TIANJIN - The largest wind farm project in north China's Tianjin was connected to grid on Tuesday, supplying power enough for 247,500 households a year.

The Shajingzi Wind Farm, with 49.5 megawatts (mW) of generating capacity in its first phase, could generate 10 million kilowatt-hours of electricity a year, equivalent to the use of 30,000 tons of coal, said Liu Mingzhi, head of the development and planning department of the Tianjin Power Co.

He said the entire project was scheduled to be completed by the end of 2012, when it would boast a generating capacity of 200 mW.

The clean energy project is expected to cut dust emissions by 92,400 tons a year in Tianjin, based on the amount of coal consumed for that amount of power production.

Related readings:  2.8b kWh of wind power wasted  Sinovel prepares to unveil China's first 6mW wind turbine  World's 1st wind-powered car tested in Australia  'Wrong turns' in wind power

Liu said the city government invested 1.4 billion yuan ($212 million) in building a smart grid last year, which allowed power from Tianjin Dashentang Wind Farm, the first of its kind in Tianjing, to be connected.

The city's budget for grid building this year was set at 1.9 billion yuan to allow for more solar and wind generated power, he said.

Problems with grid connection have left many new energy power generating facilities redundant across China.