An aerial view of the solar photovoltaic power station at the mining subsidence area in Wulanmulun town, Ordos city. (PHOTO: XINHUA)

By CHEN Chunyou

When walking on the coal mine subsidence area in Wulanmulun town, Ordos city, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region (Inner Mongolia), what used to be vast empty swathes of sand blown by relentless winds, is now an orderly layout of endless photovoltaic panels.

In recent years, Inner Mongolia has accelerated the development and utilization of clean energy, such as photovoltaic power and wind power, which offers a new reference for the development of China's new energy industry.

During the 14th Five-Year Plan period, the issue on how to promote the high-quality development of clean energy aroused the concerns of western China's delegates, who put forward their proposals during the Two Sessions that ended on March 11.

Wulanmulun town is busy with the ecological restoration of the coal mine subsidence area, which covers a land of about 42,000 mu (2,814 hectares). Once the restoration is finished, the mining subsidence area will be transformed into an intelligent photovoltaic pastoral complex. The theory is as follows: photovoltaic modules will be arranged above the ground on supporting structures. The upper layer is used for solar power generation, and the lower layer is used for agricultural and forestry planting and aquaculture, along with additional opportunities for supporting tourism industries, such as agricultural sightseeing.

To develop new energy in the context of carbon peaking and carbon neutrality, it is necessary to promote the orderly replacement of the old energy sources with new ones, to ensure a secure and stable energy supply, said Shi Taifeng, chairman of the Standing Committee of the People's Congress of Inner Mongolia.

From this year, Inner Mongolia will further accelerate the development and utilization of new energy sources, and take the lead in building an energy supply system and a new power system using new energy, so as to transform itself from a fossil energy consumption region into a clean energy consumption region.

Located in the hinterland of northwest China, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region is rich in wind and solar energy resources. In 2012, it was designated as China's first comprehensive demonstration area of new energy by the National Energy Administration. As one of the most important clean energy resources, photovoltaic energy still accounts for a small percentage in its energy structure.

Fang Min, a delegate from Ningxia Electric Power Investment Group, proposed that a different technical route of solar thermal power generation should be supported, and a solar thermal power generation demonstration project should be built.

Fang noted that a diversified use of photovoltaic energy, facilitating agriculture, animal husbandry, aquaculture development, sand prevention and control, and ecological tourism, should be encouraged.