Southern Xinjiang’s first high-altitude wind power project has officially connected to the grid at full capacity, marking a significant milestone in China’s renewable energy efforts. Located in Wuqia County within the Kizilsu Kirgiz Autonomous Prefecture on the Pamir Plateau, this wind farm is not only the country’s westernmost but also one of its highest, sitting between 2,800 and 3,300 meters above sea level.
The wind farm features 38 turbines with a total capacity of 200,000 kilowatts. It’s expected to generate about 540 million kilowatt-hours of electricity annually—enough to power 300,000 households. This green energy initiative will save approximately 164,800 tons of coal each year and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 450,000 tons compared to traditional coal-fired power plants.
“The project demonstrates our commitment to harnessing renewable energy in challenging terrains,” said Zhang Shigang, chairman of the Xinjiang branch of Longyuan Power, the project’s operator. “It’s a breakthrough in utilizing wind resources at high altitudes.”
Building the wind farm wasn’t easy. The rugged mountainous terrain meant that cranes couldn’t move from one installation site to another. “After each turbine installation, we had to dismantle the crane and transport it piece by piece to the next location,” explained Wang Tiande, the project’s electrical manager. “Each relocation required over thirty trips and took about four days.”
Extreme and rapidly changing weather conditions added to the challenge, necessitating constant monitoring of wind speeds and other environmental factors. The project team also took careful measures to protect the local ecosystem. Turbine locations were selected to avoid animal migration paths, and ecological buffer zones were established to safeguard wildlife.
The Kizilsu Kirgiz Autonomous Prefecture is rich in renewable energy resources, enjoying over 1,400 hours of usable sunlight annually and abundant hydropower potential from its seven major river systems. With this new wind farm, the prefecture has developed a clean energy system comprising approximately 58% solar power, 35% hydropower, and 7% wind power.
The successful integration of the wind farm into the grid means that the region now boasts a 100% green electricity supply, highlighting ongoing efforts to transition towards renewable energy sources and reduce carbon emissions.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
