Driving to the east from city center of Yinchuan, capital city in Northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, millions of midnight blue solar panels would suddenly come into view on the slopes of gullies, like a blue ocean.
All that sunlight absorbed by the more than 2 million photovoltaic (PV) panels is converted into electricity that flows into the grid, creating the world's largest PV power plant and powers cities across the country. Under the panels are also planted goji, which with the solar park together turned the once deserted land into an “oasis” and helped locals to lead better lives. Then in 2016, to make full use of the land, over the goji plantation, Huawei Smart PV supported the Ningxia Baofeng Energy Group in building a solar power system, which can also conserve energy and reduce emissions.
Through the efforts, the vegetation coverage has now increased from 30 percent to 85 percent, which has also significantly improved the regional climate. At the end of December last year, compared with traditional coal power station, the solar farm is estimated to reduce emissions of CO2 by 2.047 million tons, equal to planting around 89 million trees.
The average annual power generation income is expected to be more than 100 million yuan, benefiting more than 26,000 poor households in 349 low-income villages. By the end of 2020, the per capita disposable income of farmers in Hongde village has already reached 10,686 yuan.
Aside from the economic benefit, solar PV power generation is also one of the top 10 targeted poverty alleviation projects in China. Since 2014, the country has made relevant plans, strengthened power grid building and operation services, and promoted various solar photovoltaic poverty alleviation projects funded by the government and carried out by enterprises.
“Poverty alleviation is just a first step, we are highly motivated now, and after five years, you will see an even better picture,” a local resident told the Global Times on Tuesday.
