LHASA: China has achieved another breakthrough in wind power development at ultra-high altitudes, with the world’s highest wind power project in Xizang autonomous region generating over 22 million kWh of electricity.
Invested and constructed by companies including the Datang Xizang Energy Development Co., Ltd., the project with the highest nacelle at an altitude of 5,305 meters set a new record for China, as well as the world, in wind power projects in terms of altitude.
The project consists of 20 wind turbines, each with a capacity of 5 megawatts, and generates 223 million kWh of clean electricity annually, which can meet the yearly power needs of approximately 230,000 people, said Xu Qiduo, manager of the wind farm, adding that this smart project only needs eight to 10 people for wind turbine operations.
Areas located at altitudes between 3,500 and 5,500 meters are usually considered ultra-high altitude areas. These areas are rich in wind resources but pose greater demands on wind power technology and equipment performance.
At the wind farm in Xizang’s Baxoi County, which began operation on Oct. 31, workers overcame a range of technical challenges, including blade stall and atypical condition control in the ultra-high altitude area, Xu said.
The wind turbines were specially designed to withstand extreme environments and weather conditions, including extremely low temperatures, strong ultraviolet radiation, and frequent thunderstorms at ultra-high altitudes, explained Losum Tsering, a technical worker at the wind farm.
Losum Tsering, a local Tibetan, expressed his gratitude for the improvements in the power grid in recent years as villagers like him now no longer face extended power blackouts lasting several consecutive days. –The Daily Mail-China Daily news exchange item
