Tapping into its vast wind power potential, China's taking advantage of the climate in the pursuit of renewable energy. CCTV reporter Zhang Nini finds out how Beijing's own Guanting Wind Farm turns the invisible power of the wind into a green asset for future.

Wind farm [File photo]

Wind turbines sprout from the ground in Beijing's Guanting Wind Farm. Here, these power generators are carrying the city's promise of a green future.

The Beijing Jingneng Energy Technology Company is making the best of the wind-swept plains.

Lin Zili has been working here since the day the turbines are erected. In the central control room, He's on a 12-hour shift to monitor the plant.

Lin Zili said, "The control room is like the heart of the farm. All the wind generators are connected to a transformer which turns the voltage from 690V to 35KV. The electricity is then transmitted through loop lines to a grid-connected substation. From there, the electricity will be delivered to Beijing. "

The green energy helps to reduce yearly emissions of carbon dioxide by 300,000 tones and saves 150,000 tonnes of coal each year.

The farm thrives on wind, but the climate also takes its toll. Sand, when brought along by the wind, remains a particular source of erosion to the turbines. Maintenance remains a chronic bottleneck.

Climbing up a seven meter platform, Liu Xulong is on a monthly checkup of the plant. He's making sure all the cables are connected to the right place, the screws are tight, and readings normal.

Liu Xulong said, "Some components might have burnt out during operations. Some screws might loosen in strong wind. This checkup is to keep dangers to a minimum."

With its large land mass and long coastline, China has exceptional wind resources. According to the Chinese Renewable Energy Industries Association, wind power accounted for about 42 gigawatts by the end of 2010, up 62 percent from the previous year.

But potential risks loom. As more gigawatts come on line, the problem of getting power from wind-swept plains to places where people actually live becomes acute. In some wide open places such as Xinjiang and Inner Mongolia, the grid is not extensive enough to move electricity to major markets where the customers are.

Tang Xiao, deputy director of Beijing Guanting Wind Power Plant, said, "Places with ample wind resources are often cold at the same time. These places require considerable heating from thermal electricity, thus reducing the portion of wind power in the energy mix. Second, parts of the grid are either aging or overloaded, with limited transmission capacity."

Luckily, the Guanting Farm is currently exempt from such worries. None of its 300 million kilo Watt Hours of electricity will go to waste. It's a small but steady part of Beijing's 75 billion kwh consumption every year. And it signifies the country's drive to a green future.

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