Sandy wasteland to green valley: Inner Mongolia's new energy drive

At the China General Nuclear Power Group (CGN) Keyouzhong Banner Integrated Project of Desertification Control in China's Hinggan League, Inner Mongolia, high-quality forages such as ryegrass and green foxtail thrive beneath the photovoltaic (PV) panels. This scene of integrated " photovoltaic power generation combined with desertification control" not only effectively halts the encroachment of sand, but also generates significant economic value, breathing new life into this once sand-plagued land.

PV panels above, sand control below: a win-win ecological-economic model

With a total installed capacity of 300 MW, the CGN project achieved a full-capacity grid connection on May 30 this year. It innovatively adopts a "grass-PV complementary" ecological management model, combining a 300,000-kW PV system with a 45-MW energy storage facility.

"The area was once dotted with patchy grasslands; strong winds exposed bare sandy soil and formed wind-eroded pits everywhere," said Xu Xiang, the project's Electrical Manager with 16 years of experience in the new energy sector. To reverse desertification, over 11,300 mu (approximately 753 hectares) of drought-tolerant grasses – including Astragalus adsurgens, ryegrass, Elymus dahuricus, green foxtail, and alfalfa – have been planted between the PV panels. This leverage's the panels' shading and temperature-regulating effects to boost grass growth.

Ji Rentai, Deputy Director of Keyouzhong Banner's Forestry and Grassland Bureau, noted a remarkable ecological turnaround: "Vegetation coverage has jumped from less than 50 percent in the severely desertified past to over 70 percent post-remediation." The project delivers annual carbon dioxide emissions reductions of 350,000 tons while bringing tangible benefits to local. Herders are permitted to harvest forage free of charge for winter livestock feeding, and many have earned incomes by working on-site or renting grass-planting machinery.

Xu Xiang emphasized that challenges remain, such as ensuring grass survival through winter and assessing the impact of PV panel cleaning machinery on vegetation. "But with a rigorous research mindset, no problem is insurmountable," he said.

Low-carbon transformation of traditional industries: the "green aluminum" breakthrough

Beyond converting deserts to energy sources, eastern Inner Mongolia is also spearheading the low-carbon transition of high-energy-consumption industries. A flagship example is Inner Mongolia Huomei Hongjun Aluminum & Power Co., Ltd. which has adopted a "green aluminum" production model. Green electricity now accounts for 45 percent of its total energy input, substantially cutting carbon emissions from the aluminum manufacturing process.

From "sandy wasteland" to "treasure basin": a regional green development blueprint

The development of new energy follows a clear industrial chain logic: new energy development, which leads to equipment manufacturing, and the upgrading of traditional industries. Driven by models like "integrated wind-PV-storage" and "green electricity substitution," the region has simultaneous increased its new energy installed capacity whiled reducing carbon emissions. This transformation is turning the once-barren "sandy wasteland" into a thriving "green energy valley" and "treasure basin" for sustainable economic development.

This dual success in ecological protection and economic growth demonstrates how new energy can be a "golden key" to balancing environmental conservation and high-quality development, offering a replicable model for green and low-carbon transformation across similar regions.