On January 1, 2024, the world's largest ultra-high-altitude wind farm commenced operations in Nagqu City, Tibet, with a substantial capacity of 100 megawatts. This landmark project marks a significant advancement in renewable energy infrastructure and showcases China's ongoing commitment to sustainability.

Situated at an impressive altitude of 4,650 meters, this wind power generation facility is categorized as ultra-high-altitude according to the China Energy Investment Corporation, the project's developer.

The 100 MW wind farm has been designed to produce approximately 200 million kilowatt-hours of electricity each year, providing power to about 230,000 residents in Nagqu City. The farm consists of 25 wind turbines spread over an area exceeding 140,000 square meters.

Due to the challenges posed by the extreme high-altitude environment, which includes harsh weather conditions across the plateau, the turbines must be engineered to withstand significant climatic fluctuations.

To ensure optimal performance, the project team employed a smart wind power platform for comprehensive assessments on wind measurement, site selection, and resource utilization. Hu Jiansheng, the project leader, emphasized the effectiveness of this integrated design.

Hu also explained that innovative stability control technologies have been implemented to address challenges faced at such high elevations, including low wind energy conversion efficiency and the deceleration of turbine blades.

Wind turbines in this environment are subjected to severe weather, including hail, lightning, and rapid temperature changes, along with frequent erosion from wind, sand, rain, and snow. These factors necessitated the use of high-quality turbine blades.

In addressing potential vulnerabilities, the team developed a specialized technique for applying protective paint layers to the turbines, which helps to prevent chipping and cracking that could lead to premature aging of components.

Prior to the official launch, China Energy’s staff conducted thorough inspections of the turbines to ensure that they were fully functional and ready to meet the demands of this unique operating environment.

As the wind farm began its operations, Qin Min, the project's operator, expressed excitement about the first day's accomplishments and anticipated the facility's connection to the grid at full capacity, enhancing the region's renewable energy output.