Sitting in the hinterland of Southwest Tengger Desert, a large area of photovoltaic panels are seen shining under the sunshine, with green grass growing between.
That is the 1-gigawatt PV power generation project, the first phase of CHN Energy Investment Group (CHN Energy)'s new energy base project in Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. It is the first project to be completed among the first new energy base projects in the desert and Gobi areas and a core part of the country's west-to-east power transmission project.
A view of the photovoltaic panels of the 1-gigawatt photovoltaic power generation project developed by CHN Energy Investment Group in Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region [Photo/sasac.gov.cn]
It integrates new energy facility construction, desert and Gobi ecological system preservation and restoration.
Construction of the project started on Nov 15, 2022, and just within 10 days, the 28,000 mu sand hills were removed, becoming flatland and in 28 days, the engineering of the 330-kilovolt booster station was completed. Electrical installation of the 330-kV booster station was done in the first two months and on April 26, 2023, the project was put into operation.
In 2023, the project generated 1.36 billion kilowatt-hours of power and is expected to provide 1.8 billion kWh of clean energy annually in the following years, meeting the annual demand of 1.5 million households.
A view of the 1-gigawatt PV power generation project developed by CHN Energy Investment Group in Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region [Photo/sasac.gov.cn]
The panels are about three meters above the land, leaving enough space for taking anti-desertification actions, growing plants and breeding animals.
The photovoltaic panels at the 1-gigawatt PV power generation project developed by CHN Energy Investment Group in Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region are about three meters above the land, leaving enough space for carrying out anti-desertification actions, plant growth and animal breeding. [Photo/sasac.gov.cn]
Technicians of CHN Energy inspect components of the photovoltaic panels, ensuring normal performance of the facilities. [Photo/sasac.gov.cn]
A bird's-eye view of the grass growing in squares to help control desertification [Photo/sasac.gov.cn]
A view inside the greenhouse built in the Tengger Desert, where vegetables and fruits like eggplants, chili, tomatoes and watermelons are grown [Photo/sasac.gov.cn]
Technicians inspect the photovoltaic panels at the 1-gigawatt PV power generation project developed by CHN Energy Investment Group in Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. [Photo/sasac.gov.cn]
(Executive editor: Zhu Zeya)
