The Kubuqi Desert in Inner Mongolia, China, is undergoing a remarkable transformation, as documented in new images released by NASA on Monday.The satellite images captured by the U.S. Geological Survey’s Landsat satellites have revealed vast solar installations reshaping the desert landscape, part of China’s ambitious effort to build a renewable energy powerhouse.The project has been dubbed China’s “solar great wall,” with vast fields of photovoltaic panels now stretching across the dunes. Expected to be completed by 2030, the project will span 250 miles in length and 3 miles in width, with a maximum capacity of 100 gigawatts.Drag slidercompare photos
Why This MattersChina’s rapid expansion of solar power is a significant step in addressing global climate challenges. By June 2024, China accounted for 51 percent of the world’s solar farm capacity, leading the globe in renewable energy generation, according to Global Energy Monitor’s (GEM) Global Solar Power Tracker.The Kubuqi project alone is expected to produce 180 billion kilowatt-hours (kWh) annually by 2030, enough to power Beijing and beyond.Beyond energy generation, the project has environmental and agricultural benefits. The solar panels slow desertification, reduce wind speeds and create shaded areas that preserve moisture. This makes it easier to grow grasses and crops, contributing to the greening of desert areas.What to KnowThe solar farms are strategically placed in a sunlit, flat region south of the Yellow River, between Baotou and Bayannur.Currently, about 5.4 gigawatts of capacity have been installed, and major installations, such as the Junma Solar Power Station, are already operational.Junma, completed in 2019, resembles a galloping horse and holds a Guinness World Record for the largest image made from solar panels.The installation generates enough electricity each year to meet the needs of 300,000 to 400,000 people.
Additionally, a new transmission line will deliver 48 billion kWh annually to the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, stretching the project’s benefits beyond Inner Mongolia.China’s solar capacity has seen unprecedented growth, increasing by nearly 40,000 megawatts annually between 2017 and 2023, according to GEM.This pace far outstrips the growth in the U.S. in second place globally, which added approximately 8,100 megawatts annually during the same period.What People Are SayingLi Kai, an energy official in Dalad Banner, where part of the great solar wall is located, told the state-sponsored media outlet China Daily: “All of the projects are invested in by state-owned companies, some of which are centrally administered ones, and so local governments don’t have to make any investment at all. In total, approximately 50,000 job opportunities will be generated by 2030.”What’s NextBy 2030, the completed solar great wall will provide enough renewable energy to cover Beijing’s entire electricity needs while supporting surrounding regions.This model of large-scale renewable energ
Sab. Gen 11th, 2025
