China Renewable Power Waste Worsens

The amount of electricity wasted by China's solar and wind power sectors rose significantly last year, environment group Greenpeace said in a research report published on Wednesday, despite government pledges to rectify the problem. China promised last year to improve what it called the "rhythm" of construction of power transmission lines and renewable generation to avoid "curtailment," which occurs when there is insufficient transmission to absorb the power generated by the renewable projects, Reuters reported. But Greenpeace said wasted wind power still rose to 17% of the total generated by wind farms last year, up from 8% in 2014. The amount that failed to make it to the grid was enough to power China's capital Beijing for the whole of 2015, it added. Wasted wind generation in the northwestern province of Gansu was 43% of the total generated last year, it said.