On March 25, CCTV-13’s Morning News reported on the commencement of CECEP Solar’s 500,000-kilowatt integrated photovoltaic (PV) desert control project in Dalad Banner, Inner Mongolia. A key initiative under China’s Three-North Shelterbelt Forest Program (TSFP), the project adopts a PV + Desert Control model, combining renewable energy generation with the ecological restoration of 51,000 mu (approximately 3,400 hectares) of desertified land. As of now, construction is progressing smoothly, with 450 megawatts of PV pile foundation installation completed and 18,000 mu (1,200 hectares) of off-site desert control achieved.

Aiming to rehabilitate desertified terrain, the project integrates renewable energy development with sand fixation by prioritizing ecological protection and green development principles. It utilizes solar panels to reduce surface evaporation, employs panel foundations to stabilize sand, and promotes under-panel vegetation cultivation and animal husbandry, achieving vertical comprehensive land utilization. This innovative approach establishes a sustainable, science-driven model for desert management. Beyond addressing Inner Mongolia’s pressing desertification challenges and improving regional ecosystems, the project will supply clean energy to support the TSFP and ecological governance in the Yellow River’s π-shaped bend region. By harmonizing ecological, economic and social benefits, the initiative contributes to China’s national strategy of building a beautiful China through green, low-carbon development.