Along the coast of the Bohai Sea, towering wind turbines spin steadily in the sea breeze. Xing Zhilun of CHN Energy Longyuan Power Shandong Branch has grown from an ordinary operation and maintenance technician into a chief technician and one of CHN Energy’s Top Ten Outstanding Young Employees. Treating fault sites as classrooms and frontline challenges as research subjects, he has devoted himself to wind turbines, technological breakthroughs and talent development, writing a story of youthful ambition in the new energy sector.
Taking root in ordinary work
At daybreak in the wind farm, turbine towers rise high against the sky as the sea breeze drifts gently through the site. From the moment he joined the company, Xing Zhilun approached every task with unwavering rigor. While others focused only on operational results, he reviewed every step of the process in detail. While others were satisfied with knowing how to operate equipment, he insisted on understanding the underlying principles. Every tower climb, every set of data and every abnormal reading had to be evidence-based, verifiable and reproducible in his eyes.
He gradually shifted from following the mentor’s instructions to working with questions in mind. Through diligent study and hands-on practice at the frontline, he quickly became the youngest technical backbone of the team. Day after day, he honed his skills to perfection in an ordinary position, laying a solid foundation for future technological breakthroughs.
Turning experience into models
Years of dedication on the operation and maintenance frontline enabled Xing Zhilun to develop exceptional troubleshooting expertise. He independently created the Three-Observation data diagnostic method, reducing fault investigation time from two or three days to less than one hour and improving efficiency by 95 percent. He also led the implementation of a “one turbine, one strategy” precision maintenance approach, eliminating 25 categories of recurring faults over three years. As a result, turbine failure rates dropped by 37.9 percent, generating cumulative economic benefits exceeding 10 million yuan (about 1.38 million USD).
He transformed eight years of practical experience into algorithmic models covering 1,734 wind turbines and developed seven types of early-warning models. His work earned two patents and two software copyrights, prevented more than 20 major failures, and avoided losses exceeding 2 million yuan (about 276,000 USD). From emergency repairs to digital intelligent warning systems, he has driven traditional maintenance toward smart operation and maintenance, making digitalization the most effective practical tool on the frontline.
Carrying the mission forward
From turbine platforms to training classrooms, Xing Zhilun chose to share his expertise with more people. He proactively integrated his self-developed models and thousands of fault characteristics into the Qingyuan large model, helping transform a general-purpose model into a specialized tool for wind power applications. He also turned complex algorithms into accessible training courses, delivering nearly 500 class hours to more than 2,000 participants.
In 2024, he won both the individual and team championships at the National Wind Power Operation and Maintenance Skills Competition and later stood on the stage to receive the title of one of CHN Energy’s Top Ten Outstanding Young Employees. Through meticulous dedication and a strong sense of responsibility, he has inspired more young people to grow into skilled professionals while advancing the company’s operation and maintenance transformation.
Under the clear sky, the wind turbines continue their steady rotation. Those turning blades bear witness to Xing Zhilun’s commitment to fulfilling his mission with youthful passion and upholding his original aspiration with craftsmanship, while also illuminating the path forward for the pursuit of dreams in the new energy industry.
