Wind turbines make up the panoramic zephyr trail of northern Pingtan. [Photo by Nian Wangshu]

Those who have been to Pingtan should be familiar with its prominent feature- the omnipresent wind. Located in the protruding part between the Taiwan Straits and Haitan Strait, the “funnelling” endows Pingtan with inexhaustible wind resources.

Wind Resource

The wind is not only a feature but an asset of Pingtan.

In the 1970s, Pingtan set up a wind power experimental establishment in an attempt to "turn the wind into wealth". In the 1990s, China's first test wind turbine landed in Pingtan, piloting the conversion of wind power into electricity.

Statistics from relevant departments show that the annual average wind speed in Pingtan is above 8.4 m/s, with northeaster as the dominance in winter, and souther and southwester in summer.

Chinese writer Wei Xin had visited Pingtan and penned, “The strong wind in Pingtan can rotate windmills and raise skirts, generating electricity as well as chemistry.” In Wei Xin's eyes, Pingtan is an ideal place for the development of wind energy. As long as the wind pushes the turbines, Pingtan is like a storage battery, no matter how it is used, it never runs out. Because the wind always charges it.

Wind Industry

 Changjiang’ao Wind Farm[Photo by Nian Wangshu]

Toward evening when strolling along the Changjiang’ao Wind Farm, you can admire the spinning windmills in the setting sun. It has become a popular spot for photographers. The first wind generators in this area were all imported from Spain, marking the commercialization of wind energy in East China’s Fujian province. So far , the onshore wind farms in Pingtan have a total installed capacity of 218,800 kilowatts.

Offshore wind farm of Pingtan[Photo by Nian Wangshu]

Besides, Pingtan has launched a series of offshore wind power projects in its northern waters, where installation of 60 offshore wind turbines with a unit capacity of 4 MW and a 220 kV land booster station worth about 4.57 billion yuan is planned. As of May 2021, the booster station has been put into operation, and 16 units have been connected to the grid.

Guo Zisheng, an official from the Economic Development of Pingtan introduced that after years of exploration, Pingtan has achieved new breakthroughs in new energy research and development. TONEX, a new energy technology company in Pingtan has reached outsourcing agreements with over 50 companies. TONEX’s V-shaped offshore wind turbine has obtained more than 40 national patents, and its 10-megawatt vertical-axis offshore wind turbine on a trial run has been listed among the first batch of major technical equipment projects in the energy sector by the National Energy Administration and recognized as a prioritized project by the China Development Bank. The unit will provide a strong support for the development of floating wind power technology on the high seas.

Companies represented by CSSC Huangpu Zhengli are committed to building Pingtan into a regional maintenance workshop for offshore wind turbines in the southeast China. A wind-themed museum will be completed construction and become a comprehensive science museum dedicated to exhibiting and promoting recyclable wind energy. They are all thanks to the "wind".

International kitesurfing competition held in Pigntan[File photo]

On top of that, Pingtan’s wind also brought marine sports along. In recent years, those pertinet to wind such as international kitesurfing competitions and international sailing regattas have been held in Pingtan, a big boost to the construction of Pingtan into an international tourism island.

Wind Capital

"We hope to promote tourism development through the construction of wind power projects." Guo Zisheng said that Pingtan is also vigorously developing tourism products that integrate wind energy. Pingtan aims to build itself into the “Capital of Wind Energy in Western Taiwan Straits”.

Pingtan emerges as a rising international tourism island. It has a south subtropical maritime monsoon climate with an annual average temperature of 19.4 °C. Its air quality tops Fujian Province, and enjoys such reputations as "National Forest City", "National Geological Park", and "China's Top Ten Sports Tourism Destinations".

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