Chinese wind farm offers glimpse of green energy transition

High in the mountains of Southwest China, rows of wind turbines stretch along the ridgelines, generating electricity while sharing the landscape with farmland and villages.

The scene at the Jinpingxi Wind Farm in Yunnan province offered visiting journalists from around the world a close-up view of how China is seeking to expand renewable energy while balancing development with environmental and community interests.

The journalists, representing media organizations from 13 countries, visited the wind farm and the project's operations and maintenance facilities, examining the technologies used to manage a large-scale renewable energy project in a mountainous environment.

The project is part of a major high-altitude wind power base operated by China Datang Corp, one of China's largest power producers. Its planned capacity is in the million-kilowatt range.

What stood out to many of the visitors was the coexistence of energy infrastructure and the surrounding rural landscape. Wind turbines rise above hills where farmers continue to cultivate their land, while local communities are involved in efforts to link the project with tourism, cultural activities and rural development.

"Energy shortages are a global challenge, yet China is using wind power to bring energy to communities while protecting such a beautiful environment," said Abdulrasoul Hejair, a photojournalist with Bahrain's The National.

He photographed the turbines against fields of marigolds, saying the combination of renewable energy and the natural landscape was particularly striking.

The visit also highlighted the growing role of digital technologies in China's renewable energy sector.

Datang Yunnan's new energy business has established a digital safety management platform covering the construction process of the Jinpingxi project. The system is designed to provide visual monitoring and integrated management of activities across the project.

Ahmedou Barikalla, president of Mauritania's Le Peuple, said the degree of digitalization at the site had exceeded his expectations.

The project is also being used as a platform for cooperation with surrounding communities.

According to Datang Yunnan, the company has worked with six villages inhabited by ethnic minority communities in the area. The initiatives seek to connect renewable energy development with local culture, tourism and rural revitalization, while creating additional economic opportunities for residents.

Saudi journalist Maha Al-Sulami, executive director of the commentary department at Al Watan, said the project demonstrated how technological development and international cooperation could be combined with environmental considerations. "What impressed me most is that China's green development is not taking place in isolation," she said. "It reflects a broader approach to cooperation and shared development."

The visit provided the international media delegation with an opportunity to examine China's experience in renewable energy development, low-carbon transition and regional economic development.

For China Datang, the Jinpingxi project reflects a broader effort to expand clean energy capacity while creating economic and social benefits in the areas where its projects operate.

The company said its approach seeks to balance the interests of governments, businesses, partners and local communities by contributing to local tax revenues, generating returns for the business, strengthening partnerships and creating benefits for surrounding communities.

China has rapidly expanded its renewable energy capacity in recent years as part of efforts to transform its energy system and reduce carbon emissions. Wind and solar power have become increasingly important components of the country's electricity mix.

Against that backdrop, projects such as Jinpingxi offer a local perspective on a much broader transition: how renewable energy infrastructure can be integrated into existing communities and landscapes while supporting economic development.

For international observers, the experience also provides a window into the practical challenges and opportunities facing countries seeking to expand clean energy.

China Datang said it would continue to develop renewable energy projects, strengthen international cooperation and share its experience in supporting a lower-carbon energy system.

The company views such efforts as part of its broader contribution to sustainable development and to cooperation among countries seeking to accelerate the global energy transition.