An aerial view of the photovoltaic project installed over fish ponds in Chengtang village, Ninghai county, Ningbo, East China's Zhejiang province. [Photo/Ningbo Daily]  

Ningbo's Ninghai county has been making concerted efforts to develop its photovoltaic aquaculture in a bid to bolster rural vitalization.

One such example is the photovoltaic project in Chengtang village, Changjie town, which features photovoltaic panels installed over more than 600 mu (40 hectares) of fish ponds. This project has made it possible to generate photovoltaic power and breed aquatic creatures at the same time and place.

The photovoltaic project in the village can generate more than 22 million kilowatt-hours of electricity annually, equivalent to the total electricity consumption of tens of thousands of households in a year. The project can also generate an additional income worth 300,000 yuan ($46,153.85) annually for farmers who lease the fish ponds.

Meanwhile, the panels installed over the water surface have created an ideal living environment for the fishes as they thrive in low light conditions.

The annual output of the fish ponds is estimated to be 15,000 kilograms of fish worth more than 200,000 yuan. 

A fishing boat moves under photovoltaic panels in Chengtang village, Ninghai county, Ningbo, East China's Zhejiang province. [Photo/Ningbo Daily]