The sandy and nearly lifeless Kuzupchi desert in Inner Mongolia once held the reputation of a "sea of death." However, it has recently transformed into a sea of photovoltaic opportunities, spurred by an influx of installed solar panels, reports Kazpravda.kz citing Naked-Science.
This construction is part of China's long-term plan to build a "great solar wall" aimed at generating enough energy to power Beijing.
The project, which is expected to be completed by 2030, will stretch 400 kilometers in length, 5 kilometers in width, and have a maximum generating capacity of 100 gigawatts.
Sunny weather, flat terrain, and proximity to industrial centers make Kubuki a desirable location for solar energy production. Panels are being installed in a long, narrow strip of dunes south of the Yellow River between the cities of Baotou and Bayan Nur. NASA's Landsat 8 and 9 satellites have captured images showing the expansion of solar farm areas from December 2017 to December 2024.
As of June 2024, China led the world in installed solar power capacity with 386,875 megawatts, accounting for about 51 percent of the global total, according to data from Global Solar Power Tracker. The United States follows in second place with 79,364 megawatts (11 percent), and India is in third with 53,114 megawatts (7 percent).
The growth of solar energy in China has been particularly rapid over the last decade. From 2017 to 2023, the country’s installed solar capacity increased by an average of 39,994 megawatts per year. In comparison, the solar capacity in the United States grew by an average of 8,137 megawatts during the same period.
Previously, the longest transoceanic bridge was opened in China, with a total length of 7.6 km.
At the end of December, the world's longest high-speed tunnel was completed in northwest China, measuring 22.13 kilometers in length.