"First Wind Project in Southern Xinjiang Connects to Grid"
The initial wind energy project in Southern Xinjiang has successfully connected to the grid.
TroibNews 
The first wind power project in the southern part of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region was successfully connected to the grid at full capacity on Saturday, representing a significant milestone in harnessing wind energy in China's high-altitude mountainous areas above 3,000 meters.
Situated in Wuqia County within the Kizilsu Kirgiz Autonomous Prefecture on the Pamir Plateau, this project is also the westernmost wind farm in the country. It comprises 38 turbines, each positioned at elevations ranging from 2,800 to 3,300 meters, boasting a total capacity of 200,000 kilowatts.
"The project can produce about 540 million kilowatt-hours of electricity each year – enough to power 300,000 households for a year. This output will save around 164,800 tons of coal and cut carbon dioxide emissions by 450,000 tons compared to traditional coal-fired power plants," commented Zhang Shigang, chairman of the Xinjiang branch of Longyuan Power under CHN Energy, the operator of the project.
"The biggest difference between working here and on flat land is that the cranes can't move here. After each installation, we have to take the crane apart and transport it to the next site using trucks," explained Wang Tiande, the project's electrical manager.
Moreover, three bulldozers are required to assist in pulling a truck up the mountain, leading to more than thirty trips for transporting the cranes, which takes about four days each time.
The project faces challenges from extreme and rapidly changing weather conditions prevalent at high altitudes, necessitating continuous monitoring of wind speeds.
Environmental considerations are vital due to the region's sparse vegetation and diverse wildlife.
"We carefully chose turbine locations to avoid animal migration paths and created ecological buffer zones to ensure a normal life for wild animals," noted Zhang.
Kizilsu Kirgiz Autonomous Prefecture benefits from long hours of sunlight, with over 1,400 hours of usable sunlight annually. Currently, the prefecture has developed 1.84 million kilowatts of solar power capacity. The area's intricate landscape is interlaced with seven major river systems, resulting in substantial hydropower resources, with installed hydropower capacity reaching 1.09 million kilowatts.
With the recent grid connection of the wind farm, the prefecture is constructing a clean energy system composed of approximately 58 percent solar power, 35 percent hydropower, and seven percent wind power. This transition to renewable energy has enabled the region to achieve a 100-percent green electricity supply in its grid.
Thomas Evans for TROIB News
Situated in Wuqia County within the Kizilsu Kirgiz Autonomous Prefecture on the Pamir Plateau, this project is also the westernmost wind farm in the country. It comprises 38 turbines, each positioned at elevations ranging from 2,800 to 3,300 meters, boasting a total capacity of 200,000 kilowatts.
"The project can produce about 540 million kilowatt-hours of electricity each year – enough to power 300,000 households for a year. This output will save around 164,800 tons of coal and cut carbon dioxide emissions by 450,000 tons compared to traditional coal-fired power plants," commented Zhang Shigang, chairman of the Xinjiang branch of Longyuan Power under CHN Energy, the operator of the project.
"The biggest difference between working here and on flat land is that the cranes can't move here. After each installation, we have to take the crane apart and transport it to the next site using trucks," explained Wang Tiande, the project's electrical manager.
Moreover, three bulldozers are required to assist in pulling a truck up the mountain, leading to more than thirty trips for transporting the cranes, which takes about four days each time.
The project faces challenges from extreme and rapidly changing weather conditions prevalent at high altitudes, necessitating continuous monitoring of wind speeds.
Environmental considerations are vital due to the region's sparse vegetation and diverse wildlife.
"We carefully chose turbine locations to avoid animal migration paths and created ecological buffer zones to ensure a normal life for wild animals," noted Zhang.
Kizilsu Kirgiz Autonomous Prefecture benefits from long hours of sunlight, with over 1,400 hours of usable sunlight annually. Currently, the prefecture has developed 1.84 million kilowatts of solar power capacity. The area's intricate landscape is interlaced with seven major river systems, resulting in substantial hydropower resources, with installed hydropower capacity reaching 1.09 million kilowatts.
With the recent grid connection of the wind farm, the prefecture is constructing a clean energy system composed of approximately 58 percent solar power, 35 percent hydropower, and seven percent wind power. This transition to renewable energy has enabled the region to achieve a 100-percent green electricity supply in its grid.
Thomas Evans for TROIB News
