Taishun county in Zhejiang boosts green energy with solar projects and innovative land use

In Taishun county of Wenzhou, East China's Zhejiang province, plenty of solar panels are distributed along the hillside in an orderly manner.

Established in 2019, the Xingnong Photovoltaic Power Station in Taishun possesses a total installed capacity of nearly 22.84 MW and has been fully integrated into the local power grid.

As the largest of its kind in Wenzhou, the power station covers an area of more than 900 mu (60 hectares) and involves a total investment of 173.5 million yuan ($24.34 million).

Green electricity is not the only benefit that the power station has brought to Taishun.

According to the manager of the power station, 100 acres of Chinese yew trees – high-valued medicinal plants that are known as "green gold" – have been grown in the open space below the solar panels.

"The solar panels could not only generate electricity, but also provide a favorable growth environment for these Chinese yew trees," said the manager, adding that the efficient use of resources has fostered new ways for local farmers to boost income.

The manager also said Xiyang town in Taishun is planning to utilize 500 million yuan and 3,000 acres of land to carry out a similar photovoltaic project, as well as build a factory to extract active ingredients from Chinese yew trees.

Meanwhile, many companies in the county have leveraged the idle space in their factories to generate green electricity.

Zhejiang Lizhong Bamboo and Wood Co Ltd, for example, has placed more than 700 solar panels on the roof of its factory, with a total installed capacity of about 500 kilowatts.

"While giving a sound support to daily production and helping reduce production costs, the solar panels have also cut our carbon emissions," said Lin Guanwu, head of the company.

Factories usually have large and flat roofs, with very few obstructions, which has made them perfect places to install solar panels.

Taishun county has so far witnessed 14 local companies install rooftop photovoltaic systems, which could save about 1,720.6 tons of coal and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by about 4,625.83 tons each year.

The State Grid's Wenzhou Power Supply Co said Taishun has integrated 1,892 photovoltaic projects into the grid, with an installed capacity of 69.94 MW.

The company said it will continue to support photovoltaic projects in all respects, thereby further contributing to the achievement of carbon peak and carbon neutrality goals.

Specifically, efforts will be made to strengthen cooperation with the local government, step up transformation of the power grid and cultivate more professional talent.

liuzizheng@chinadaily.com.cn