From Sand to Solar: China's Gigawatt Revolution in the Kubuqi Desert
China is transforming the vast Kubuqi desert into a clean energy oasis, defying the arid landscape with rows of solar panels that stretch as far as the eye
China is transforming the vast Kubuqi desert into a clean energy oasis, defying the arid landscape with rows of solar panels that stretch as far as the eye can see. This mammoth project, covering an area equivalent to 20 Central Parks, is a key component of President Xi Jinping's ambitious plan to deploy a record-breaking 455 gigawatts of man-made power capacity across the country's interior by the end of the decade. The Kubuqi development, just one of a dozen projects under Xi's strategy in Inner Mongolia, signals a seismic shift in China's energy sector. This unprecedented campaign aims to slash the nation's dependence on fossil fuels, reduce energy imports, and guide the world's largest emitter toward zeroing out greenhouse gas emissions. The renewables bases, once complete, will surpass the clean energy capacity of any nation outside China. An analysis by Bloomberg News and BloombergNEF reveals that China is on track to exceed its already impressive green energy adoption, with over 90 gigawatts of the planned 97 gigawatts set to be added by the end of this year. The first batch of projects focuses on China's deserts, capitalizing on vast, sparsely populated areas with abundant sunshine and consistent winds. These factors, combined with low land costs, position the desert bases as potentially the world's cheapest sources of power. China's commitment to renewable energy comes at a crucial time as the nation aims to lift renewables capacity to about 3.9 terawatts by 2030, more than three times the amount in 2022. The desert strategy is not only a vital example for COP28 but also aligns with global efforts to triple renewable power generation this decade, a move deemed essential by the International Energy Agency for achieving net-zero targets. Source: bloomberg.com
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