China is developing a massive renewable energy project in the Kubuqi Desert of Inner Mongolia, a barren expanse now set to host one of the world’s largest stretches of solar energy infrastructure. Known as the Solar Great Wall, the project aims to generate power while addressing environmental challenges in the region.
Spanning nearly 250 miles in length, the Solar Great Wall will leverage the desert’s flat terrain and abundant sunlight to maximize solar power production.
Upon completion in 2030, the project is expected to achieve a total capacity of 100 gigawatts, enough to potentially power around 29 million homes.
Point phone camera here
In addition to generating electricity, the project is designed to contribute to environmental conservation efforts. By stabilizing wind-eroded dunes and reducing evaporation through solar shading, the Solar Great Wall helps combat desertification.
The project also supports ecological restoration by enabling vegetation growth under its solar panels, transforming sections of the arid desert into greener areas.
China remains a global leader in solar energy, accounting for 51% of the world’s solar capacity as of mid-2024. Between 2017 and 2023, the country consistently added an average of 40,000 megawatts of solar capacity annually. The Solar Great Wall is expected to further solidify China’s position at the forefront of the renewable energy sector.
[Karah Rucker]
ITS ONE OF THE WORLD’S LARGEST MAN-MADE WONDERS – THE GREAT WALL OF CHINA HAS STOOD FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS –
BUT NOW THE NATION IS SET TO BUILD ANOTHER – ONLY THIS ONE HAS A DIFFERENT GOAL IN MIND – GENERATING POWER.
DUBBED THE SOLAR GREAT WALL, CONSTRUCTION IS UNDERWAY ON THIS MASSIVE ENERGY PROJECT IN THE BARREN KUBUQI DESERT OF INNER MONGOLIA.
THE PROJECT WILL SPAN NEARLY 250 MILES, UTILIZING THE DESERT’S FLAT TERRAIN AND ABUNDANT SUNLIGHT FOR OPTIMAL SOLAR POWER GENERATION.
THIS DEVELOPMENT AIMS TO ACHIEVE A TOTAL CAPACITY OF 100 GIGAWATTS WHEN IT IS COMPLETED IN 2030-
POTENTIALLY ENOUGH ENERGY TO POWER AROUND 29 MILLION HOMES.
BUT BEYOND GENERATING ELECTRICITY, THE SOLAR GREAT WALL IS SAID TO BENEFIT ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION EFFORTS.
IT COMBATS DESERTIFICATION BY STABILIZING WIND-ERODED DUNES AND REDUCING EVAPORATION THROUGH SOLAR SHADING.
THE SOLAR GREAT WALL ALSO ENABLES VEGETATION GROWTH UNDER ITS PANELS, CONTRIBUTING TO ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION IN THE ARID KUBUQI DESERT.
CHINA CURRENTLY LEADS THE WORLD IN SOLAR ENERGY, HOLDING 51% OF GLOBAL SOLAR CAPACITY AS OF MID-2024.
THE NATION HAS CONSISTENTLY ADDED AN AVERAGE OF 40,000 MEGAWATTS OF SOLAR CAPACITY ANNUALLY BETWEEN 2017 AND 2023-
AND THE ADDITION OF THE SOLAR GREAT WALL TO THEIR ENERGY PORTFOLIO WILL FURTHER CHINA’S GLOBAL LEAD IN THIS SECTOR.
FOR STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS, I’M KARAH RUCKER.
Straight to your inbox.
By entering your email, you agree to the Terms & Conditions and acknowledge the Privacy Policy.
MOST POPULAR
-
Getty Images
New poll shows Andrew Cuomo could be poised for a political comeback
-
Getty Images
Laken Riley Act advances in Senate as chamber debates immigration law
-
USCG
US Coast Guard gets first new icebreaker in 25 years
-
Citizen
Man with blowtorch arrested near LA wildfires was in country illegally: ICE
