Chifeng's two 1-million-kilowatt wind and solar power bases begin operation

Two 1-million-kilowatt wind and solar power bases in Chifeng, North China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region, have begun operation, marking a major step forward in the city's renewable energy development.

The newly commissioned projects include the power transmission facilities for the China Datang Corporation's 1 million-kilowatt wind-solar-storage desert control demonstration base in the Hunshandake Sandy Land and the 1 million-kilowatt wind power ecological restoration project in Ongniud Banner.

The Datang project adopts an innovative integrated model combining "wind-solar-storage" with ecological restoration. Through a photovoltaic layout that enables "power generation above panels and desert control below", the project promotes synergy between clean energy development and sand control. Meanwhile, the Ongniud Banner project integrates wind power construction with ecological rehabilitation and environmental protection efforts in surrounding areas.

The projects have a total investment of 150 million yuan ($21.84 million) and involve the construction of 40 kilometers of transmission lines and 98 transmission towers. They are expected to deliver more than 5 billion kilowatt-hours of green electricity annually — enough to meet the yearly power demand of over 1.3 million households.

Each year, they will save 1.56 million metric tons of standard coal emissions and cut carbon dioxide emissions by 4.27 million tons, along with significant reductions in sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide.

Both wind and solar bases are located in the Hunshandake Sandy Land. As key supporting projects for China's large-scale wind and solar bases in Gobi and other desert areas, the new transmission facilities will ease pressure on the regional grid and accelerate the transition from high-carbon dependence to a green, low-carbon energy structure.