Technicians at the solar power park on Oct 9 prepare for connection to the grid the next day. [Photo/Baotou news network]

Masses of photovoltaic panels are arranged in rows at the power plant to catch the rays of the sun. [Photo/Baotou news network]

The first unit of a 100-megawatt solar power plant – jointly built by Jing'ao (Darhan Muminggan) New Energy Co in Baotou city and North China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region – was successfully connected to the national electricity grid on Oct 10, marking a landmark moment for the project.

The plant's operator, Jingao (Darhan Muminggan) New Energy Co, is affiliated to Beijing Energy International Holding Co Ltd – a Hong Kong-based listed investment holding company mainly engaged in solar power plant businesses. The company's new energy projects cover regions including Inner Mongolia, Qinghai, Ningxia, Shanxi, Hubei, Xinjiang, Gansu, Yunnan, Shandong, Jiangsu, Hebei, Guangdong and other places.

"This project is the first centralized photovoltaic grid connection project in the autonomous region since the 14th Five-Year Plan in 2021 – and also the first grid connected power generation new energy project in Baotou in 2022," said Chen Lei, director of Darhan Muminggan Joint Banner Economic Development Service Center.

After the project ramps up to full production, the annual output value is expected to be 45 million yuan ($6.27 million). At the same time, an estimated 66,000 metric tons of standard coal will be saved annually, equivalent to 180,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions reductions, enabling the banner to achieve more high-quality economic development.

On the day of the connection to the grid, Hu He, the project manager of Beijing Energy International North Branch, said there were currently around 70 construction personnel and more than 10 technicians on the project site.

Hu said they were pushing to complete the target tasks this year, with quality and quantity guaranteed.