On the morning of Oct 30, the industrial sewage treatment plant and water resource recycling project in the Mengsu Economic Development Zone of Ordos, Inner Mongolia autonomous region, were put into operation, becoming the largest photovoltaic (PV) zero-wastewater discharge project in China.

Aerial view of the industrial sewage treatment plant. [Photo provided to investordos.goinnermongolia.com.cn]

The plant, which can treat 100,000 metric tons of industrial wastewater every day, was constructed by Ordos Shengyuan Water Group Co with a total investment of 2.22 billion yuan ($311.69 million).

By implementing source control, quality-based treatment, quality-based reuse, and resource recycling, the water treatment process ensures that the output meets the standards required by water-using enterprises. The remaining concentrated brine is treated through evaporation and crystallization, producing industrial salts like sodium chloride and sodium sulfate, and achieving complete zero wastewater discharge. This technology is the first of its kind in China.

The inside of the industrial sewage treatment plant. [Photo provided to investordos.goinnermongolia.com.cn]

The project has set three new records for investment scale, reuse standard, and salt separation in photovoltaic wastewater treatment in China. It provides about 6 million kilowatt-hours of green, clean electricity every year, equivalent to saving 1,968 tons of standard coal and reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 5,983 tons per year. These records set a new benchmark for the national photovoltaic wastewater treatment industry.

A view of the industrial sewage treatment plant. [Photo provided to investordos.goinnermongolia.com.cn]

Xue Zhenyu, deputy director of the Management Committee of the Ordos Mengsu Economic Development Zone, said,"The project is crucial for the stable operation of the zero-carbon industrial park. It is also significant in promoting the ecological protection and high-quality development of the Yellow River Basin in Inner Mongolia.”