DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.17404282
title: Suitable areas for wind farm construction in China: key data and feature analysis

description: Suitable areas for wind farm construction in China: key data and feature analysis

Wei Song¹, *, Xuyang Zhang²

1. Key Laboratory of Surface Pattern and Simulation, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101; 2. School of Earth and Environment, Anhui University of Science and Technology, Huainan 232001, Anhui Province

Abstract: This dataset is based on multi-dimensional data of China's physical geography and social economy, integrating core information such as the scope of unsuitable areas, distribution of suitable areas, and key influencing factors for wind farm construction. It provides basic data support for the optimal layout of wind farms and renewable energy planning in China. 63.08% of China's total land area is unsuitable for wind farm construction, mainly concentrated in the eastern and southern regions. The suitable area for wind farm construction in China is approximately 3.491 million km², with Xinjiang and Inner Mongolia being the provincial-level administrative regions with the largest suitable areas. Indicators such as wind speed, topographic slope, and distance to transmission lines play a key role in the suitability classification of wind farm construction. This dataset can be used for wind farm site selection optimization, regional energy structure transformation, and research related to the "dual-carbon" goals.

Keywords: China's wind farms; suitability assessment; spatial distribution; influencing factors; unsuitable areas

1.        Data Sources and Processing

1.1.       Basic Data

(1) Natural geographical data

Nature reserve data: Sourced from the Resource and Environment Science Data Platform.  

High-potential cultivated land data: With reference to land use remote sensing monitoring data and cultivated land productivity potential data, cultivated land ranked in the top 80% in terms of potential in 2020 was extracted.

Digital Elevation Model (DEM): Sourced from the Geospatial Data Cloud.

Meteorological data: Sourced from the Spatial Interpolation Dataset of China's Meteorological Elements.

(2) Socio-economic data

Population and GDP grid data: Sourced from the Resource and Environment Science Data Platform.

Transportation and power transmission data: Sourced from OpenStreetMap.

1.2.       Data Processing Methods

(1) Delineation of unsuitable areas

Based on four restrictive dimensions—ecology, structure, topography, and human settlements—spatial overlay analysis was used to exclude unsuitable areas.

(2) Suitability assessment

Index standardization: Indicators such as wind speed, slope, and transmission distance were normalized using the extremum method to eliminate differences in dimensions.

Comprehensive scoring: The suitability score was calculated using the weighted overlay method.

(3) Calculation of wind energy potential

Hub height wind speed: The 10m observed wind speed was extrapolated to the 100m hub height using the logarithmic wind profile formula.

Wind energy density: Calculated based on the assumption of Rayleigh wind speed distribution, combined with air density.

2.        Core Data Results

2.1  Data on Unsuitable Areas for Wind Farms in China

The characteristics of unsuitable areas for wind farm construction in China in 2020 are shown in Table 1.

Table 1 Unsuitable Areas for Wind Farms in China








Unsuitable types



Area (10,000 km²)



Proportion of total land area



Main distribution areas



Core restrictive factors





Ecological unsuitable areas



321.20



33.46%



Northwest, Northeast, Southwest Forest areas and nature reserves



Ecological protection policies, habitats of sensitive species





structural unsuitable areas



175.00



18.23%



North China Plain, Northeast China Plain, Chengdu Plain



Cultivated land protection, geological disaster risks





topographic unsuitable areas



92.68



9.65%



Central-southern Xinjiang, southeastern Tibet, western Sichuan



Slope > 30°, relief > 500m





human settlement unsuitable areas



7.54



0.79%



Northeast and eastern coastal populated areas



700m buffer of residential areas, noise impact





Total



596.42



63.08%



Eastern, southern and southwestern high-altitude areas



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2.2  Data on Suitable Areas for Wind Farms in China

The provincial distribution and characteristics of suitable areas for wind farms in China in 2020 are shown in Table 2.

Table 2 Suitable Areas for Wind Farms in China








Provincial-level administrative regions



Suitable area (10,000 km²)



Proportion of national suitable area



Characteristics of suitability grades



Core advantageous factors





Xinjiang



107.81



30.88%



Predominantly highly and moderately suitable areas, concentrated in the northern, central, and southern parts



High wind speed (>6m/s), gentle terrain





Inner Mongolia



77.64



22.24%



Highly suitable areas concentrated in the northern and central parts



High wind energy density (50-250W/m²), relatively complete power transmission network





Qinghai



47.85



13.71%



Predominantly moderately suitable areas, with the southern part adjacent to the Sichuan border



Sufficient land resources, low population density





Tibet



37.20



10.66%



Highly suitable areas distributed in the western and central parts



High wind energy potential at high altitudes





Gansu



22.35



6.40%



Moderately suitable areas concentrated in the Hexi Corridor



Good transportation accessibility, stable wind speed





National total



349.10



100%



Highly suitable areas account for 14.26%, and lowly suitable areas account for 34.28%



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2.3  Data on the Correlation between Key Influencing Factors and Suitability

The characteristics of key influencing factors for wind farm suitability in China in 2020 are shown in Table 3.

Table 3 Key Influencing Factors and Wind Farm Suitability Response








Influencing factors



Classification standards



Corresponding range of highly suitable areas



Ecological/economic significance





Annual average wind speed



<4.0 m/s (low), 4.0-6.0 m/s (medium), >6.0 m/s (high)



>6.0m/s



The higher the wind speed, the greater the annual power generation potential





Topographic slope



30° (low), 15-30° (medium), <15° (high)



<15°



A gentle slope reduces construction costs and turbine stability risks





Distance from transmission lines



10 km (low), 5-10 km (medium), <5 km (high)



<5km



Short distance reduces transmission losses and construction costs





Population density



500 persons/km² (low), 100-500 persons/km² (medium), <100 persons/km² (high)



<100 persons /km²



Sparse population reduces land expropriation costs and NIMBY effects






3.        Data Description and Application

3.1  Data Limitations

(1) The wind speed data has a resolution of 1000m, making it difficult to capture local small-scale wind speed differences, which may lead to deviations in wind energy potential assessment in local areas;

(2) It does not include data on social factors such as residents' acceptance and land ownership. Supplementary survey data can be added in the future to improve the assessment system;

(3) It does not consider the impact of future climate change on wind speed, so long-term planning needs to be dynamically adjusted in combination with climate prediction data.

3.2  Data Application Directions

(1) Support wind farm site selection optimization: Combine provincial-level suitable area data, and prioritize high-suitability areas such as Xinjiang and Inner Mongolia for large-scale projects;

(2) Serve energy policy formulation: Provide data reference for western wind energy development and east-west cross-regional power transmission and distribution;

(3) Aid in "dual-carbon" goal research: Analyze the contribution potential of wind energy to regional carbon emission reduction through the estimation of installed capacity in suitable areas.