Beating back the desert
The Three-North Shelterbelt Program serves as a vast barrier against the spread of various sandy lands in northern China. China Daily reporters Yan Dongjie and Cui Jia visited the Tengger, Kubuqi and Badain Jaran deserts to witness the efforts and achievements of the megaproject.
'Photovoltaic Great Wall'
In Ordos, Inner Mongolia, a "photovoltaic Great Wall" running along the greenbelt on the edge of the Kubuqi Desert is taking shape. After its completion in 2030, the "photovoltaic Great Wall" consisting of photovoltaic panels will have an average width of 5 km and stretch for 400 km. That's farther than the distance between London and Paris.
The project, which is only 5 km from the Yellow River, will also act as a wind and sand barrier along the watercourse.
The integration of ecological treatment and energy development is expected to inject new vitality into desertification control, said Du Huiliang, the mayor of Ordos.
Different than regular photovoltaic projects, all the panels installed on this project have been raised more than 3 meters above the ground allowing sanding-binding plants and agricultural products to grow underneath, according to Liu Tianyun, deputy head of the Ordos forestry bureau.
The project, which is expected to achieve an installed capacity of 100 million kilowatts, will also help treat 200,000 hectares of sandy land.
Contact the writers at yandongjie@chinadaily.com.cn
