Greener Pastures from the Sun: Solar Photovoltaic-Driven Irrigation in Qinghai Province

Valuable pasture lands in the People’s Republic of China (PRC) are being degraded through overgrazing, conversion, and reduced levels of precipitation as a result of climate change. Qinghai Province is tackling this problem through the innovative use of solar photovoltaic (PV) power for irrigation; a solution that has enormous capacity for upscaling within PRC and throughout Asia.

In 2009, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) supported the Gangcha County of Qinghai in developing and demonstrating improved pasture conservation, formulating water management strategy, and promoting awareness of ecological management of pasture land. Soon, a solar PV demonstration system was installed at the pilot site.

Harvesting solar power makes sense for much of Asia and the Pacific, and the potential for solar energy in the north and northwestern part of the PRC is high since annual sunshine percentage there is above 65%.

In the end, the successful Qinghai Province pilot demonstration showed that the solar PV irrigation system is a cost-effective way to supply small-scale irrigation and drinking water for both surface and groundwater. In addition, solar PV irrigation of the grassland around the Qinghai Lake is helping prevent land desertification and degradation; and increased production is reducing overgrazing and degradation leading to desertification.