Within the 425-square-kilometer Tala Tan Photovoltaic Industrial Park, millions of deep blue solar panels stretch out in a seemingly endless ocean of blue. But what is even more astonishing is that beneath these vast panels, over 20,000 Tibetan sheep are being raised. This scene was recently observed during the 2026 China Environmental Protection Century Tour, an event led by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, which kicked off in Xining, Qinghai. Reporters accompanying the tour visited Gonghe County in the Hainan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, a high-altitude county once heavily reliant on animal husbandry. Through its efforts in desertification control, it has now forged a green path of collaborative development between traditional agriculture and new energy industries.

An Fengjun, Deputy Director of the Hainan Prefecture Development and Reform Commission, explained that Tala Tan was once arid and water-scarce with sparse vegetation. After years of management, vegetation coverage within the park has now increased to over 80%, fundamentally transforming the barren desert landscape. "The new photovoltaic sand control method we have explored not only improves the ecology but also effectively boosts the income of local herders, helping them become prosperous," he said.

From the observation tower, the elevated photovoltaic support structures create a "natural barrier" with neatly arranged panels. Beneath them, lush grass thrives and flocks of sheep roam. From a desertification control perspective, the solar panels effectively alter the regional "microclimate." The arrangement of the panels forms a dense windbreak, reducing near-surface wind speeds by approximately 50%, which strengthens the foundation for wind and sand control in the area. Furthermore, the panels provide shade, reducing soil moisture evaporation by over 30%. Rainfall and cleaning water from the panels precisely infiltrate along the supports, creating a natural micro-irrigation system that improves the ecology and restores the soil environment. This establishes a virtuous ecological cycle of "solar panels protecting grass, vegetation stabilizing sand, and soil quality improving."

So why are sheep raised within the photovoltaic park? As the effectiveness of solar sand control became apparent, the vegetation beneath the panels recovered quickly. However, new operational maintenance challenges emerged: overgrown weeds blocking the solar panels directly reduced power generation efficiency. Additionally, when the grass dried in autumn, the fire prevention pressure on the power station was immense. The sheep became natural "ecological weeders." According to relevant authorities, 32 photovoltaic ecological pastures and 56 centralized grazing points have been built within the park to date, with an annual breeding capacity of over 20,000 Tibetan sheep. The "Solar Sheep" model has not only proven highly effective in photovoltaic sand control but has also driven the continuous income growth of 18 village collective economic cooperatives, achieving a dual improvement in both ecological and livelihood benefits.

"Our village is primarily focused on animal husbandry, with many people raising and herding sheep. Grassland leasing and feed costs are our main expenses," said Li Qixiang, a herder from Xiahelesi Village who has been in the business for decades. In the past, leasing grassland cost about 25 yuan per mu. By moving his sheep into the photovoltaic park, he saves approximately 25,000 yuan annually. More significantly, the natural grassland within the park saves him the largest expense of sheep farming: feed costs. "I have 1,000 sheep, and my annual feed cost is about 100,000 yuan," Li explained. "The government promoted the 'Solar Sheep' model to us. I calculated it, and it saves me around 120,000 yuan in expenses each year."

The Hainan Prefecture photovoltaic park currently covers a planned area of 609 square kilometers, with 425 square kilometers already constructed. According to forestry and grassland authorities, the average grass yield per mu within the park is 174 kilograms, with an annual total grass yield of 118,000 tons. Based on a 70% utilization rate, this can meet the grazing needs of 100,000 sheep. While promoting photovoltaic sand control, local authorities are also building the "Solar Sheep" product brand. The park implements a scientific grazing system of "determining livestock numbers based on grass yield, with sheep entering in summer and leaving in autumn." Electronic ear tags provide full-chain traceability management, solving technical challenges during implementation to achieve standardized and digital oversight.

Electronic ear tags and intelligent monitoring enable full-chain digital traceability. Combined with park drones and area-wide surveillance, the system simultaneously monitors grass growth, sheep activity, and the status of photovoltaic equipment. Scanning a QR code allows for full-chain tracking from breeding to slaughter and sales, balancing prevention and control with product development. Sales channels for Solar Sheep products are expanded through procurement by photovoltaic companies, east-west cooperation, live-streaming e-commerce, and supermarket and market connections, accelerating livestock turnover and increasing residents' income. Statistics show that village collectives have achieved an average annual income increase of 14.57 million yuan, with an average household income increase of 2,300 yuan.