Xinhua News Agency| Underwater Aquaculture, Water Power Generation: Jiangsu Baoying Plays the "Fishing Light Song" of Rural Revitalization

Nanjing, August 27 (Xinhua) -- "Experts regularly guide the nesting technology of lobsters and crabs, and also provide fish fry and feed. Yang Wenwang was busy at the mouth of the pond, and unlike other ponds, the pond he contracted was covered with large photovoltaic panels.

Yang Wenwang from Baoying County, Yangzhou City, Jiangsu Province, has been engaged in aquaculture for 4 years, and this year, the 20 mu of pond he contracted is expected to produce about 60,000 catties and earn about 260,000 yuan.

At the beginning of the contract, Yang Wenwang was still a little nervous in his heart, and he did not expect that this new model of "fishing and light complementarity" that can generate electricity on the water and breed underwater has increased his annual income by 60%. "In the past, farming could earn up to 2,000 yuan per mu, and this year it is expected to increase significantly."

In recent years, Baoying County has given full play to its resource advantages, vigorously developed the "fishery-light complementary" photovoltaic power generation project, set up photovoltaic panels on the water surface, planned lotus set fish, shrimp and crab farming under the water surface, improved the utilization rate of water resources and the economic benefits of land per unit area, explored a "fishery-light complementary" industrial revitalization road, and achieved "three harvests" of economic, social and ecological benefits, helping rural revitalization and green development.

"Photovoltaic panels can play a role in shading, reduce the water surface temperature, reduce the photosynthesis of algae on the surface of the water, inhibit the reproduction of algae to a certain extent, improve water quality, and provide a good growth environment for fish, shrimp and crabs." Zhang Rixi, head of the fishery management section of the Baoying County Agricultural and Rural Bureau, said.

Before 2018, the pond contracted by Yang Wenwang was still a large area of desolate reeds. In March 2018, construction officially began here as a construction site for photovoltaic projects, and 45 days later, the photovoltaic power station covering an area of 6783 acres was completed and put into operation. The total installed capacity of photovoltaics in the project reached 209.7 MW, which not only effectively solved the local electricity problem, but also helped agricultural development.

"The 'fishing-light complementary' agricultural model can help the people increase their rent by 600 yuan per mu, and farmers can increase their income by about 8,000 yuan per mu of aquatic products." Wang Zhenglin, deputy mayor of Sheyanghu Town, Baoying County, said that the project has also driven about 160 local farmers to find employment nearby, and a group of farmers have benefited.

"We will continue to do a good job in supporting the construction of supporting power facilities to promote the development of photovoltaic and other clean energy industries, and at the same time, gradually promote the construction of distributed photovoltaics on the roof of the whole county to help the development of local green economy." Zhong Huaijun, deputy director of the development and construction department of the State Grid Baoying County Power Supply Company, said.

As of the end of July, Baoying County has connected 15 "fishing-light complementary" projects, with a total installed capacity of 712 MW, with a cumulative power generation of 5.72 billion kWh, equivalent to saving 703,600 tons of standard coal and reducing carbon emissions by 1,584,400 tons.

Source: Xinhua News Agency, Jiangsu Branch