Illustration: Xia Qing/GT

Stretching 2,290 kilometers from Hami, Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region to Southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, the construction of an ultra-high voltage direct current power transmission line is underway. With the Barkol converter station in Xinjiang beginning its adjustment and testing phase, this project has entered its final construction period, as reported by the Xinhua News Agency on Saturday. This endeavor not only underscores China's rapid advancement in the realm of green energy but also highlights the opportunities presented by Xinjiang in this journey, further propelling it to become an important base for renewable energy production in the nation.

This project is anticipated to be operational by the end of 2025, at which point Xinjiang's capacity to transmit electricity beyond its provincial borders is expected to reach 33 million kilowatts, a portion of which will be derived from renewable sources. This development will position Xinjiang as the largest base in the country for transmitting renewable energy outside of its own region, the Guangming Daily reported.

As the infrastructure for transmitting electricity from Xinjiang continues to improve, the demand for Xinjiang's renewable energy is expected to rise steadily. This trend offers fresh impetus for further development in the renewable energy sector within Xinjiang.  

The region is rich in wind, solar and hydrogen energy resources. In recent years, it has vigorously pursued the development of the renewable energy industry, accelerating the construction of large-scale wind and photovoltaic power base projects. According to Xinhua, Xinjiang's new energy power generation surged by 30.7 percent year-on-year in 2024. Observers note with amazement the transformation of Xinjiang's vast deserts into extensive areas of renewable energy production. 

As of the end of 2024, Xinjiang had reportedly surpassed a new energy installation capacity of 100 million kilowatts, marking it as the first provincial-level region in Northwest China to reach this significant milestone. The rapid development of the renewable energy sector has opened up opportunities for a host of emerging industries. For instance, as reported by the Xinjiang Daily in August 2024, Xinjiang is accelerating its efforts to develop the computing power industry. With the high cost of electricity and land in China's eastern regions, Xinjiang, blessed with abundant energy resources and lower land costs, coupled with its strategic position for westward opening, is well-placed to attract a portion of the computing power industry relocating from the east, the report said. 

This demonstrates that Xinjiang's renewable energy industry not only possesses vast potential for growth but is also synergizing with a range of emerging sectors, laying a solid foundation for the overall development of a low-carbon economy.

In recent times, certain Western anti-China forces have been spreading the fabricated narrative of "forced labor" in Xinjiang, using these claims as a pretext to misuse measures such as export controls in an attempt to suppress Xinjiang enterprises and stifle the region's economic growth. However, in reality, these efforts have failed to impede Xinjiang's development in the renewable energy sector among others. In 2024, Xinjiang's GDP exceeded the threshold of 2 trillion yuan ($275.9 billion), achieving an economic growth rate that surpassed the national average.

As some in the West attempt to suppress Xinjiang's economy, the once barren deserts of Xinjiang are transforming into a significant source of green economic development for China. The burgeoning renewable energy sector in Xinjiang is expected to offer ample opportunities for China's energy transition. Moreover, as Xinjiang continues to expand its openness to the world, it is likely to inject further momentum into regional development.

As a crucial gateway for the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), Xinjiang holds unique advantages in resources and technology within the renewable energy sector, offering extensive opportunities for energy cooperation with countries in Central Asia, Europe and others involved in the BRI. In recent years, collaboration on the green economy has become an important part of the BRI. As Xinjiang ramps up its renewable energy projects, boosting the growth of the green economy and new industries, this could open up more opportunities for cooperation under the BRI, aiding in the economic development of the whole region.

The author is a reporter with the Global Times. bizopinion@globaltimes.com.cn