Integration of photovoltaic power stations with controlled-environment agriculture

The project of integration of photovoltaic power station with controlled-environment agriculture in Hohhot Economic and Technological Development Zone. [Provided to China Daily]

Inner Mongolia Dayou Light Energy Co's PV-agricultural grid-connected power project in the New Area of Hohhot Economic and Technological Development Zone is a complex of solar photovoltaic, modern agriculture, planting and animal husbandry, and highly-efficient controlled-environment agriculture.

The solar photovoltaic system can generate power at low cost on the farmland. On the other hand, the sunshine and infrared light can penetrate the thin-film solar cells, thus providing sufficient natural light for animals and plants, and storing heat to increase the temperature of greenhouses at the same time.

As a national demonstration project that takes advantage of the most cutting-edge technology in thin-film solar energy, system integration, intelligent control, controlled-environment agriculture and agricultural planting, it has become a high-tech agricultural industrial base that integrates the functions of thin-film solar energy power generation, agricultural optoelectronic engineering application and promotion, modern agricultural planting, animal husbandry, processing and comprehensive utilization, technological exchange and promotion of agricultural planting and animal husbandry, talent cultivation, agri-tourism, and agricultural products logistics.

To date, Dayou Light Energy Company has completed the phase I project of a 2 mW agricultural demonstration park and a ground revolving power station in the park, featuring an area of 13.3 hectares.

Construction of the photovoltaic town speeds up

At Wushijia town, located in Hohhot’s Tuoketuo county, phase I of a new rural photovoltaic town plans to build 220 households. So far, four model houses and one exhibition hall have been completed, as well as the installation of photovoltaic components. It has already generated electricity totaling 113 kW.

The feasibility study report of the project has been completed, and prophase procedures are being undertaken.

According to a director of Inner Mongolia Shenghua Agricultural Development Co, the contractor of this project, the 30 mW demonstration project that integrates modern agriculture, urban development, and PV power generation is developed by Inner Mongolia Shanlu Energy Group Co.

With a total investment of 455 million yuan ($72.85 million), it will build a project of pv capacity totaling 3 mW in an area covering 129.45 hectares from 2013 to 2015.

By deploying monocrystalline silicon components on the rooftops of rural houses, the project aims to realize comprehensive development of new rural construction, photovoltaic power generation, highly efficient agriculture and animal husbandry, as well as controlled-environment agriculture.

According to the project’s plan, the modern photovoltaic town will be home to 1,000 rural families and create 8,000 job opportunities.

The integration of photovoltaic power stations with urbanization development will be processed. A production area and a living area will be built respectively in the process. In the production area, it's up to the government to transfer the land-use rights of all rural households. By taking the local situation into account, the enterprises will conduct integrated development of controlled-environment agriculture, forestry, forage grass growth, animal husbandry and the solar photovoltaic system. In the living area, houses and other living and service supporting facilities will be constructed according to the standards of urbanization so as to develop new towns with a certain amount of population and complete functions.