World Wind Energy Award 2025
World Wind Energy Award 2025 for
Shantou International Wind Energy Innovation Port, Mr. Shi Lishan and Mr. Bi Yaxiong
on the occasion of 22nd World Wind Energy Conference in Shantou
Shantou/Bonn, 4 December 2025 (WWEA) – WWEA has a tradition of honouring entities and personalities at the annual WWECs who have made an outstanding contribution to the promotion of wind power and renewable energy. On the occasion of WWEC2025, the WWEA Board has decided to award the 2025 World Wind Energy Award equally to Shantou International Wind Energy Innovation Port to Mr. Shi Lishan, former Director of Renewable Energy at the National Energy Administration of China, and Mr. Bi Yaxiong, for their outstanding contributions to the success of wind power in China and worldwide.
The Shantou International Wind Energy Innovation Port is a landmark project in China that sets new standards for the development of the wind industry. At one location, various companies have set up manufacturing facilities - from turbine production to component manufacturing. The project reshapes the industry through clustering, leads technological revolutions with large scientific instruments, nd connects global markets with an open ecosystem. It provides replicable and scalable best practices and successful experiences for promoting global wind energy industry development and accelerating wind energy technology innovation.
Mr. Shi Lishan served as the Director of the New Energy Division at the National Energy Administration since 2002, leading the drafting of the “Renewable Energy Law” and initiating the large-scale development policy for wind energy in China. He has continuously improved market regulations and was a key policymaker and promoter during China’s wind energy sector’s high-speed growth phase. Although retired, he continues to contribute to China’s renewable energy development.
With extensive experience working in grid companies and wind energy development firms, Mr. Bi Yaxiong has led large-scale offshore wind development and made significant contributions to grid system reform and the integration of high-proportion wind energy into the grid. Mr Bi worked as vice president of China Southern Power Grid Company and as vice president of China Three Gorges Company. Thanks to his still ongoing activities, China is today a world leader also in offshore wind.
WWEA President Dr. Irfan Mirza handed over the 2025 World Wind Energy Award to the Awardees.
All Previous Winners of the World Wind Energy Award:
* 2023: Jay Robert Inslee, Governor of Washington State
* 2022: the entrepreneur Heinrich Bartelt and the politician Hans-Josef Fell, Germany
* 2019: the renewable energy promotors Dr. Andriy Konechenkov and Galyna Shmidt, Ukraine
* 2018: Air Marshal Raja Shahid Hamid (Retd.), Pakistan
* 2017: the journalist Dr. Franz Alt, Germany
* 2016: 195 Parties of the Paris Agreement under the UNFCCC, Honorary Award to Dr. Tetsu Iida and Prof. Izumi Ushiyama, Japan
* 2015: the Mali Folkecenter Nyetaa under the leadership of Dr. Ibrahim Togola
* 2014: the National Energy Administration of China and Dr. Anil Kane, India
* 2013: the French manufacturer of medium-sized wind turbines Vergnet Eolien
* 2012: the initiators of the Hepburn Wind Farm, Australia’s first community wind farm
* 2011: the Egyptian wind turbine manufacturer Sewedy Wind Energy Group SWEG under the leadership of Ahmed El Sewedy
* 2010: the Founding Member States of the International Renewable Energy Agency IRENA
* 2009: the Hon. George Smitherman, Deputy Premier and Minister of Energy and Infrastructure of Ontario
* 2008 jointly to: Ms Jane Kruse, and Dr. Preben Maegaard, Denmark, Paul Gipe, USA
* 2007 jointly to: the Hon. Ms Dilma Vana Rousseff, later President of Brazil, former Chief of Staff Minister of Brazil and former Minister for Mines and Energy, Ms Laura Porto, Director of the Department of Renewable Energy of the Ministry of Mines and Energ, Mr Valter Luiz Cardeal, Director of Engineering and interim President of Eletrobrás, Dr. Sebastião Florentino da Silva, Coordinator of the Proinfa Programme at Eletrobrás
* 2006: the Chinese wind turbine manufacturer Goldwind under the leadership of Mr Wu Gang
* 2005 jointly to: Hon. Vilas Muttemwar, Indian Minister for Non-Conventional Energy Sources, and Dr. Pramod Deo, Chairman of the Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission
* 2004 jointly to: the German Minister for the Environment, Jürgen Trittin, and the German Parliamentarian Dr. Hermann Scheer
* 2003: the Indian wind turbine manufacturer Suzlon under the leadership of Mr Tulsi Tanti
* 2002: Prof. Dr. Amin Mobarak, Chairman of the Industry and Energy Committee of the Egyptian Parliament