China’s Impact on the Global Wind Power Industry

China’s economic rise has transformed the global economy in a number of manufacturing industries. This paper investigates whether China’s transformative influence extends to the new green economy. Drawing on the debate about how China is driving major economic changes in the world – the “Asian drive...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Rasmus Lema, Axel Berger, Hubert Schmitz
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SAGE Publishing 2013-01-01
Series:Journal of Current Chinese Affairs
Subjects:
300
330
Online Access:http://journals.sub.uni-hamburg.de/giga/jcca/article/view/591
Description
Summary:China’s economic rise has transformed the global economy in a number of manufacturing industries. This paper investigates whether China’s transformative influence extends to the new green economy. Drawing on the debate about how China is driving major economic changes in the world – the “Asian drivers” debate – it identifies five corridors of influence and investigates their relevance for the wind energy industries. Starting with the demand side, it suggests that the size and rapid growth of the Chinese market have a major influence on competitive parameters in the global wind power industry. While Western firms have found ways of participating in the growth of the Chinese market, the government’s procurement regimes benefit Chinese firms. The latter have invested heavily and learned fast, accumulating production capabilities that have led to changes in the global pecking order of lead firms. While the combined impact of Chinese market and production power is already visible, other influences are beginning to be felt – arising from China’s coordination, innovation and financing power.
ISSN:1868-1026
1868-4874