The world’s largest high-altitude wind farm officially commenced operations in Tibet, an autonomous region of China, earlier this week. Located at an astounding 4,650 meters above sea level in Nagchu, the Omatingga wind farm officially commenced operations on Monday, marking a monumental achievement in clean energy innovation.
Powering the peaks
China’s Omatingga wind farm boasts a capacity of 200 million kilowatt-hours and promises to meet the annual power needs of over 200,000 residents once fully connected. It serves as a testament to the resilience and adaptability of renewable energy solutions in challenging terrains. Currently, the wind farm is providing clean electricity to 140,000 households in Nagchu.
The project will play a pivotal role in advancing research, deployment, and scaling of high-altitude wind turbines. It sets a precedent for sustainable energy initiatives globally. Additionally, it could potentially reduce carbon dioxide emissions by almost 160,000 tons.
Its developer, CHN Energy, explained that they used a smart wind power platform to design the wind farm. The project also utilizes stability control technology to overcome issues caused by high altitude. Moreover, the wind farm’s turbine blades are longer to increase the swept area. This improves efficiency in areas with low atmospheric pressure.
China’s $90.3 million Omatingga wind farm took around 260 days to construct despite the harsh conditions in Nagchu. It has 25 turbines, distributed over an area of 140,000 square meters.
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Record-breaking solar installation
In line with Omatingga’s triumph, a 50-megawatt solar installation recently started operations in Lhokha, setting a record for its altitude. This solar facility is expected to supply nearly 4,000 households daily. This achievement underscores China’s commitment to diversifying its renewable energy portfolio and pushing the boundaries of clean energy infrastructure.
To optimize efficiency, some developments in Tibet’s renewable energy landscape leverage digital technologies. The projects utilize panoramic systems for real-time construction and operations monitoring. These technological advancements enable prompt risk response and eventual automated upkeep.
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