China's first high-precision national-scale map of wind and solar power facilities has been developed in Ordos city, providing new insights into how wind and solar resources can complement each other and improve renewable energy utilization.

The map was jointly produced by Peking University's Ordos Research Institute of Energy, the School of Earth and Space Sciences, and research teams such as Alibaba DAMO Academy.

Using geospatial technologies, artificial intelligence models, and cloud computing, researchers analyzed open-source satellite imagery with a resolution of 0.5 meters. The project identified about 319,000 photovoltaic installations and 91,600 wind turbines across the country.

The map enables more accurate forecasting of wind and solar power generation and helps researchers design coordinated operating strategies between the two energy sources. According to Zhang Jinhai, deputy chief engineer of the Ordos Research Institute of Energy, the approach could increase renewable energy utilization by about 9 percent without adding new generation facilities.

China's wind and solar capacity has expanded rapidly in recent years, but intermittent power generation has led to challenges such as curtailment, where renewable electricity cannot be fully absorbed by the grid. The new map offers a more precise assessment of the complementary relationship between wind and solar resources under real-world deployment conditions.

Researchers said the findings could provide valuable support for planning cross-regional power transmission networks and distribution infrastructure, helping improve the efficiency, economic value, and social benefits of renewable energy development nationwide.