Xichuan tackles poverty with solar power

A solar power project aimed at alleviating poverty in villages across Xichuan county got underway on Nov 10.

The 20-million-yuan ($3 million) three-megawatt photovoltaic project is funded by China Pingmei Shenma Group.

Ten photovoltaic power stations will be built in Jiuchong, Xianghua and Houpo villages of the county, with the earnings expected to bring an annual revenue of 3,000 yuan to 700 impoverished households.

Located in the Qinba mountainous area, Xichuan is one of most poverty-affected places in the country, with 19,445 households and 60,644 residents under the poverty line. Lying at the headstream of the middle line of the south-to-north water diversion project, the county faces various restrictions on industrial development for fear of degrading water quality.

Solar power generation projects, which convert sunlight into electricity via photovoltaic modules, are deemed as an ideal plan to generate revenue and help the poor without comprising the environment.

To date, 104 ground-type and 331 roof-top photovoltaic power stations have been established in the county, with an average annual power generation capacity of 35.12 million kilowatt hours. It accounts for 25 percent of total power generation of such projects in Nanyang and 10 percent in Henan province.