China’s Largest “Solar-Tea Hybrid” Power Station Connected to the Grid

China General Nuclear New Energy Holdings Co., Ltd. (CGN New Energy) has successfully connected its 235 MW solar power station in Bixi Township, Mojiang County, Yunnan Province, to the grid.

Source: Science and Technology Daily

China General Nuclear New Energy Holdings Co., Ltd. (CGN New Energy) has successfully connected its 235 MW solar power station in Bixi Township, Mojiang County, Yunnan Province, to the grid. As the largest of its kind in China, the project pioneers a “solar-tea hybrid” model that integrates photovoltaic power generation with tea cultivation. The facility is built across 5,250 mu (about 350 hectares) of leased tea plantations, optimizing land use through vertical integration of agriculture and renewable energy.

Located in Pu’er City, the plant features an installed capacity of 235 megawatts. Its layout—including the height, density, and spacing of solar arrays—has been scientifically designed to protect the tea plants underneath. The arrangement reduces direct sunlight while increasing diffuse light, lowers soil moisture evaporation, and improves ambient humidity. Together, these factors help create a more stable microclimate that supports the growth of high-quality tea leaves.

Once fully operational, the plant is expected to generate approximately 376 million kilowatt-hours of clean electricity per year. This is equivalent to saving around 113,000 tonnes of standard coal and reducing carbon dioxide emissions by roughly 290,000 tonnes annually.

Pu Zhiyong, head of CGN New Energy’s Yunnan branch, said the company will partner with the Mojiang County government to develop the project into a multi-functional demonstration site combining solar energy generation, public education, ecological enhancement, and leisure tourism. He added that the initiative will not only boost local employment but also contribute to the region’s broader transition toward green and low-carbon development.

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