In the verdant hills of Changshan County, on the fringes of Quzhou in Zhejiang Province, an innovative project is taking root. Beneath a sprawling array of solar panels, crops like grapefruit saplings and exotic bearded tooth mushrooms are flourishing, marking a significant stride in the agrivoltaic movement. This pioneering approach, combining agriculture with photovoltaic (PV) technology, is being championed by State Grid Zhejiang Electric Power at the Tongjing Photovoltaic Power Station.
Covering 70.7 hectares, equivalent to 174.6 acres, the Tongjing PV power station is a testament to the seamless integration of renewable energy with traditional farming. Backed by a substantial investment of 302.21 million yuan (approximately £34 million), the station houses 117,647 polycrystalline PV modules. Beyond its capacity to generate green energy, the station is making substantial contributions to the local economy. It generates annual revenues of around 16 million yuan (approximately £1.8 million) and significantly boosts the income of the surrounding village by about 1.1 million yuan (approximately £123,000) each year. This is achieved through land leases for PV installations and the creation of new jobs within the burgeoning agrivoltaic sector.
Zhu Jianjun, Customer Manager at State Grid Zhejiang Electric Power, highlighted the environmental impact of the station: “Each year, the PV power station contributes approximately 36 million KWh of green electricity to the State Grid, which is the equivalent of saving 12,000 tons of standard coal. This, in turn, reduces CO2 emissions by 36,000 tons and cuts sulfur dioxide emissions by 110 tons.” This achievement underscores the company’s commitment to efficient and sustainable energy production, as well as to the development of a novel agricultural model that pairs solar power with farming.
In recent years, State Grid Zhejiang Electric Power has streamlined the procedures for PV power generation and grid integration, ensuring that distributed PV systems can be connected to the grid with minimal fuss. The Tongjing project is not just about energy—it is a bold move towards a future where farming and renewable energy production can coexist, benefiting both the environment and the economy.
Quzhou, a city at the forefront of this movement, currently boasts a cumulative grid-connected PV installed capacity of 2,495.5 MW. Looking ahead, the city is planning to add another 1,500 MW of PV capacity by 2027, bringing the total to an impressive 3,750 MW. Agrivoltaics is proving to be a critical driver of both agricultural prosperity and regional economic development, offering a model that could be replicated across China and beyond.
As China continues its transition towards greener energy sources, projects like the Tongjing PV power station highlight the potential for agrivoltaics to contribute to a more sustainable and economically viable future. The dual benefits of producing clean energy and supporting local agriculture could provide a blueprint for other regions looking to balance the demands of energy production with environmental stewardship and economic growth.