'Safety first' for Chinese wind-blade runner

How would you transport a massive blade for a wind turbine measuring up to 70 meters through mountainous areas?

In recent years, wind power plants have become a common sight across China, with rotating blades seen in mountainous areas, by oceans and on prairies. And each one of those plants requires equipment to be shipped and installed.

Before he was responsible for navigating wind turbine blades to their final destinations, Du Xian had no idea how big they were.

"A blade is as tall as a 20-story building. I felt tiny standing in front of it," said Du. As a member of a maintenance and operation team from the Shanxi office of the State Grid, Du must ensure the blades do not get too close to high-voltage electricity cables along the journey.

One of the major challenges is to ensure the blades are kept a sufficient distance－more than 8.5 meters－away from the cables.

"There must always be safety first. It requires close cooperation between the driver and the wind blade operator. A little distraction may bring the blade too close to the power lines and cause an electrical discharge," he said.

"Whenever we have wind power infrastructure construction in our area, we think carefully about the transportation route and whether it will pass near the current electricity grid," Du said, adding that they usually work with the blade transportation companies to plan the routes.

Wearing a yellow safety helmet, blue uniform and a pair of insulated shoes, Du carries a drone and a range finder at all times to monitor the surrounding area for hazards.

The team also uses a panoramic internet of things platform to monitor key sites.

In December, a wind power farm began construction in Du's area. The project required the transportation of 24 blades from December to March in a mountainous area with winding roads and many obstructions along the way.

Despite the slow and often arduous task, Du is one of a growing number of technicians with such roles as China ramps up the utilization of its renewable energy resources.

China's installed capacity of renewable energy has grown rapidly in recent years as the country forges ahead in renewable energy development amid its transition to a low-carbon economy.

According to the National Energy Administration, from January to April, the capacity of wind power increased to about 340 million kilowatts, a year-on-year rise of 17.7 percent.