Renewable energy, Beijing's new 'weapon' in the South China Sea
A state research institute in Guangzhou is working on integrated offshore power plants based on the combined use of wave, wind and solar energy to create self-sufficient communities of up to a thousand people. The goal is to boost China’s presence on the artificial islands it created, and boost its claims to the sea, which are challenged by other countries in Southeast Asia.
Beijing (AsiaNews) – In the increasingly open confrontation over the disputed South China Sea, China is preparing to mobilise one of the best weapons it has, namely its superiority in renewable energy systems.
Beijing is apparently working on large-scale technologies capable of powering settlements or military garrisons even in the high seas. This would be very useful within the so-called nine-dash line, the "border" it unilaterally drew, challenged by the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei, which see it as a violation of their sovereignty in areas that are economically and strategically very important.
The South China Morning Post today reports that the Guangzhou Institute of Energy Conversion (GIEC) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences is studying the feasibility of integrated systems of energy sources based on wave motion, wind turbines, and solar panels to meet the daily needs of users and support development in disputed waters.
“This initiative builds on the GIEC’s earlier endeavours in wave-energy power generation devices, addressing energy shortages during the remote island development process,” said Wang Zhenpeng, an associate professor and member of the GEIC team.
The team does not mention any outposts in the South China Sea, but it is known that in the last decade China has transformed small atolls into artificial islands, especially in the Spratly and Paracel.
Still, essential services like electricity, communications and fresh water are in short supply at many of these outposts, where diesel generators pose a logistical and environmental challenge.
One example is the Philippines. To keep its outposts in this sea manned, it is forced to organise naval supply missions that often become sources of tensions with the Chinese Coast Guard.
Solar and wind energy alone are not a complete solution, because they are not able to produce energy in every situation. Conversely, “wave energy can be harvested throughout the year, unaffected by day, night, or cloud cover, making it a consistent and stable energy source,” Wang explained.
One of the systems developed by the GIEC is the Nankun power generator, installed in June last year in the southern city of Zhuhai (Guangdong province), which the institute estimates could meet the needs of a community of a thousand.
This would theoretically make it possible to build a real town on the new artificial islands.
“Chinese wave energy collection technology is now at an international leading level,” said Chen Yong, a member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering.
GIEC researchers have already used wave energy to power aquaculture projects with the institute’s Penghu platform, which can submerge during typhoons to avoid damage.
Wang said the institute has already received orders for 20 such platforms from five provinces.
The plan now is to improve their integration into offshore platforms, including wind and solar power and energy storage, to expand energy supplies to the islands in the South China Sea.
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