The first phase of the solar and wind project, which is located in the Tengger Desert, is anticipated to generate 1.8 billion kilowatt hours annually.
The country’s first renewable energy power base in the Gobi Desert and other arid regions, according to its operator China Energy Investment Corp., or China Energy, was connected to the grid and started producing power on Tuesday.
The first phase of the solar and wind project, which is located in the Tengger Desert in the Ningxia Hui autonomous region of northwest China, is anticipated to generate 1.8 billion kilowatt hours annually, or enough energy to run 1.5 million households, according to the company.
The government began the first phase of wind and solar power projects at the end of 2021, consisting of a total of 100 gigawatts of wind and solar power capacity in desert areas that cover 19 provinces. As part of efforts to increase renewable energy, China plans to accelerate the construction of solar and wind power generation facilities in the Gobi Desert and other arid regions.
The renewable energy power base project is the first to be built and put into operation, according to China Energy, with a total investment of more than 85 billion yuan ($12.28 billion) and a total installed capacity of 13 million kilowatts.
In northern China and southern Mongolia, there is a vast, arid area known as the Gobi Desert. Dunes, mountains, and exotic animals like snow leopards and Bactrian camels are some of its best-known natural features.
The Khongoryn Els sand dunes in the Gobi Gurvansaikhan National Park are rumoured to sing when the wind blows. Yolyn Am Canyon’s extensive ice field is another feature of the park. Fossils of dinosaurs have been discovered at Bayanzag’s red “Flaming Cliffs.”
China has experimented with a number of plans to slow the desert’s growth, and some of them have been successful. The Chinese government launched a tree-planting initiative in 1978 called the Three-North Shelter Forest Program (also known as the “Green Great Wall”). It was planned to last until 2050.