China is still one of the countries with the highest pollution rate, and is also among those that have set longer-term emissions reduction goals. However, it cannot be denied that it is also what more is investing in mega projects for renewable energy generationand the last of these has just been completed.
This is a photovoltaic park in the Gobi desert which also takes the top of the ranking as single plant with the highest power in the country. Entered into operation last November 5th, the Mengxi Blue Ocean uses the crazy number of 5.9 million solar panelsfor a total installed power of well 3 GWand a production of 5.7 billion kWh every yearequal to the energy needed by 2 million families.
The plant stands on an area that was previously a coal minein Inner Mongolia, and will allow save the emission of 4.7 million tons of carbon dioxide every year. The photovoltaic power plant also uses steel for the anchoring foundations instead of concrete, further reducing the environmental impact.
But as Chuang Xihong, deputy director of the Engineering and Construction Department of Guodian Power Group revealed, the mega plant is also an agrovoltaic sitewhere plants are planted at the foot of the panels which fix the desert sand, and serve as pasture for Australian white sheep and chickens.
This way the Blue Ocean will not only do the same job as 62,700 hectares of treesbut will contribute to the development of livestock farming in the area, without using new land as pasture.
Source: greenmove.hwupgrade.it
