China Focus: Solar power offers diversified revenue for Chinese farmers

NANJING, Nov. 13 (Xinhua) — Wang Qingyong, a villager from the city of Yizheng, east China’s Jiangsu Province, never expected the sun over his head would bring him a windfall.
Wang, in his 70s, received a one-time development fee of 10,200 yuan (about 1,417 U.S. dollars) after the installation of 51 solar panels on his rooftop by a third party, and he will continue to earn an annual rental income of 1,800 yuan.
Yang is a low-income resident of Yanjiang Village. His wife passed away years ago, his son has a leg disability, and his grandson is still young.
“This money is a lifeline, it has helped us tremendously,” Wang said.
Wang’s new income stream comes from a new-energy cooperative set up by Yanjiang Village, which is focused on promoting the development and operation of village-wide solar installations and other renewable energy projects.
So far, solar panels have been installed on the rooftops of 74 households in the village, with a total installed capacity of 1.96 megawatts, generating a cumulative income of 666,000 yuan for the residents.
Across the country, renewable energy projects are being harnessed to create new income streams for farmers, providing them with reliable earnings from sources like solar and wind power.
These initiatives increase household incomes and promote sustainable energy practices in rural areas, contributing to economic resilience and environmental benefits.
In recent years, agrivoltaics — the practice of growing crops or raising livestock underneath solar panels — has gained traction in various regions. It offers a sustainable approach to maximizing land use while generating renewable energy.
At a photovoltaic project in Fengqing County, southwest China’s Yunnan Province, bougainvillea blooms beneath the expansive rows of solar panels, while herds of cattle and sheep enjoy the shade and graze on the abundant greenery.
The project, built on previously under-utilized barren hills, is tailored to local farmers’ planting needs, soil conditions, and climate characteristics.
It integrates the cultivation of honeysuckle, tea, flowers and forage crops with the free-range grazing of cattle and sheep, creating a sustainable and diversified agricultural model.
“For less fertile land or steep slopes, we raise free-range chickens and black goats. This approach ensures the land beneath the solar panels is utilized to its fullest potential,” said Zhou Jianqiang, chairman of the Jiehong Specialized Planting Cooperative, the local partner for the project, adding that it has helped over 300 farming households increase their incomes.
As of May 14, the project has generated a total of 130 million kilowatt-hours of electricity, saving 19,000 tonnes of standard coal and reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 107,600 tonnes.
In a broader sense, the solar projects also represent a small step in China’s continuous nationwide efforts to pursue a green path, as the country aims to peak its carbon dioxide emissions before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality before 2060.
Since 2013, China has been responsible for over 40 percent of annual additions to global renewable energy capacity. In 2023, newly installed capacity of this sort in China accounted for more than half of the world’s total.
“Developing distributed renewable energy and promoting its local consumption are essential elements in building a new type of power system and serve as an important vehicle for achieving the dual carbon goals,” said Liu Li, a researcher with the Economic and Technical Research Institute of State Grid Anhui Electric Power Co., Ltd.
“Promoting the clean and low-carbon transition of energy also helps improve land resource utilization efficiency, boost villagers’ incomes, and achieve a win-win for all parties,” Liu added. ■