China is building the Solar Great Wall to generate enough energy to power the whole of Beijing. The project, which is based in the Kubuqi Desert in Mongolia, is set to be completed by 2030.
The ‘new Great Wall’ will span around 400km and 5km wide, producing a maximum output capacity of 100 gigawatts. It’s hoped to provide clean energy to Beijing and the surrounding regions, as well as combat desertification in the area. The project will create around 50,000 jobs for people in Inner Mongolia, and is said to come at a cost of up to £75bn.
NASA previously released pictures of the Solar Great Wall being constructed. They showed a number of solar panels and PV power projects in the desert.
As reported by PV Magazine, NASA said: “Sandy and mostly devoid of life, the Kubuqi Desert in Inner Mongolia once had a reputation for being a ‘sea of death.’ More recently, its dune fields have become a sea of photovoltaic possibility, transformed by a surge of newly installed solar panels.
“The construction is part of China’s multiyear plan to build a solar great wall. designed to generate enough energy to power Beijing.”
They added: “The Kubuqi’s sunny weather, flat terrain, and proximity to industrial centers make it a desirable location for solar power generation. Panels are being installed in a long, narrow band of dunes just south of the Yellow River between the cities of Baotou and Bayannur.”
As well as generating power for Beijing, the Solar Great Wall hopes to curb desertification – the process where land degrades into desert-like conditions. Planners believe the project will prevent the movement of dunes and slow winds.
The elevated solar panels will also create shade for grass and crops to grow. Data suggests that solar projects have contributed to the greening of deserts across China in recent years.
According to China’s National Energy Administration, the country’s solar power capacity reached over 880 gigawatts in 2024. This is more than any other country.
China also produces a large share of the world’s solar panels. It is continuing to invest in large-scale solar and wind projects, such as the Solar Great Wall, which will open in the coming years.
