Strong electricity production demonstrates the Xinjiang region’s economy’s resiliency and vigor.
Northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region transmitted approximately 32.4 billion kilowatt-hours (kWh) of locally generated electricity to other parts of the country in the first quarter of this year, setting a new record, local media outlet Tianshannet reported on Sunday. This figure not only highlights the significant strides being made in Xinjiang’s energy sector but also underscores the region’s economic resilience and vitality.
Since 2010, Xinjiang has supplied electricity to 22 provincial-level regions nationwide, with the volume of electricity transmitted increasing by 42 times. The total amount of electricity transmitted has surpassed 860 billion kWh, the Xinhua News Agency reported in January.
The rapid expansion of electricity transmission from Xinjiang is, to a certain extent, attributed to the development of ultra-high voltage direct current power transmission lines, which connect Xinjiang’s power generation hubs with the growing electricity needs in other regions of China.
In 2024, Xinjiang’s power grid saw its new-energy generation soar to 116.16 billion kWh, a 30.7 percent increase from the previous year. This surge in new energy exceeds 80 percent of the total growth in power generation, making it the primary source of electricity and the leading driver of the region’s power expansion, according to the Xinjiang Daily.
For a long time, Xinjiang’s deserts, Gobi regions and barren landscapes were considered natural disadvantages. Yet rapid progress in China’s new-energy technologies has changed this perspective. These areas are now seen as ideal for setting up significant clean energy production bases in China. As Xinjiang pushes forward with the expansion of large-scale wind and solar power projects, particularly in its deserts, Gobi regions and barren areas, there has been rapid growth in the capacity for new energy installations.
The photovoltaic, wind energy and other renewable energy sectors are witnessing swift growth in Xinjiang. Thanks to the ongoing expansion of China’s power transmission network, the country’s substantial demand for power and a steady shift toward renewable energy sources, Xinjiang’s renewable energy production is poised to capture even more opportunities, potentially bolstering the growth of sectors like photovoltaics in the region.
Over the past few years, the US has consistently targeted industries in Xinjiang, citing so-called forced labor as a pretext. For example, under the so-called Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act, the import of goods from Xinjiang to the US is banned unless companies can prove that production did not use “forced labor.” This law is designed to undermine Xinjiang’s exports and its key industries. However, in reality, has Xinjiang’s economy been suffocated? Clearly, the answer is no.
Xinjiang’s renewable energy sector has been thriving. It is home to an important production base for polysilicon, the essential material for the photovoltaic industry, and also hosts China’s largest wind turbine manufacturers.
Despite ongoing pressure from the US, evidence shows that Xinjiang’s solar and wind energy industries continue to grow quickly, demonstrating significant prospects for further expansion.
The renewable energy sector serves as a testament to the economy’s resilience and robustness. Despite facing pressure from the US, Xinjiang’s economy has demonstrated sustained growth across various industries, highlighting the region’s overall economic advancement.
In 2024, Xinjiang’s GDP grew by 6.1 percent year-on-year, surpassing 2 trillion yuan ($273 billion) for the first time.
In the same year, Xinjiang’s total trade hit 435.1 billion yuan, a 21.8 percent increase year-on-year. Notably, there was a significant rise in the exports of high-tech and high-value-added products, with mechanical and electrical products exports growing by 34.2 percent.
Xinjiang’s new-energy industry, along with these economic figures, reflects, to a certain extent, the resilience and vitality of the economy of the Xinjiang region in the face of external pressures.
