‘Photovoltaic sea’ forms in northern China desert

In Chaideng Village, Ordos City, 3.46 million blue solar panels stretch across the desert, covering 30 million square meters and transforming the endless sands into a sparkling “photovoltaic sea.”

The solar power base is part of an ambitious solar-powered desert restoration project known as the “Great Photovoltaic Wall,” which stretches along the northern edge of the Kubuqi Desert.

While it cannot rival the real Great Wall in length, the project is planned to stretch for about 400 kilometers with an average width of five kilometers, said Liu Tianyun, deputy director of the Ordos Forestry and Grassland Bureau. It will set a new record in terms of area for photovoltaic farms in China and will have 100 million kilowatts of installed capacity upon completion, Liu said.

To date, the city has installed 5.42 million kilowatts of solar power across more than 200,000 mu (13,000 hectares) of sand. The Kubuqi Desert has wide, open lands that are perfect for solar power plants. The region has abundant solar resources, with approximately 3,000 hours of sunlight per year.

In addition to generating power, local solar projects have also proven useful in mitigating the area’s frequent and intense sandstorms and desertification. The project took an innovative approach, with power-generating solar panels mounted on top, allowing plants to grow in the soil and small farm animals to graze beneath the panels.

The panels can reduce groundwater evaporation by 20% to 30%, while providing shade and reducing wind speeds, all while supporting plant growth. In some arid areas, solar-powered drip irrigation is also being adopted to green desert landscapes.

The service life of the modules has also been extended from 25 to 30 years after adopting double-glass encapsulation materials. The minimum clearance between the PV panels and the ground has been adjusted to about 2.5 meters, providing ample space for people and machines to move easily for agricultural work.

Ordos City, also known for its abundant coal resources, has several mines scattered across the Kubuqi Desert. Treated drainage water from the mines is piped to the solar power base and used to clean the solar panels and water the plants.