China’s second high-altitude wind farm to power 600 000 homes

China’s pursuit to phase out fossil fuel-powered energy took another step forward, this time with what is being described as the world’s largest high-altitude wind farm.

Set 4 650 metres above sea level in the frozen town of Nagqu on the Tibetan Plateau, the 25-turbine facility produces enough clean electricity to power over half a million homes.

Spread over 14 hectares, the 100 megawatt ‘Omatingga’ project is the second “ultra-high- altitude” project to come online in China in the last year. In June 2023, the country completed the Kela photovoltaic power station in Sichuan.

This hydro-solar plant sits between 4 000 and 4 600 metres above sea level, and generates enough electricity to power 600 000 homes, reducing carbon emissions by 1.6 million tonnes every year, according to Chinese media outlet, Global Times.

The developers of the $90.3 million Omatingga wind complex, China Energy Investment Corporation, had to overcome several hurdles when constructing the facility.

Its remote, high-altitude location is not only a logistical dilemma, but the low-oxygen nature of the atmosphere means the crew responsible for assembly had to take extra safety precautions above and beyond what would be required at lower elevations.

The thin air on the Tibetan Plateau also means that turbines can’t generate as much output. To compensate for this, engineers at the China Energy Investment Corporation created specialised blades that are slightly longer than the standard ones, increasing the total sweep area of each unit and significantly improving their overall efficiency. In addition, the turbine blades have been coated with a protective layer of paint that helps stave off corrosion, according to Interesting Engineering.

The Omatingga wind farm will provide Chinese energy experts invaluable insight into how ultra-high-altitude projects differ from their more standardised counterparts. While their remote location frees up valuable space for other endeavours, the inhospitable conditions experienced at extreme elevation – such as dramatic temperature changes, snow, sand storms and exposure to ultraviolet light – make their position less than ideal for energy generation.

Integrating green energy projects such as the Omatingga wind farm into the grid form the backbone of China’s plan to eliminate at least 80 percent of its fossil fuel consumption by 2060.

The world’s second-largest economy is still the chief burner of coal, but is simultaneously the most prolific installer of green projects. China reduced its total carbon emissions by 3 percent from 2022 to 2023, according to Stanford University.