Largest Fish-Photovoltaic Project in Jiangsu Set to Begin Operation Next Month

On April 13th, at the Sanxia Qingkou Salt Field’s fishing-solar complementary project in the Monkey Mouth area of Lianyungang City, the largest single-unit land-based fishing-solar complementary project in Jiangsu Province is underway. New silver-gray transmission towers have been erected along the edge of the saline-alkali land, with the bases parallel to the photovoltaic panel arrays, collecting solar energy from above the ponds and channeling it into the grid. Over 300 workers are currently tightening bolts on the steel supports for the photovoltaic panels using electric wrenches. The installation of photovoltaic panels and components is ongoing, with a full capacity grid connection expected by May 31 of this year.

This project, funded and constructed by the China Three Gorges Corporation, has a total investment of 2.0025 billion yuan and spans approximately 7,600 acres. It features a construction scale of 450 megawatts on the AC side and 540 megawatts on the DC side, along with a new 220 kV booster station and a storage capacity of 45 megawatts/90 megawatt-hours (with a rated power of 45 megawatts and an energy storage capability of 90 megawatt-hours). This project adopts a “fishing-solar integration” model, achieving comprehensive development through a synergistic layout of “power generation on the panels and fish farming underneath,” thereby deeply integrating the photovoltaic power station with aquaculture to create a green ecological recycling system.

According to Tang Rongzhong, the project manager of the Sanxia Qingkou Salt Field fishing-solar complementary project, “The lowest point of the photovoltaic panel supports must be 4.5 meters above the water surface to ensure optimal light refraction and provide adequate space for fishing operations.” The project team conducted three rounds of technical evaluations to determine the best distance between the photovoltaic panels and the water surface. Compared to traditional photovoltaic projects, this model not only effectively saves over 60% of land resources but also promotes the alternative use of clean energy and the ecological restoration of saline-alkali lands.

Under the azure sky, nearly 780,000 photovoltaic panels undulate like waves, their deep blue surfaces reflecting the shimmering water of the fish ponds, creating a series of “shade barriers” on the water’s surface. In the project’s 150-acre experimental breeding pond, automatic feeders are dispensing feed into the water, where workers have recently released 1.2 million Pacific white shrimp larvae, swimming happily under the protection of the photovoltaic panels. This ecological cycle model of “power generation above water and aquaculture below” effectively suppresses excessive algae growth, creating a stable ecological environment for aquaculture.

According to Wang Yu, the project manager of the Sanxia Qingkou Salt Field fishing-solar complementary project, “We are using three experimental models: mixed farming with sea cucumbers, dual-season farming of sea cucumbers, and traditional mixed farming to explore risk points and solutions for fishing-solar complementary aquaculture, providing a reference for future large-scale farming.” This mixed farming model not only makes full use of the effective space in the ponds but also establishes a complete ecological chain, giving the ponds a certain degree of self-purification capability. The smooth progress of this project signifies a significant milestone in the deep integration of clean energy and modern fisheries.

Once completed, the project is expected to generate an annual output of 670 million kilowatt-hours. This is equivalent to saving 205,000 tons of standard coal compared to similar coal-fired projects, while also significantly reducing emissions of harmful gases such as carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen oxides. This initiative injects strong momentum into green sustainable development and opens innovative pathways for modern fisheries.