Photo: State Grid Bortala Power Supply Company

In mid-October, the Aibi Lake Wetland National Nature Reserve, located in the northwestern border area of China, welcomes the timely arrival of migratory birds.

A large number of rare birds have successively arrived, painting a picture of free soaring in the autumn scenery. The local government and power supply companies are promoting the integrated development of green energy and ecological protection through cultural efforts, composing a future of harmonious coexistence between humans and nature.

Aibi Lake integrates ecological protection and biodiversity conservation, serving as a national ecological security zone and an important ecological function barrier area in Xinjiang. It is also a major breeding, wintering, and resting ground for various wild animals. The entire wetland is situated in the wind corridor of the Ala Mountain Pass, where the unique geographical environment nurtures clean energy.

The 10 kV Zongbo line serves as the power supply line for the Aibi Lake management station, which has been continuously extended in recent years to provide foundational support for wildlife protection and ecological conservation efforts.

"Our main daily work involves routine patrols, checking the growth of plants, monitoring pests and diseases, and observing the activity patterns of wild animals. We pay special attention to preventing poaching and forest fires. Last year, our two management stations were connected to electricity. After getting electricity, we started using electric heating and cloud-based video monitoring, which has made life much more convenient. It’s no longer necessary to burn coal in boilers, making it much safer and more convenient for our work. The cloud-based video monitoring can provide 360-degree surveillance of the reserve, allowing us to quickly respond to any issues that arise," said Bayin Caohute from the management area of the reserve.

The Aibi Lake Wetland National Nature Reserve has a total of 18 management stations, and the annual wind power generation at Ala Mountain Pass is nearly 1 billion kilowatt-hours, with a utilization rate exceeding 95 percent. The State Grid Bortala Power Supply Company adopts an "ecology and electricity" grid construction model, creating the best habitat for wild animals and plants by building artificial bird nests and optimizing the power supply grid of the reserve.

Currently, the Aibi Lake Wetland National Nature Reserve is home to 327 species of animals, including over 260 species of birds, among which 49 are classified as national first and second-level protected animals. By the end of October, three management stations will be powered by wind energy from Ala Mountain Pass, converting the wind energy at the port into electrical energy, and during this migration season, it will "light up" the return journey of hundreds of migratory birds.
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