China Carpeted an Extensive Mountain Range With Solar Panels in the Guizhou Province - Here's Why

China's 'renewable energy' pursuit is no secret. The installation of a large number of solar panels on the mountain ranges of Guizhou province is one such example, stated Futurism. Recently, a video of the mountain site went viral on Reddit. The viewers were astounded by the visuals as well as the investment.

The video uploaded by u/uniyk features a sea of solar panels. The panels have been installed with such precision that at first glance, they seem to be a part of the mountains. The uploader claimed that the arrangement is so extensive that the drone couldn't cover it in one go. The video supposedly ended only when the drone ran low on battery.

The comment section was stunned by the visuals. u/struggling_life09 put forward a question, "Wonder how much energy they're producing?" In reply, u/umthondoomkhlulu claimed that China produced half of the world's solar energy output in 2024, implying that arrangements like the one in Guizhou were playing a massive part. u/ArtistDidiMx had the perfect description for the mountains, "My god, they are putting armour on their mountains." The video got upvoted 33,000 times in just a matter of three days. 

Experts claim that the site was handpicked by authorities for their solar energy ambitions. The installation did not hinder agriculture, because the region's features prevented it from being of much use. However, the same qualities made it a perfect candidate for solar paneling. These qualities include high altitude, unstable climate, and remote location.

The installation first went online in 2015, according to China Daily. After three years, the installations gave an output of 1.75 million kilowatts of solar energy. This output is reportedly enough to fulfill the needs of around 1300 average households. The next two years saw the output supposedly increase by 10 times. The jump was possibly a result of China's authorities supporting the photovoltaic or PV sector. In 2023, the installations were producing 15 million kilowatts of energy, and if everything proceeds as planned, the production will keep increasing.

Companies like Guizhou Jinyuan Co that are involved in solar production in the region, have also conducted agricultural activities on the site. Around ten crop varieties have been planted in 5,575 mu (371.67 hectares) of area covered by solar panels. These crops could be worth 100 million yuan ($15.49 million) after harvesting. 

The government has been aiding solar production in areas like Guizhou with facilities like cheap bank loans and government subsidies, according to Futurism. China's pursuit appears to be proceeding in a positive direction. The country's infrastructure can apparently produce 339 gigawatt hours of renewable energy. The next four largest producers, namely the U.S., Brazil, the U.K., and Spain, have a combined capacity of 72 gigawatt hours of renewable energy.