Xizang wind farm with largest single-capacity turbines connected to grid

A wind power project in southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, which boasts the largest single-capacity turbines in the region, was connected to the grid on Monday, marking a breakthrough in the region's new energy development.

Single-capacity turbines are powerful, high-output wind turbines that can operate alone or in groups with other single-capacity turbines.

Built by the Xizang branch of Huadian New Energy Group, the project is situated at a maximum altitude of 5,370 meters in Qonggyai County, which is administered by Shannan City. It has 12 single-capacity turbines with a total output of 60 megawatts, supported by a grid-forming energy-storage system.

"Once fully operational, the wind farm is expected to generate 160 million kilowatt-hours of electricity annually, which can power approximately 120,000 households. A 12-megawatt to 48-megawatt-hour grid-type energy storage system has also been built to ensure clean energy power supply for the Xizang Autonomous Region this winter and next spring,” said Wang Shikui, a project manager at Huadian New Energy Group.

The project also involved the restoration of 360,000 square meters of local vegetation, ensuring infrastructure development progressed in step with ecological protection, according to its developers.

Xizang has established a comprehensive energy system with hydropower as its main power source, complemented by geothermal, wind and solar energy, among others. From 2015 to 2024, Xizang transmitted 15.8 billion kilowatt-hours of clean energy beyond the region.

Xizang wind farm with largest single-capacity turbines connected to grid

The number of overseas tourists claiming China's departure tax refund surged 285 percent year on year in the first 11 months of 2025, according to data released by the State Taxation Administration on Monday.

In the same period, the sales volume of goods eligible for departure tax refunds and the amount of tax refunds both increased 98.8 percent, according to the data. By the end of November, the number of tax refund stores catering to international visitors in the country had reached 12,252, including over 7,000 "instant refund" stores.

The departure tax refund measures, which enable overseas tourists to claim back value-added tax on eligible purchases made at designated tax refund stores before leaving China, are translating growing inbound travel flows into consumption momentum and emerging as a fresh driver for inbound tourism spending, the administration said.

China has introduced a series of measures since April to optimize its tax refund system for overseas visitors. Tax authorities nationwide have improved processing efficiency and enabled cross-region refund services, making the procedure more convenient and thus boosting tourists' spending.

The country first implemented the departure tax refund policy for overseas travelers in 2015. Since then, the scale of departure tax refunds has continued to grow year by year, benefiting an increasing number of international travelers.

Departure tax refund applications in China surge 285 pct in Jan-Nov