Tarim Oilfield in Xinjiang Surpasses 2 Billion kWh Milestone in Solar Power Generation

The Tarim Oilfield, situated in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of Northwest China, has reached a significant milestone, recording annual photovoltaic (PV) electricity generation exceeding 2 billion kilowatt-hours (kWh) by the close of December 2025. This announcement was made by the China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC). This achievement underscores China's rapid pivot toward renewable energy sources and its commitment to achieving energy sovereignty.

This record-breaking output was fueled by a combination of large-scale and distributed solar installations. Specifically, five centralized solar projects contributed, boasting a combined installed capacity of 2.6 gigawatts (GW). Additionally, 239 decentralized photovoltaic units added another 63,000 kilowatts to the total. Liang Yulei, Director of the New Energy Department at Tarim Oilfields, noted that the 2 billion kWh generated is sufficient to meet the annual energy demands of over 1.8 million people. Furthermore, this clean power output translated into substantial environmental savings, equivalent to approximately 600,000 tons of standard coal and a reduction of 1.07 million tons in carbon dioxide emissions.

Integrating this 'green' power directly into the operational framework of a major oil and gas complex demonstrates a pragmatic strategy for operational decarbonization. A notable aspect of this energy deployment is its distribution: 92% of this clean electricity is fed into the external grid to support the energy needs of other regions across the country. The remaining 8% is consumed internally, directly powering the ongoing oil and gas extraction processes at the site. This energy allocation strategy has resulted in a reduction of the oilfield's own carbon intensity by more than 10 percent.

This development aligns perfectly with the broader energy transformation agenda of the People's Republic of China. Xinjiang, recognized as a crucial strategic hub for China's energy and resource security, is capitalizing on its abundant natural resources. The region's theoretical solar energy potential is estimated to account for 40% of the national total. The success at the Tarim Oilfield, located within the Taklamakan Desert, validates China's dedication to climate goals established at the UN Climate Summit on September 24, 2025, particularly the objective of ensuring non-fossil fuels constitute over 30% of total energy consumption by 2035.

To effectively manage the increasing volume of renewable power flowing from Xinjiang, the development of large-scale energy storage systems is being actively pursued across the region. Overall, this landmark achievement at the Tarim Oilfield—which is China's third-largest onshore oil and gas field—serves as a tangible example of the nation's energy strategy in action. It highlights a concerted effort to lessen reliance on coal while simultaneously cementing China's standing as a global frontrunner in clean technology implementation.