Banshi village, Sanzhuang town, is located in western Donggang district in Rizhao city in East China's Shandong Province. In early winter, on the hillside, rows of photovoltaic (PV) panels glisten in the bright sunlight against the blue sky and white clouds, creating a spectacular scene combined with roads and the village. Beneath the PV panels, a national improved variety of honeysuckles called Lonicera japonica "Yatehong LSB" is cultivated. The planting, integrated with animal husbandry, is currently yielding a bountiful harvest.
More than 10 farmers from Banshi village, including Li Aiguo, are busy picking mature honeysuckles beneath the PV panels. "Medicinal herbs like delicate honeysuckles prefer shade over direct sunlight. Planting them under the PV panels has proven beneficial. This year, the herbs have yielded more than 10,000 kilograms. There is truly a bounty of honey," said Li Aiguo, pointing to a basket of newly picked honeysuckles.
"This model of comprehensive land resource utilization is also the first of its kind in Shandong Province," said Li Hailong, the leader of the power station project. "In terms of the industrial model of the Agri-PV complementation, we have adopted an innovative 'PV + agriculture + sightseeing' model. The PV panels generate electricity, the land beneath them is utilized for cultivating medicinal herbs, and the paths between panels are designed for sightseeing. The economic benefits go beyond mere superimposition."
Living in Sanzhuang town is challenging due to numerous mountainous areas with poor soil and a lack of water for irrigation. Typically, only in a harvest year can farmers cover their costs with crops. Consequently, villagers in this region had endured years of poverty.
"This project has generated an annual power output of 120 million kWh since it was connected to the grid in 2017. Including agricultural planting and tourism, the average annual income totals 65 million yuan ($9.1 million). Every year, more than 5.8 million yuan is allocated to assist the surrounding villagers, ensuring that everyone enjoys real benefits from the PV project," said Li Xingyu, a professional in the Marketing Department of State Grid Shandong Rizhao Power Supply Company.
Since the project's commencement, the State Grid Shandong Rizhao Power Supply Company has implemented the targeted "Cool Breeze and Warm Sun" special action, creating an "online + offline" technical service channel. An expert team has been established to provide 156 rounds of full-time technical guidance to Banshi New Energy Station, addressing 25 equipment defects and eliminating 10 hidden safety hazards. With these efforts, no equipment has broken down since the station went into operation. Meanwhile, the company continues to optimize the data and information quality of the power station. The power prediction accuracy has increased to 95%, while the qualification rate of wind and PV data stands at 99.9%. In addition, the average annual utilization time of the power station has reached 1,410 hours, with the utilization rate of power generation hitting 100%. These achievements ensure the safe operation and efficient consumption of the station, contributing to the green economy.
