Altay explores renewable energy storage solutions

Altay prefecture in the northern part of the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region is taking advantage of its natural resources to develop renewable energy, and is fast becoming a hub for wind and solar projects.

While the region is traditionally known for livestock farming, with cattle and sheep roaming its vast grasslands, Altay's rise to prominence as a leader in clean energy is contributing to the region's economic development.

Figures released by Altay show that it ranks third in Xinjiang for hydropower, with a capacity of 4.84 million kilowatts, and fourth for both wind energy, with a potential capacity of 39.5 million kilowatts, and solar power, which can generate up to 505.5 million kilowatts.

Wang Shaojie, deputy director of the prefecture's development and reform bureau, said that as of July, Altay's total power generation reached 7.78 billion kilowatt-hours, with green electricity making up 92.7 percent of the output. Half of the energy produced in Altay is exported to other parts of the country, he said.

Therein lies an issue for the prefecture, in that due to its sparse population and lack of industrial demand, it produces more green energy than it needs. As a result, renewable projects in the prefecture are pursuing ways of better storing electricity, more efficiently exporting electricity to places outside the prefecture and smart management in power generation.

China General Nuclear Power Corporation's Jeminay Integrated Energy Project in Altay is looking into new ways to address the issues around solar and wind energy's intermittence and unpredictability by developing smart grid management, storage and load distribution solutions.

Xu Yong, deputy director of operations at CGN New Energy's Xinjiang branch, said power grids in China operate mainly on a "supply-follows-demand" model, where the power supply increases as demand grows. However, this model has struggled to cope with the fluctuating nature of wind energy.

"Our integrated system aims to ensure better alignment between supply and demand while maximizing the use of clean energy. It helps mitigate the volatility of renewable energy production, ensuring a more stable and efficient power grid," Xu said.

The project's construction scale is 400,000 kilowatts, with 390,000 kilowatts coming from wind power and 10,000 kilowatts from solar power. It began construction in August 2022 and was connected to the grid at the end of last year.

Once fully operational, the project is expected to generate 1.26 billion kilowatt-hours of clean energy annually, equivalent to reducing standard coal consumption by approximately 380,000 tons and carbon dioxide emissions by 1.25 million tons, he added.

Pumped storage has become a good method for managing excess clean energy in Altay, as water can be pumped to a higher reservoir while there is low electricity demand and released to generate power during peak times.

Zuo Xingcheng, project manager of a pumped storage power station in Burqin, said that using water and gravity is an effective storage solution. "The project acts like a giant power bank, storing green electricity generated from wind and sunlight for peak times of consumption," he said.

Once operational next year, it will significantly enhance the regional power grid's capacity and facilitate the consumption of renewable energy, saving approximately 727,000 tons of standard coal and reducing carbon dioxide emissions by about 2.19 million tons annually, Zuo said.

The region plans to support key enterprises and industrial parks in increasing their green energy consumption ratios, while attracting high-energy load industries regarding big data and computing infrastructure to enhance clean energy absorption, he said.

Excess renewable energy is being used to support the recent increase in tourism to Altay on the back of the popular TV series To the Wonder, which is set in the prefecture.

Jilin New Village in Habahe county, where an iconic scene of the series takes place, has seen a significant increase in tourists since the show's debut in May. The State Grid's power supply company in the county has taken steps to ensure safe and reliable electricity for the village's guesthouses.

Hasarjan Ahmetnur's local homestay has been upgraded so that it can accommodate up to 150 guests per day. "Clean energy is powering the region," he said.

The State Grid's power supply company in Altay is ramping up investments in electricity facilities for attractions such as Koktokay Ski Resort to ensure that the infrastructure can support the thriving and ever-increasing green tourism.

In Kanas and Hemu scenic areas in Burqin county, heating and cooking facilities have been made electric, and electric-powered shuttle buses and boats are now operational, according to an employee of the company.

Zhang Guohua, head of the Hemu power supply station, said over 1,000 households solely use green energy following a switch from coal in 2020. "Green power has injected strong momentum into the growth of Hemu village," he said.

Given Altay's sparse population and few large industrial users, maximizing clean energy consumption remains a challenge. The key lies in effectively storing and utilizing wind and solar energy, which are plentiful but intermittent, Xu said.

zhaoyimeng@chinadaily.com.cn