In response to China's goal of peaking carbon emissions before 2030 and achieving carbon neutrality before 2060, the country’s southern province of Hainan turned a resort complex located in Qishui Bay, Wenchang City into a zero carbon model in 2022 — the very first of its kind on the free trade island.

According to Li Guohui, a project engineer from the China Green Development Group (CGDG), the photovoltaic (PV) systems in the area have produced around 300,000 kWh of electricity since they began operation in September last year, completely meeting the resort’s energy needs. 

(Photo: Wu Wei / Hainan Daily)

 (Photo: Wu Wei / Hainan Daily)

Li said that in order to make full use of the abundance of solar power available on the tropical island, solar panels were installed on rooftops, walls, and glass terrace barriers on buildings in the area. Additionally, automatic solar tracking screens and fixed solar screens were also put onto glass curtain walls to lower the energy use of air conditioners inside the building.

That’s not all. Solar-powered charging pads can also be found on the area’s lawn benches, allowing visitors to charge their mobile phones by simply placing them on the benches.

Before the energy-efficient renovation project, the 22,400 square meter large resort drew a monthly average of 50,000 kWh from the electric grid, or about 90,000 kWh of electricity in summer peak hours. Electricity was one of the resort’s biggest operating costs.

Now the solar power facilities in the area are expected to generate 910,000 kWh of electricity each year. In addition to meeting its own energy needs, the tourism resort is also able to earn some money back by transmitting surplus power (about 130,000 kWh annually) back to the electric grid.