Wenzhou aims big for new energy industry

The coastal city of Wenzhou in East China's Zhejiang province is spearheading the development of its new energy industry, local media outlets reported.

Statistics show that above-designated-size (those with annual sales revenue of 297.6 million or more) new energy enterprises in Wenzhou generated 113 billion yuan ($16.81 billion) in total output in 2021. The total value of Wenzhou's new energy industry also saw year-on-year growth of 11.7 percent in the first quarter of this year.

The vast 11,000 square kilometers of sea area and 53,333 hectares of tidal flats, which are capable of generating abundant wind and solar energy, are an essential part of Wenzhou's new energy drive.

For example, the city invested in more than 1.4 million photovoltaic modules in a fish farm of about 4.7 sq km in 2021, turning the tidal flat area into a power station with an installed capacity of 550 megawatts.

The project contributes to an increase of 26 percent in clean energy power generation in the Wenzhou Power Grid, equivalent to cutting 648,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions a year by replacing thermal power generation.

Wenzhou is also bringing in new projects to stimulate the new energy industry.

For example, agreements for 12 new energy projects receiving 125.8 billion yuan in investment were signed on April 28 and are expected to generate 188.9 billion yuan in combined annual output.

Among the projects is a 43-billion-yuan floating carbon neutral headquarters facility for wind power generated from deep waters and high seas in Wenzhou. The project will center on the wind power generator manufacturing industry while bringing in supporting enterprises for the industrial chain.

A number of traditional and emerging industries also expressed eagerness to boost the development of new energy in Wenzhou.

For example, Chinese automaker Weltmeister came to Wenzhou and established an intelligent manufacturing base at the Oujiang River Estuary, making it the first rising automaker to build its own factory

The new base helped Wenzhou strengthen auto research and manufacturing and it has since then attracted a number of companies to help enrich the city's new energy vehicle industrial chain.

Wenzhou's NEV industry is currently capable of manufacturing 12 types of more than 5,000 series of products. There are also 11 provincial-level intelligent workshops and 14 provincial-level enterprise technology centers in the city. (Zhongxin)