By Zhang Mingyue, Liang Feng

On October 17, at the Belt and Road Entrepreneurs Conference in Beijing, Songjiang-based Universal Energy inked an agreement for a new 250MW wind power project in Kazakhstan.

The company also signed a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) for a 500MW wind power project in Uzbekistan.

1024“一带一路”企业家大会上，寰泰能源董事长南逸与哈萨克斯坦合作伙伴共同签署250MW风电项目合作协议素材1企业供图

In the vast plains of Kazakhstan's Kostanay region, over 4,700 kilometers from Shanghai's Songjiang district, rows of wind turbines stretch across the horizon. This is Universal Energy’s Ybyrai 50MW wind farm. It produces about 190 million kWh of electricity annually, in the process eliminating approximately 190,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions.

Founded in 2015, Universal Energy – on the way to becoming one of the largest clean energy suppliers in Central Asia – currently has four wind power projects in Kazakhstan.

Six power plants with a total capacity of 380MW have already been completed and put into operation.

1024寰泰能源哈萨克斯坦Ybyrai 50MW风电项目素材4企业供图

The first mountain wind power station in central Asia is a landmark "Belt and Road" achievement and a win for Chinese products and brands worldwide.

33 year-old company chairman Nan Yi vividly recalls the company’s first venture in Kazakhstan: "We were literally stepping into the unknown." During Kazakhstan's harsh winters, temperatures can drop below -30°C, causing equipment and machines to malfunction.

Nan Yi stayed on-site for six months, leading the team in round-the-clock construction, continually revising and optimizing technical plans and maintaining close contact with local authorities. There were intense discussions about design standards. "We created visual images for some key elements to help local workers understand and acquire skills," Nan Yi said.

The Kapchagay 100MWp photovoltaic project, completed in September 2019, produces 160 million kWh of electricity annually, reducing local carbon dioxide emissions by 160,000 tons. Universal Energy's total new energy project capacity in Kazakhstan has now reached 630MW.

These wind and photovoltaic projects meet the electricity needs of about 600,000 local residents annually and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 1 million tons per year. The company has increased the height of its wind turbine hubs and blades to over 160 meters.

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The 1.8 billion yuan "100% Chinese-made, 100% Kazakh construction" project is driving Chinese equipment exports. The company created nearly 3,000 jobs during peak construction and has nurtured a group of local power engineers.

Universal Energy is now branching out into the vanadium battery sector. "We will promote Chinese vanadium battery energy storage technology to 'Belt and Road' countries, allowing them to share in the achievements of China's cutting-edge technology."

Editor: Lin Yan, Shu Zhengyu