Imagine a desert once ruled by windswept sand dunes, now bursting with green grass under rows of solar panels 🌱☀️. Welcome to Keyouzhong Banner in the Chinese mainland's Hinggan League, Inner Mongolia, where innovation is turning a sandy wasteland into a "green energy valley."
At the heart of this transformation is a 300 MW photovoltaic (PV) project by China General Nuclear Power Group (CGN). By blending solar power with desertification control—planting drought-tolerant grasses like ryegrass and alfalfa between PV panels—the project powers homes and revives ecosystems at the same time.
"The panels not only generate clean electricity; they also shade the ground, helping grass grow," explains Xu Xiang, CGN's electrical manager. Thanks to over 11,300 mu (about 753 hectares) of new forage, vegetation cover has jumped from below 50% to more than 70% 🚀.
Local herders can graze and harvest forage for free, cutting winter feed costs. Some even earn extra income by operating planting machinery or helping on-site. Plus, with a 45 MW energy storage unit boosting reliability, the system slashes 350,000 tons of CO₂ emissions every year.
But the green drive doesn’t stop there. In eastern Inner Mongolia, industries are joining the low-carbon revolution. Inner Mongolia Huomei Hongjun Aluminum & Power Co. now uses 45% green electricity in its "green aluminum" process, shrinking its carbon footprint and proving that old-school factories can transform too ⚡🔧.
Together, these projects are writing a regional blueprint for sustainable growth. By linking new energy with high-energy industries—think wind-PV-storage integration and green electricity substitution—the area is evolving from a "sandy wasteland" into a "treasure basin" of green development.
This dual win for ecology and economy shows how clean tech can unlock high-quality, low-carbon futures across similar regions. Ready to level up on sustainability? Inner Mongolia might just be the ultimate game-changer 🏞️💚.
Reference(s):
Sandy wasteland to green valley: Inner Mongolia's new energy drive
cgtn.com
