Rudong county in Nantong, Jiangsu province has made headway in sustainable development as it strives to become a national demonstration area for green energy industry.

The city has achieved several remarkable milestones, including the construction of the largest offshore wind farm in Asia, the largest offshore energy island in the country, and the largest liquified natural gas (LNG) hub in the Yangtze River Delta region.

As one of the earliest cities in China to venture into the wind power sector, Rudong has been at the forefront of industrial development since the initiation of wind power projects in 2002.

The world's first intertidal wind farm, the Jiangsu Rudong Offshore Intertidal Wind Farm, is located in Rudong and was built with investments from China Longyuan Power Group.

To date, Rudong's total installed wind power capacity has exceeded 5.63 million kilowatts, accounting for nearly one-fourth of Jiangsu's total capacity. More specifically, offshore wind power in Rudong is capable of producing 4.83 million kilowatts, which is approximately 41 percent of the province's total offshore wind power capacity.

In 2023, the county's new energy generation projects—primarily wind power—transmitted 13.7 billion kilowatt-hours of clean electricity to the grid, equivalent to 140 percent of the city's total electricity consumption. This achievement resulted in a reduction of 15.74 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions and saved 3.8 million tons of standard coal.

Rudong's focus on the new energy industry is further demonstrated by the construction of LNG receiving terminals. The PetroChina Jiangsu LNG receiving terminal, which was completed and put into operation in 2011 on Yangguang Island at the Yangkou Port, has since undergone two expansions.

The largest and most robust clean energy hub in the Yangtze River Delta region, the terminal currently has six LNG storage tanks with a total capacity of 1.08 million cubic meters, capable of storing 670 million cubic meters of natural gas at full capacity. During the peak winter gas consumption period, they can meet the gas demand of 23 million households for one month.

As a result of Rudong's dedicated efforts in the construction of LNG terminals, Yangguang Island has become a thriving hub with four LNG terminals, with a few still under construction. After their completion, the annual unloading and turnover capacity of the port will exceed 22 million tons, said Shao Feng, member of the standing committee of the CPC Rudong County Committee.

A vessel carrying LNG parked in the Yangkou Port. [Photo/Nantong Daily]