China is building a massive solar power project in Inner Mongolia, aiming to combat desertification and provide clean energy to Beijing and surrounding areas. The Ordos New Energy project, with a capacity of 1,100 MW, will be built in a single phase, starting this year and expected to be operational in 2027.
The project, dubbed the "Great Solar Wall", will stretch for 400 kilometers with an average width of 25 kilometers. It is expected to generate 180 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity annually by 2030, enough to power Beijing and its surrounding areas.
The project will also help prevent soil erosion and reduce sediment entering the Yellow River. It is estimated to treat nearly 27 million hectares of desert.
The Ordos New Energy project is expected to generate 38 billion kWh of green energy annually, saving the equivalent of 12.6 million metric tons of standard coal and reducing carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 31.3 million tons.