The clean energy industry is a distinctive and advantageous sector in Tibet, with a proliferation of hydropower, photovoltaic, and wind power projects rapidly constructed and put into operation. The abundant wind and solar resources of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau not only light up the households across Tibet but also continuously inject green momentum into China's modernization.
CCTV Reporter Jiang Yong: "I am now at the construction site of the world's highest wind power project, Baxu Wind Farm, in Baxu County, Changdu City, Tibet. The average altitude here reaches 5,050 meters, with the highest point approaching 5,200 meters. When factoring in the height of the wind turbine itself, the tallest turbine will reach an elevation of 5,300 meters. Tibet is abundant in clean energy resources, with wind energy concentrated primarily in ultra-high altitudes above 5,000 meters."
At the construction site, workers are diligently working, aiming to complete the hoisting of the first wind turbine today.
Despite being summer, the climate at an altitude of over 5,000 meters is extremely chilly. A snowfall a few days ago has kept temperatures hovering around 10°C. Therefore, the workers are all dressed in thick cotton jackets for warmth.
Several cranes are coordinating to hoist the three blades and hub, weighing 116 tons and with a diameter of 195 meters, to a height of 110 meters for precise assembly. Normally, the hoisting process takes half an hour, but it has to be canceled in case of adverse weather conditions.
Today, we have obtained a wind turbine model that mirrors the real structure, consisting of four main parts. The turbine installation resembles building blocks, where workers sequentially assemble the components. Overcoming the challenges of frigid temperatures, oxygen deficiency, and strong winds at an altitude of over 5,000 meters is indeed a formidable task.
Moreover, the transportation of turbine blades poses another significant challenge.
Each blade, measuring 95 meters in length, is manufactured in Songyuan, Jilin Province, and transported across most of China, a journey spanning 4,500 kilometers, taking over a month to complete.
The Baxu Wind Farm will install a total of 20 turbines. Over the next two months, 19 more turbines will be erected. It is anticipated that the Baxu Wind Farm will be fully operational by October this year, generating over 223 million kWh of clean electricity annually, sufficient to meet the annual electricity demand of approximately 230,000 people.
As the first wind power project in Changdu City, the Baxu Wind Farm will bolster the construction of clean energy bases in southeastern Tibet, particularly enhancing energy security during peak consumption periods in Changdu.