GD Power Inner Mongolia Dongsheng Thermal Power Co used available vacant land within its purification plant in Dongsheng district, Ordos, North China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region, to construct a 1.5-megawatt photovoltaic project. This is a model of "photovoltaic power and sewage treatment", which has never been adopted before.

Commencing construction in December 2023, the project was officially connected to the grid for power generation in April 2024. It is expected to generate 2.44 million kilowatts of green electricity annually. 

The project consumed 745.05 metric tons less standard coal per year than traditional thermal power generation. Now, the plant generates all its own electricity from the project, and no energy is wasted in its use.

At present, most sewage treatment plants still mainly rely on thermal power. The sewage lifting system, sludge treatment system and oxygen supply system all require a great amount of electricity, which accounts for a large proportion of the total input. This increases both operating costs and carbon emissions. However, the new project can save 195,400 yuan ($26,984.74) in electricity fees for the sewage treatment plant and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 2026.54 tons, equivalent to saving about 745.05 tons of coal for power generation annually, thus helping to achieve the goals of carbon peaking and carbon neutrality.

Using photovoltaic energy to power sewage treatment plants is in line with the company’s vigorous promotion of green development. In recent years, the company has created a new-generation smart power plant demonstration system. The plant's 3-MW distributed photovoltaic power generation project was put into operation at full capacity in June 2023.

In addition, the first 80 MW of a 230-MW thermal power flexibility renovation photovoltaic project, which is planned to promote market-oriented consumption of electricity, was connected to the grid and put into operation at the end of 2023. The company is sparing no efforts to complete the remaining 150 MW to ensure the full operation of the project within the year.

The 230-MW new energy project is the first of its kind in Inner Mongolia. It is also the largest single distributed photovoltaic power generation project in Dongsheng district.

Leveraging the three-dimensional utilization of photovoltaic power generation over the panels and ecological governance under the panels, the project will further optimize the energy industry structure and enhance the integration of new energy development and ecological protection.

The photovoltaic field. [Photo provided to investordos. goinnermongolia.com.cn]

An external view of GD Power Inner Mongolia Dongsheng Thermal Power Co. [Photo provided to investordos. goinnermongolia.com.cn]