Southern Xinjiang's first wind power project, standing at an average altitude of 3,100 meters, went into operation on Saturday in Kizilsu Kirgiz Autonomous Prefecture.
The project, located in Wuqia County of the Kizilsu Kirgiz Autonomous Prefecture of Xinjiang which is part of the Pamir Plateau, is also the country's westernmost wind farm. Its entry into operation signified a breakthrough of China in developing wind energy in high-altitude areas.
The first batch of 20 wind turbines is expected to generate approximately 270 million kWh of electricity annually, delivering clean energy to the local area while providing valuable experience for building high-altitude, low-wind-speed wind farms. Once the wind farm's all 38 wind turbines are operational, its total installed capacity will reach 200,000 kilowatts.
"The wind power project is the first of its kind in southern Xinjiang. Its completion and operation mark an end to the region's history without wind-generated electricity. The project will complement the local power supply provided by hydropower and photovoltaic power stations in the Kizilsu Kirgiz Autonomous Prefecture. Its four-hour energy storage system will participate in the peak-shaving of the power grid, greatly enhancing the safe and stable operation capability of the local power network," said Zhang Shigang, chairman of the Xinjiang branch of Longyuan Power under CHN Energy, the project's operator.
The project is scheduled to be fully operational by year-end. Once put into full operation, its annual power generation will reach about 540 million kWh, capable of meeting the annual electricity needs of about 300,000 households, further optimizing the local energy mix.
Southern Xinjiang's first wind farm goes into operation
Southern Xinjiang's first wind farm goes into operation
China's southern town of Guiyu, once plagued by heavy pollution from the treatment of electronic waste, has transformed into a national recycling hub, playing an important role in the country's efforts to develop its circular economy and achieve carbon neutrality.
Located in Shantou City of Guangdong Province, Guiyu, once the heartland of China's e-waste disposal, used to feature numerous family-run workshops where residents dismantled e-waste by hand using the most primitive way. Due to the high costs of pollution control equipment, Guiyu's environment suffered, with air often filled with an acrid stench.
The turning point came in 2015 with the launch of the Guiyu Circular Economy Industrial Park, and informal e-waste businesses began to relocate to the park. The goal is to achieve zero waste in the industrial park -- all components that can be reused are recycled, while the rest is processed for valuable material extraction.
Today, the park has evolved into an automated recycling hub for precise and efficient dismantling, with clear systems in place tracking various types of e-waste.
"We recycle all kinds of items, including keyboards and DVD players. We can accurately track which workshop receives e-waste and the timing of these transfers. We also monitor the sources and destinations of all e-waste," said Zhong Yingshan, director of the management committee at the park.
Guiyu is also home to China's first mobile phone safe recycling and disposal demonstration base, which began trial operations in January. A new device has been introduced that efficiently recycles heavy metals from mobile phone circuit boards for centralized and harmless disposal. Currently, the base processes 12,000 tons of waste circuit boards each year.
In recent years, China has consistently strengthened the top-level design of green and low-carbon development. A series of policies implemented by the government have supported the growth of the circular economy and the resource recycling industry.
To promote the development of the circular economy, China established a centrally administered state-owned enterprise, China Resources Recycling Group Co., in October 2024 in Tianjin. The company established nine new subsidiaries just recently, covering areas such as power batteries, new energy, non-ferrous metals and other resource recycling sectors.
According to China's plan for circular economy development during the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025) period, by this year, the resource recycling industry system will be established, with the output value reaching 5 trillion yuan (about 697.3 billion U.S. dollars).
China's resource-recycling industry is evolving from traditional recycling practices to a high-tech, high-quality sector, according to Zhu Liyang, president of the China Association of Circular Economy.
"In the future, government experts and private enterprises will collaborate to promote the upgrading of the resource recycling industry towards greater standardization, higher value and enhanced efficiency," said Zhu.
China's e-waste disposal town transforms into national recycling hub
