The Beijing-based China Aviation Industry Gas Turbine Power — CAREC — has signed contracts to build a 300MW wind power project for about RMB3 billion in Longjiang county, Qiqhar, Heilongjiang province.
The project’s initial phase will require RMB470 million and reach an installed capacity of 49.5MW.
JLM Pacific Epoch states the initial phase is scheduled to start construction in May 2010 and finish construction later that year.
But what does in mean in terms of total power output?
MW is a megawatt which is equal to one million watts.
A large residential or commercial building may consume several megawatts in electric power and heating energy. Which suddenly makes 49.5MW look respectable but not the answer to a power shortage.
U.S. nuclear power plants have net summer capacities between about 500 and 1300MW.
So this project will produce enough for, say, a town. But not a city. China is moving to solve the power crisis and go green. But this is one small step, albeit and important one.