A photovoltaic power farm in Bayingolin Mongol Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, August 9, 2022. /CFP
The photovoltaic power project in the Tarim Oilfield of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region has generated over 105 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) of green electricity so far this year, said its operator on Saturday.
The Tarim Oilfield is located in the hinterland of the Taklimakan Desert, the largest desert in China, within the Tarim Basin of Xinjiang.
The green energy generated is equivalent to 22,200 tonnes of standard oil, reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 70,500 tonnes, according to the China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC).
The electricity is equivalent to usage by over 40,000 households for a year, and has effectively met the soaring power demand in southern Xinjiang, said the company, adding that nearly 20 percent of the green electricity generated was consumed within the oilfield to reduce the load on the grid.
Workers at PetroChina's Tarim Oilfield branch set up photovoltaic equipment along the Tarim Desert Road in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, March 20, 2022. /Xinhua
Tarim Basin is a major petroliferous basin in China, and one of the most difficult areas to explore due to its harsh ground environment and complicated underground conditions.
The company has discovered and developed 32 large and medium-sized oil and gas fields, with the total output exceeding 470 million tonnes over the past 30-plus years.
Taking advantage of the region's rich solar energy resources, the company has been increasing its pace in the construction of photovoltaic power stations in recent years.
A new 500,000 kilowatts (kW) photovoltaic power station in Yecheng County is expected to be connected to the grid this year.
(With input from Xinhua)