The morning fog drapes over the mountains of western Henan, where hundreds of white wind turbines rotate steadily, transforming wind into green electricity. Located deep in the Jiyuan mountain area in Henan, Daling Wind Farm of Henan New Energy—the first wind power project invested by CHN Energy in Henan Province in 2014, has worked tirelessly to secure energy supply, tackle operational challenges through innovation, and fulfill social responsibilities with compassion.
A panoramic view of Daling Wind Farm
At 6:30 a.m. every day, all staff gather for the morning meeting. The leader goes through the operation logs and weather forecasts to assign tasks, reiterating safety protocols—a routine that has been observed for more than a decade.
After the meeting, the operation and maintenance crews drive to the scattered wind turbine locations. The mountain roads are rough and tortuous, with some sections accessible only on foot. In summer, they endure scorching heat and swarms of insects; in winter, they brave biting winds and freezing temperatures.
Workers checking transmission towers and poles
Tower climbing maintenance often takes seven to eight hours, requiring technicians to crouch or lie in the cramped nacelle. By the time they descend, their legs are numb and aching.
Returning to the station in the evening, they still need to organize maintenance log and review operational data. If a unit fails late at night, they gear up immediately and head into the hills for emergency repairs under the cover of darkness.
In the deep winter of 2025, heavy snow triggered a transmission line trip. The site manager led the team out into the blizzard, trudging along the patrol route for three hours despite frozen and numb hands. Their efforts eventually eliminated the hidden fault and restored normal operation. Setting out at sunrise and returning under the stars, these "wind chasers" of the wind farm have upheld their duty day after day, securing more than 4,000 consecutive days of safe production at the wind farm.
Beyond daily operations, the farm has also pushed forward with technological innovation to address persistent challenges. To address the high failure rate of aging turbines and the difficulties in upgrading, the farm set up a technical task force focused on domestic substitution and intelligent maintenance.
Mountain inspections previously rely on manual patrols, which were inefficient and risky. The team tested drones many times and built a smart inspection platform to scan blades and towers fully. In total, over 30 hidden dangers have been found and removed.
In another initiative, for converters and pitch systems, spare parts were stopped and repairs were costly. The staff monitored operation in daytime and studied technical drawings at night. They upgraded several units and repaired faulty cards and battery packs, which saves more than one million yuan each year.
Staff conduct standardized checks on warehouse materials
Yet technical breakthroughs are only half the story; the team makes the rest. "If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together". The outstanding performance of Daling Wind Farm would not have been possible without the dedication of every employee and the cohesive strength of the team.
The farm places high priority on talent development, organizing weekly training sessions, regular skill competitions, and hands-on drills. A "mentor-apprentice" mechanism is in place, with seasoned staff passing on practical know-how and younger employees striving to learn. "When I first joined, I knew nothing about turbine maintenance. It was my masters who guided me patiently, step by step," says young employee Wang Chenfeng. Today, he can independently handle routine faults and has grown into a young professional of the farm.
The O&M?staff?of the farm
Moreover, the station also sends selected staff to equipment manufacturers for specialized training and invites technical experts to provide on-site guidance, enabling all team members to sharpen their skills through practice. As a result, every employee has become a multi-skilled maintenance professional.
Beyond internal capacity building, the farm also engages actively with the local community. In the past, the roads in Daling Village were potholed and muddy, making travel nearly impossible during rain or snow. The farm invested over 1.3 million yuan to pave 6.8 kilometers of rural roads, which not only ensured unimpeded access for maintenance but also addressed residents’ travel concerns. Besides, an additional 100,000 yuan in assistance funds were allocated to upgrade village’s infrastructure. To address the poor market access for the local mugwort industry, the farm collaborated with the village committee to host multiple "Mugwort Festivals" and helped establish integrated online and offline sales channels. With these joint efforts, sales of mugwort products surpassed 2 million yuan, enabling Daling Village to lift out of poverty in 2020. At the same time, the farm has planted landscaping greenery along turbine access roads to protect the mountain ecosystem. Leveraging the scenic turbine clusters and natural landscapes, it has developed tourism facilities such as viewing platforms, integrating industrial scenery with ecological beauty, boosting rural tourism and increasing villagers' incomes.
On this vibrant land of western Henan, the “wind chasers” of Daling Wind Farm will continue to stand firm, build on this momentum and write the next chapters of endeavor atop the hundred-meter towers.
