power plant, citing-for
the first time-concerns about air pollution. And as the authorities
in Baguang, eastern Shenzhen, asked the Shenzhen Energy
Group to stop preparatory work for construction of the new coalfired
plant, the city announced it would not put forward any new
plans to build coal power plants in the future.
The development is noteworthy because China has plans to
build up to 558 GW of new coal-fired capacity in China-representing
a 73% increase in the energy-intensive nation's 2011
thermal power capacity-according to the World Research Institute.
But it does not come entirely as a surprise because the
nation has been taking astonishing strides to address its widespread
pollution problems.
In March, the country's National Development and Reform Commission
(NDRC) called for greater efforts to reduce the discharge
of major pollutants. Since then, small gains have been seen as
filters have been installed on its massive coal-fired power fleet.
The Ministry of Environmental Protection also recently said it
would hold accountable those officials who fail in their duty to
cope with air pollution this winter.
On the renewables front, China as a whole has also made gains.
It has established a goal of increasing its use of nonfossil energy
to 15% of primary energy consumption by 2020 and has greatly
increased wind power over the past several years.
Meanwhile, Beijing in September unveiled another set of measures,
including limiting the number of new vehicles on the roads
and closing or upgrading the facilities of nearly 1,200 companies,
to curb its own pollution problems, which have in the past set off
international alarms. The city experienced the worst of bouts of
dense smog that enveloped half the country in January, recording
peak fine particulate levels of 993 micrograms per cubic meter-
almost 40 times more than the World Health Organization's 24hour
average standard (Figure 2).
Pollution concerns are resulting in rigid policy measures from a
number of surprising countries. Russian President Vladimir Putin
in July signed new rules to drastically increase financial penalties
for breaking national and air water pollution laws. The new
rules, applicable to businesses, sole proprietors, organizations,
2. In a haze. China has made astonishing strides in addressing
widespread air pollution concerns. This image shows air pollution at
Victoria Harbor in Hong Kong in 2007. Source: Wikimedia Commons
legal entities, and officials within those legal entities, seek to
help the country transition to cleaner technologies, according
to some experts. Others say the higher fines may appease the
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, which
has recommended Russia increase sanctions to reduce illegal pollution
as part of its admittance to the organization that oversees
the International Energy Agency.
And in June, the U.S. released a climate action plan to reduce
greenhouse gas emissions about 17% below 2005 levels if all
other major economies agreed to limit their emissions as well.
Measures outlined in the plan include directing the Environmental
Protection Agency to work " expeditiously " to complete carbon
pollution standards proposed in April 2012 for new power
plants-and to set up carbon rules for existing plants.
Japan Prepares to Float Offshore Wind
Industry
A prototype 100-kW floating wind turbine that has been tested
off Nagasaki near Japan's Kabashima Island since May 2012 is
slated to be replaced by a full-scale, grid-connected 2-MW wind
turbine this fall. The demonstration backed by Japan's Ministry
of Environment, Kyoto University, Fuji Heavy Industries, Toda
Construction, and the National Maritime Research Institute of
Japan features a floating spar buoy wind turbine built by Japan
Steel Works and Hitachi. Following initial operation and data collection,
the project will be upgraded to a Fuji Heavy Industries
2-MW wind turbine. The project will mark a major point of progress
for the world's infant deep water offshore wind industry.
According to a new report from the European Wind Energy Association,
at the end of 2012, 1,662 turbines totaling 5 GW of installed
offshore wind capacity were spread across 55 wind farms in
10 European countries. But, with the exception of two turbines,
Europe's grid-connected offshore wind turbines rely on fixed foundations,
and the vast majority of those are on monopile foundations,
the organization notes. Gravity-based substructures are the secondmost-common
foundation type, followed by space frame structures.
Only Statoil's 2.3-MW Hywind project-the world's first large-scale
floating wind structure installed in 2009 in Norway-and the 2-MW
Windfloat, installed off the Portuguese coast in 2011 by Principle
Power and EDP, are installed on floating substructures.
At least six experimental floating structures are in a test phase
globally: SeaTwirl, SWAY, Blue H, and Poseidon in Europe; the
WindLens in Japan; and the DeepCwind floating turbine in the
U.S. Another 35 designs for water depths of more than 50 meters
are under development worldwide. The majority (60%) are located
in Europe, 10% are in the U.S., and 23% are in Japan.
Experts say deep water offshore wind potential in the U.S. is
immense, owing to long coastlines and a good wind resource,
but there are no offshore wind farms operating to date. In May
2013, the University of Maine and the DeepCwind consortium-
comprising 30 companies-put online the first 20-kW prototype
(Figure 3). Also, the Department of Energy has announced $168
million in funding over the next six years for seven offshore wind
demonstration projects-including three floating projects.
In Japan, which has the world's sixth-largest Exclusive Economic
Zone and a long maritime heritage, more than 80% of
offshore wind energy resources are located in deep waters. The
country's government has been funding research on deep offshore
structures for more than two decades, but interest has kicked up
since the March 2011 Fukushima nuclear accident as the government
focuses on putting online more renewables. An estimated 5
GW to 6 GW have been envisioned for the country by 2030.
10
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POWER October 2013

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