Thanks to its leading companies in the fields of wind power, photovoltaic energy and energy-efficient housing, the city of Baoding in north China's Hebei province has emerged as a key contributor in the country's pursuit of a carbon neutral future.

Baoding, dubbed "China's Electric Valley," serves as a key manufacturing hub for high-end new energy equipment. It is also home to an advanced manufacturing cluster focusing on wind power, photoelectricity, hydropower, new energy storage technology, and power transmission and transformation facilities.

The city also leads the world not only in smart grid control technology, but also in the production capacity and technology reserve of ultra-high voltage (UHV) transformers. Official statistics show that UHV transformers manufactured by local companies have secured a significant market share, accounting for over 30% globally.

Such a strong manufacturing foundation is attributed to a number of high-profile companies. One example is United Power of the China Energy Corporation, a leading wind power manufacturer and wind farm developer.

A wind turbine rotor hub inside the factory of United Power in Baoding, Hebei province, June 29, 2023. [Photo by Zhu Bochen/China.org.cn]

United Power's wind facilities have played a significant role in shaping China's energy landscape. Over the past 16 years, the installed capacity of wind power facilities produced by the company has exceeded 24 million kW, which is equivalent to 10% of the country's total. 

Its products can be seen across 34 provincial regions of China, including the world's highest-altitude wind farm in Nagqu, Tibet, as well as countries like the United States, Ethiopia and South Africa. The company's self-developed small-scale wind turbine also provides power for China's Zhongshan Station research base in Antarctica.

A wind turbine blade outside the factory of United Power in Baoding, Hebei province, June 29, 2023. [Photo by Zhu Bochen/China.org.cn]

On the photovoltaic side, Yingli Solar, a world-leading provider of smart photovoltaic energy solutions, has established an intelligent manufacturing base in Baoding's Lixian county. The 1-billion-yuan facility includes a photovoltaic testing lab, and also incorporates the country's first set of equipment for recycling crystalline silicon photovoltaic modules using physical methods. 

The equipment has put an end to foreign countries' dominance in recycling techniques for crystalline silicon photovoltaic modules, and is an important step in promoting the green development of the entire life cycle of photovoltaic modules, the company told China.org.cn.

In addition to developing clean energy facilities, companies in Baoding are also leading a revolutionary transformation of traditional buildings and residences, and introducing passive house solutions to enhance energy efficiency in these structures.

Earlier this year, the housing and urban-rural development authorities of Hebei province released an action plan on enhancing the green and low-carbon capabilities of buildings and facilitating synergy between intelligent construction and construction industrialization.

As outlined in the document, 95% of completed urban buildings in Hebei will meet the green structure standards by 2023, and construction is set to begin on a total of 1.95 million square meters of passive ultra-low energy buildings.

Hebei province plans to build a total of 13.5 million square meters of passive ultra-low energy buildings by the year 2025, according to the document.

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