On a high-altitude plateau that was once the upper Yellow River's worst wind-erosion zone, one of the world's largest solar parks is showing how photovoltaic infrastructure can double as rangeland – a model that aligns with the "Beautiful China" goal of integrating ecological restoration with green industry under the country's 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030).

Before construction began in 2012, the Talatan area in Hainan Prefecture saw more than two months of force-8 winds each year – winds with sustained speeds of 62 to 74 kilometers per hour. As a result, the sand and gravel advance by 10 meters annually. The Mongolian word "talatan" means "vast grassland," but for decades the area was barren, with scattered dry grass poking through the sand.

Today, millions of photovoltaic (PV) panels across 600 square kilometers act as a wind barrier, cutting surface wind speed and reducing moisture evaporation. The change has allowed grass to regenerate beneath the panels. According to the local forestry and grassland authorities, the annual grass yield has reached 174 kilograms per mu (about 2.6 tonnes per hectare) – enough feed to support 100,000 sheep.

The regrowth solved one problem but created another: grass that grew too tall blocked sunlight and reduced power output, while dry grass in winter posed a fire risk. The local government's answer was the "PV sheep" model – allowing herders to bring their flocks into the park to graze under the panels from June through October each year.

Sheep manure fertilizes the soil, boosting grass growth in a self-reinforcing ecological cycle. Village collective cooperatives manage the grazing under agreements with the solar companies. Each of the 56 designated sites stocks a maximum of 400 sheep fitted with electronic ear tags to prevent overgrazing and ensure the model stays within the land's carrying capacity.

"Panels above generate power, grass grows below, and sheep graze in between," said Jiu Xiantai, deputy director of the Hainan prefecture agriculture and animal husbandry bureau. "The PV companies and the local herders both profit; it's a win-win."

"We used to have to pay for pasture outside. Now the PV company lets us graze here for free, and the grass is good enough that we save on winter feed too," said Ye Duo, a herder from the Tiegai township in Gonghe County.

The results are measurable. The solar park now hosts 32 PV eco-pastures and supports over 20,000 sheep across 18 villages. Duo, who once walked 10 kilometers to find sparse forage, now earns nearly 100,000 yuan (about $14,000) annually from PV sheep. Village collectives add an average of 14.57 million yuan per year. A branded "PV sheep" product has also been developed and sold through corporate procurement by the solar companies themselves: e-commerce livestreaming and retail markets.

The model embodies the Beautiful China vision, which calls for integrating ecological restoration with green industry. By weaving together desertification control, clean energy generation, and pastoral livelihoods, Talatan shows how wasteland can become a triple win for ecology, industry and people's well-being.

(Gong Zhe contributed to this story.)