China Power Investment Corporation, one of the country's five power giants, said in Beijing on Friday it was investing 2.8 billion yuan (0 million) in building a wind power plant, the largest of its kind in the northeastern Liaoning Province.

Upon completion, the plant will have an installed capacity of 300,000 kw, generating more than 700 million kwh of power annually, according to a statement by the wind power developer.

The planned Tuoshan Wind Power Plant started first-phase construction earlier this week. "With an investment of 530 million yuan, the project will install 33 power generation units totaling 49,500 kilowatts. It is expected to generate power in December next year," the company said.

Liaoning ranks third in installed capacity of wind power in China. Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, the top producer, has an installed capacity of 1.56 million kw.

China has sped up its wind power development in recent years, with wind capacity soaring from 1.26 million kw in 2005 to 605 million kw in 2007, fifth in the world. The figure is expected to exceed 10 million kw by the year end.