"The Wind-Harnessing Initiative" is an important policy measure in China to promote rural energy transformation and revitalization. It achieves deep integration of new energy with rural development through decentralized wind power development. This program not only brings clean energy to rural areas but also explores an innovative path of "green electricity + industrial revitalization".
Policy Positioning and Development BackgroundThe Wind-Harnessing Initiative is a rural wind power special plan jointly implemented by the National Development and Reform Commission, the National Energy Administration, and other departments. Its core lies in utilizing scattered land resources in rural areas for wind power projects. Rural China has about 1 million square kilometers of non-cultivated land (such as mountains and barren slopes), which are difficult to develop traditional agriculture but have the potential to build small wind farms. By converting idle land into "green power stations," the initiative not only solves the problem of inefficient land use in rural areas but also creates new economic growth points.The policy emphasizes the "three non-interference principles": non-interference with cultivated land, non-interference with villagers' lives, and non-interference with the ecological environment. For example, Shanxi Province clearly requires in its implementation plan that wind power equipment must be located 500 meters away from residential areas and avoid ecological protection red line areas.
Implementation Mode and Core MechanismDevelopment Entity Selection:County-level governments determine investment enterprises through public bidding, requiring that the enterprises have at least 5 years of wind power operation experience and commit to allocating no less than 10% of their equity to the village collective. This model ensures both project professionalism and long-term benefits for farmers.Innovative Income Distribution:The "fixed rent + power generation dividend" model is adopted:Land rent: Paid to farmers at 100-300 yuan per mu per yearPower generation dividend: The village collective enjoys an annual return of 5%-8% based on its shareholdingTaking a 20-megawatt project in Meng County, Shanxi Province as an example, participating villages can receive about 800,000 yuan in comprehensive income per year, which is three times the income from traditional planting.Grid Infrastructure Policy:The State Grid implements a policy of "priority access and full consumption" for Wind-Harnessing Initiative projects, and allows the construction of up to 20% energy storage facilities. This design effectively solves the problem of wind power fluctuation and ensures rural electricity stability.
Technical Path and Risk Prevention:Distinct from the controversial vertical-axis micro-wind power technology, the Wind-Harnessing Initiative explicitly adopts horizontal-axis turbines with a single-unit capacity of ≥3 megawatts. This technology has three major advantages:A more than 40% increase in power generation efficiencyNoise control under 45 decibels (comparable to the sound of a refrigerator running)Adaptation to low wind speed environments of 3.5 meters per second or aboveTo prevent project "deviation," multiple regulatory mechanisms are established in the policy:Projects must submit an ecological impact assessment report at the same time as project approvalIncome distribution plans must be approved by a village representative assemblyA provincial project database is established for dynamic management, and projects that fail to start construction on time will be automatically withdrawn.
Achievements in Rural Revitalization Practice:In the pilot project in Qin County, Shanxi Province, wind power projects have complemented local agriculture:Plantation of shade-tolerant medicinal herbs between wind turbine spacesUtilization of storage battery station waste heat for greenhouse heatingPreference for hiring local labor in operation and maintenance centersThis "wind power +" model has increased the annual income of the village collective by about 1.2 million yuan while reducing agricultural production energy cost by 30%. According to the National Energy Administration, by 2023, rural wind power has created 120,000 jobs, with 60% being local farmer transfers.
Future Development Directions:With the release of the Central Document No. 1 in 2024 proposing the implementation of rural energy revolution actions, the Wind-Harnessing Initiative is evolving in three directions:Technical integration: Pilot wind power with multi-energy complementary systems such as solar PV and biomass energy.Digital empowerment: Introduction of smart operation and maintenance platforms for remote monitoring and fault warning.Mode innovation: Exploration of linking wind power revenue with rural livelihood projects such as pensions and education.The initiative is expected to cover 1,000 counties nationwide by 2025, with an annual power generation capacity of up to 30 billion kWh, equivalent to replacing 10 million tons of standard coal, and generating over 20 billion yuan in economic benefits for rural areas. By converting natural resources into development momentum, the Wind-Harnessing Initiative is writing a "green answer"
