Innovative solar-grazing project boosts green energy, agriculture in Jilin village

In October, Fuxian village in Shuangliao city, Northeast China's Jilin province, unveiled a unique eco-friendly "solar-grazing" farm operated by China Three Gorges Corporation at the Fuxian Photovoltaic Power Station. Blue solar panels cover 521 hectares of saline-alkali soil, forming a canopy over lush grasslands where cattle roam and graze beneath.

The 190,000-kilowatt facility features 257 solar pasture sheds, creating a dual-purpose space. The solar panels generate around 290 million kilowatt-hours of clean energy annually while supporting over 300 cattle who thrive on the grass grown in the nutrient-rich soil enhanced by rainfall and organic waste.

This project diverges from traditional solar farms by combining elevated solar panel setups with livestock shelters. This maximizes sunlight capture while providing expansive grazing areas beneath. Fuxian's soil, once unproductive due to high salinity, now sustains vibrant pastures that support the livestock industry and improve the land's ecological value.

Beyond clean energy and agricultural gains, the Fuxian facility supports local employment, offering jobs to 6-12 villagers annually and encouraging a "company + farmer" model that promotes cattle farming. Villager Li Huachen noted that the skills he acquired at the farm have allowed him to start his own cattle operation, further enhancing local income prospects.

The Fuxian Photovoltaic Power Station exemplifies the potential for green agricultural growth and sets a model for rural vitalization through the integration of sustainable energy and livestock farming.