The three northern deserts and Gobi desert areas are rich in land resources. Among them, the eight major deserts and four major sandy areas cover an area of 1.015 billion mu, and the Gobi ( including gravel land ) covers an area of 718 million mu. Most areas are rich in solar energy resources and have great potential for building photovoltaic power stations.

The development of photovoltaic sand control is an innovative model that combines photovoltaic power generation with desert control. Its core value lies in achieving multiple benefits of ecological restoration, energy production and economic development through the three-dimensional development of "power generation on panels, sand control under panels, and planting between panels".

It is reported that the Ningxia Tengger "Shagohuang" New Energy Base Phase I 1 GW photovoltaic project, built by the State Energy Group Longyuan Power, has laid 86,000 mu of grass grids. After laying, the grass grids can not only block the wind and fix sand, but also increase soil organic matter after decomposition, providing protection for the subsequent sowing of grass seeds and planting of shrubs. Through comprehensive management, the vegetation coverage rate of the base Phase I project has increased from less than 0.5% to 20% , and can reach 50% in some areas .

However, desert Gobi desert regions have arid climate, scarce water resources, sparse vegetation, and soil prone to wind erosion, which makes ecological damage easy and difficult to repair. The construction of photovoltaic power stations will inevitably disturb the fragile ecosystem, destroy vegetation and soil crust. If not scientifically repaired, it is very easy to cause local wind erosion or wind accumulation, aggravate the harm of wind and sand, directly affect the efficiency of photovoltaic conversion and working hours, and cause air pollution, affecting people's production and life.

On August 13-14, 2025 , the Shaanxi Province New Energy Power Development Conference and the In-depth Forum on Scenario-based Application of Photovoltaic Storage, Shagohuang Special Session, will focus on this innovative model that will rewrite the fate of the desert and explore the synergistic path of ecological restoration and energy revolution. ( Scan the QR code at the end of the article to register for the conference )

So, how does photovoltaic power control sand?

Photovoltaic panels can serve as a solid barrier, effectively reducing wind speed on the surface, reducing wind and sand erosion, and playing a role in stabilizing sand. For example, in the 250,000-kilowatt photovoltaic industrial park in Shaya County, Aksu Prefecture, Xinjiang , Du Siwei, project manager of China Power Construction (Shaya) New Energy Power Generation Co., Ltd., introduced that photovoltaic panels can significantly reduce wind speed and reduce wind and sand erosion on sand. In recent years, Shaya County has secured 63,000 mu of afforestation through photovoltaics , with an afforestation survival rate of over 80% . These vegetation also provide habitats and food sources for wild animals in the desert, which is conducive to the protection of biodiversity in desert areas.

The shading effect of photovoltaic panels can lower the temperature of the desert surface and reduce water evaporation to a certain extent. At the same time, during the operation of photovoltaic panels, sand, dust, etc. will accumulate on the surface of the photovoltaic panels, which need to be cleaned with water regularly. The water after cleaning can provide good moisture for the grass under the photovoltaic panels. In addition, the temperature difference between day and night in desert areas is large, and sometimes water droplets will condense and drip at night, which can also moisturize plants to a certain extent.

The shaded environment under the photovoltaic panels creates good conditions for plant growth and is suitable for growing drought-tolerant plants or crops. The roots of these plants can fix the sand on the surface, achieving power generation, agricultural income increase, and sand control. For example, in Shaya County, groundwater is extracted through photovoltaic power generation to irrigate sand-dwelling plants such as Haloxylon ammodendron, while water-saving drip irrigation is used to ensure the continued growth of surrounding plants.

Photovoltaic sand control can achieve the dual goals of ecological restoration and clean energy development, while promoting the coordinated improvement of economic and social benefits. The construction of the photovoltaic industrial park not only reduces sandstorm weather, but also provides more employment opportunities and income-increasing channels for local people.

Shaanxi is exploring  a three-dimensional governance model of "photovoltaic + forest and grassland". Yulin City has implemented a "three-phase three-circle" ecological prevention and control system. The "three phases" refer to pre-harvest prevention, mid-harvest control, and post-harvest construction; the "three circles" are divided by spatial dimensions, referring to the outer protection circle, the surrounding evergreen circle, and the central beautification circle.

In recent years, Yulin has implemented the strategy of "controlling sand in the north, controlling soil in the south, and controlling water in the whole region". The control model has changed from the "old three" of building terraces, constructing silt dams, and planting trees and grasses to the "new three" of "photovoltaic +", 3D silt dam construction, and acoustic rainfall enhancement. The area of soil erosion of 18,000 square kilometers has been initially controlled, and the average annual amount of sediment entering the Yellow River has dropped from 513 million tons in 2000 to 212 million tons. The area and intensity of soil erosion have continued to show a "double decline" trend .

On July 21, 2025, let us gather in Xi'an, Shaanxi , to witness an energy revolution that will change the fate of Shagohuang .