"Blue Ocean" Rises in Northwest China: Exploring the Green Miracle of the Country's Largest PV Power Base

On the vast Gobi Desert of Guazhou County, Jiuquan, Gansu Province, rows of solar panels stretch toward the horizon like waves, forming a spectacular "blue ocean." This mega solar power station, with a total installed capacity of 1.5GW, generates enough electricity annually to meet the needs of 2 million households. Our reporter ventured into the heart of Northwest China’s photovoltaic cluster to uncover how this "barren land" has been transformed into a "green electricity factory."

 

1. Cutting-Edge Technology in a World-Class Solar Array

Smart O&M System

 

256 inspection drones and 38 cleaning robots deployed

 

AI fault diagnosis reduces response time to 15 minutes

 

Huawei’s intelligent IV diagnosis enables module-level health monitoring

 

Extreme-Environment Adaptations

 

Specially coated mounting racks withstand winds up to Beaufort scale 12

 

Bifacial modules installed 1.5m above ground minimize dust accumulation

 

Self-cleaning coating extends cleaning cycles by 30%

 

1. Dual Benefits: Ecology and Economy

Innovative Desert Management

 

Drought-resistant crops planted between arrays boost vegetation coverage to 38%

 

Panel shading reduces ground temperature by 4-6°C, curbing water evaporation

 

Integrated sheep farming (20,000 heads) creates "power generation above, cultivation between, husbandry below" system

 

Economic Impact

 

Annual electricity sales exceed ¥900 million, contributing 15% to local tax revenue

 

Created 2,000 jobs with average O&M salaries reaching ¥80,000

 

Each kWh reduces CO2 by 0.85kg; annual carbon offset equals 65,000 hectares of forest

III. "Green Electricity Highway" for West-East Transmission

Ultra-High Voltage Support

 

±800kV UHVDC project transmits 40B kWh yearly

 

"PV storage" smoothes output curve, boosting utilization to 98%

 

Multi-Energy Integration

 

Complements nearby wind farms for balanced generation

 

200MW/400MWh storage station participates in peak shaving

 

Pilot hydrogen production project yields 5 tons daily

 

1. Future Challenges & Development

Technical Priorities

 

Sand-resistant tracking systems

 

Enhanced low-temperature efficiency

 

Intelligent cleaning solutions for desert plants

 

Policy Recommendations

 

Refining land-use policies for desert PV

 

Strengthening interprovincial green power consumption mechanisms

 

Exploring carbon trading-PV revenue linkages

 

Field Observations

In the control room, a giant screen displays real-time data: daily generation has already reached 8.12 million kWh. Station manager Ma Jianjun explains: "Every module's status is now digitized—like giving the plant a CT scanner."

 

At dusk, the solar array glows golden under sunset light as cleaning robots glide along tracks. In the distance, new monocrystalline modules are being installed, with 500MW additional capacity planned by year-end.

 

Industry Perspective

"Northwest PV bases are demonstrating scale advantages," says Li Junfeng, Deputy Director of China Renewable Energy Society. "Through 'mega bases UHV' mode, China's PV costs have fallen below ¥0.25/kWh, offering a global energy transition solution."

 

Per NEA data, Northwest China's PV generation surged 28% YoY in 2023, accounting for 19% of national total. With the third batch of renewable mega-bases underway, this "blue ocean" continues expanding its green footprint.