 |
|
 |
| Energy
and Geothermal Nagqu is richly endowed with hydraulic, geothermal, petroleum, coal, solar energy and wind energy resources. Sunshine totals, 2,886 hours a year, hence commanding enormous advantages in the development of solar energy. In recent years, Nagqu has introduced close to 1,000 sets of solar energy lamps from China's hinterland, which are small in size and easy to operate and greatly appreciated by the local herders. The solar energy power stations in Nyima and Shuanghu have already gone into operation. Many government institutions, and urban and rural residents now resort to wind and solar energy for illumination and heating. Crisscrossed by rivers, Nagqu is also very rich in water resources. The Yangtze and Nujiang rivers all originate from this area. Some 20 tributaries empty into each of the two rivers, and some 30 tributaries empty into inland lakes and the yarlung Zangbo River. There are also many seasonal rivers in this area. In addition, Nagqu boasts over 3,000 lakes, including the Namco Laka (one of the four major alpine lakes in the plateau), and the Tangra Yumco Lake (one of the three major yumco lakes in Tibet). Thus far, hydraulic power stations have been built in Biru, Baqen, Sog and Xainza counties, and some news ones are being built in Nyainrong and some other counties. These should help solve the shortage of energy in Nagqu. Nagqu is very rich in geothermal energy, with more than 200 geothermal sites distributed throughout the region. A dual circulation geothermal power station of 1,000 Kw, built with a loan from the United Nations, succeeded in a trial operation in 1993. Oil and gas have also been found in Nagqu, in the Pangkong, Amdo, Shuanghu and Nagqu counties. Rich oil reserves have been located in the Lhunbola area in Pangkog County in the western part of north Tibet. More than 40 test wells have been dug to depths of 35,000 meters, with good results. Coal reserves are concentrated in the Tumengela and Qamdo areas in the Tibet Autonomous Region. In Nagqu, four sites have been found. Efforts were made to mine coal at Tumengela, but poor coal quality and fierce natural conditions forced the miners to stop mining before long. Nagqu is exposed to seasonal winds of force 4 or stronger, which generally blow from 2pm to 8pm daily. The wind is stronger in Amdo, with the blowing period covering 280 days a year. Some villages are exposed to these strong winds for 5,570 hours a year. Since 1982, about 300 smll wind generators have been introduced from China's hinterland for trial operation in Degyi Township and Shuanghu in Nagqu County. Local science commissions have set up stations to further utilize wind energy.In Tibet, where no readily available fossil fuels exist, the Nagqu geothermal field provides a useful energy source for the local population.The project was originated by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the contract, after an international tender, was awarded by the United Nations. The power plant,With the help of the UN, a 1 MWe binary plant was built in 1993,which utilizes an air cooler to condense the organic fluid, as no cooling tower make-up water is available, is the highest of this type in the world at 14,850ft--4500m above sea level.At the same time, a geothermal greenhouse at an elevation of 4500 m has been completed. The output of the greenhouse is 6000 kg/mu (1 mu = 0.0667 hectares). Since geothermal is often a replacement for diesel or other fossil fuels, it has great benefits for people's health through improved air quality.It will be a unforgotable memory to swimming in the natural swimming pool to enjoy the beauty of the jokul! |
|
