On the morning of December 9, 2024, the “Off-grid Photovoltaic Empowering Land and People in Desert Areas” side event was held at the “China Pavilion” of the 16th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in Riyadh. The seminar was hosted by the Center for Energy Transition and Social Development of the School of Social Sciences of Tsinghua University and co-hosted by the Hangzhou Photovoltaic Association. The side event was conducted by Dr. Zhao Yonghong, Secretary-General of the Hangzhou Photovoltaic Association.
The seminar is to promote technical exchanges and industrial cooperation by sharing the technical experience of off-grid solar products and their scenario applications in desertified areas of China, promoting the local land degradation restoration to improve the living standards of people in remote areas and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals(SDGs), thus contribute Chinese wisdom to countries and people in remote areas around the world. The seminar was strongly supported by the National Forestry and Grassland Administration of China, the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development of Mauritania, the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, and the World Green Organisation.
Pan Bing, Senior Inspector of the State Forestry and Grassland Administration, addressed the guests and audience calling for Chinese enterprises and institutions to explore international cooperation actively, promote the combination of solar industry and ecological restoration and empower the land and people in desert areas.
Mr. Zhang Ju, business director of Shenzhen Solartech Renewable Energy CO.LTD, delivered a keynote speech entitled “Solar Pumping Empower Land and People”, showing the audience advanced and energy-saving technologies of solar pumping solutions in water supply, water conservation, and sand control.
Ms. Song Li, a representative of Mayu (Beijing) New Energy Technology Co., Ltd., introduced the Mayu artificial water source technology project to the guests. Clean water is directly extracted from the atmosphere by simulating the natural water cycle in the desert, which can be used for vegetation irrigation and ecological restoration, effectively improving the dry regions and promoting green development.
Mr. Gao Sheng, general manager of Zhejiang Gaoming New Materials Technology Co., Ltd., introduced the CdTe (cadmium telluride) solar greenhouse technology. By building a project combining solar and agriculture in the desert, it effectively utilizes solar power generation while promoting the development of green agriculture.
Mr. Cao Yongjie, General Manager of Hangzhou GEnergy Technology Ltd, Ms. Xiao Yuanyuan, Project Researcher of Hangzhou Photovoltaic Association, and Mr. Yan Huwei, Project Director of Zhejiang Ailo Network Energy Technology Ltd, respectively delivered keynote speeches entitled “Application of Modular Prefabricated Cabin in Adverse Environment”, “Expanding the Frontiers of Diversified Solar PV Solutions in Desert Areas.”, and “SOLAX Presentation IP65 Inverters and Virtual Power Plant (VPP) Technology for Off-Grid Empowerment”. These technologies and products not only improve land use efficiency, but also provide clean energy for local agriculture, increase farmers’ income, and promote rural revitalization.
Afterward, Shenzhen Chengxinnuo Technology Ltd showed the video of “Lighting the Future with Clean Energy: Candles Killer”, bringing light and future to families’ lack of energy and electricity.
At the end of the seminar, four representatives from different countries or institutions held a roundtable forum on “Off-grid Solar Empowers Land and People in Desert Areas”. Ms. Pan Yue from the University of Helsinki served as the host. The two African representatives were Mr. Talifhani Tshitwamulomoni from the World Green Organization and Mr. Hussein Kasim, the negotiator of the Action for Climate Empowerment of Ghana under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Dr. Jin Zhe from the School of Social Sciences of Tsinghua University participated in the dialogue as a Chinese representative. The guests reached a consensus on the continuous attention and support for solar development and cross-sectoral collaboration between China and remote areas of Africa in the future.
This seminar was held under the mechanism of the 16th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification. Chinese and international guests were invited to exchange views on the empowerment of local people by off-grid solar technology. In the future, multilateral cooperation will continue to be carried out to provide clean energy for remote areas, improve the lives of residents, promote ecological protection and economic development, and realize the dual empowerment of land and people.
