A small PV station making a big difference in restoring sandy land

Date: 2026-07-15

A 23.2-megawatt photovoltaic (PV) station may be small, but not when it comes to ecological restoration.

Since construction began in 2018, the site of the Xieli PV Station in Kulun Banner, Inner Mongolia, has undergone a green revolution. To combat wind erosion, straw checkerboards were laid and drought-resistant alfalfa was planted among the solar panels. The panels provide shade to help the soil retain moisture and reduce the impact of wind erosion, while the alfalfa's roots reach deep into the sand to stabilize it. Today, greenery has spread across the site, with vegetation coverage reaching 95 percent.

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By China Three Gorges Corporation

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