The application prospects of decentralized wind power still need time to observe
September 12 11:37:32, 2025
The introduction of decentralized wind power over the past two years has reached a critical point. Looking ahead, it's expected to experience rapid growth and eventually become the dominant model for parallel wind power development. Is the industry fully prepared for this shift?
On October 17, the second day of the Beijing International Wind Energy Conference, room 103 on the first floor of the New International Exhibition Center was packed with attendees eager to discuss the potential of China's "decentralized wind power" movement. The conversation was lively, highlighting both optimism and skepticism about the future of this emerging model.
Supporters argue that decentralized wind power, integrated into the distribution network, reduces transmission losses and minimizes grid impact. It offers a new pathway for the wind power industry. Jin Shen, an engineer from Shanghai Electric Wind Energy Co., Ltd., explained, “Decentralized wind power is smaller and closer to load centers, which helps solve the issue of wind curtailment. It’s a breakthrough for developers.â€
However, skeptics believe that without a fundamental change in the power structure and mindset, both centralized and decentralized models will still face challenges in grid integration, leading to continued wind curtailment issues.
Shi Lishan, deputy director of the Department of Renewable Energy at the National Energy Administration, emphasized that China will no longer focus solely on large-scale wind farms but will instead encourage decentralized development. These projects are located near load centers and are connected directly to the local grid for local consumption.
Although the policy supports decentralized wind power as a solution to grid integration challenges, its real-world application remains uncertain. So far, there are only a few demonstration projects, and their success is yet to be proven.
Two years ago, the National Energy Administration issued guidelines encouraging wind companies to explore decentralized models, aiming to break the traditional concentration of wind power expansion. Despite impressive growth in installed capacity, challenges like overcapacity and quality issues have emerged.
Experts suggest that decentralized wind power can help integrate scattered wind resources into existing grids, offering more flexibility and reducing long-distance transmission. However, despite government support, many projects remain in the planning stages.
One example is the Huaneng Dingbian project, the first officially grid-connected decentralized wind farm, which uses a local distribution network to balance wind generation. Another is the Hami project in Xinjiang, which connects to a substation and supplies local mines.
Despite these efforts, enthusiasm among developers remains mixed. Challenges include high costs, complex approval processes, and the need for grid upgrades. Additionally, legal constraints around electricity sales by distributed generators pose further barriers.
Industry experts stress the need for collaboration between government, developers, and grid companies to ensure the success of decentralized wind power. As the country pushes for a shift toward renewable energy, the role of coal power may also evolve, creating space for wind energy to thrive.
With continued policy support and technological advancements, decentralized wind power could reshape the future of China’s energy landscape, offering a sustainable and efficient alternative to traditional large-scale wind farms.