Jinneng Group, a major state-owned energy firm in Shanxi Province, has launched construction on three significant photovoltaic projects in the coal mining subsidence areas of Datong, northern Shanxi. These projects, with a total capacity of 5 gigawatts (GW), involve an investment of around CNY 16.5 billion, equivalent to $2.3 billion.

The first project, located in Zuoyun Town, features a 1.6 GW solar installation with an investment of CNY 5.28 billion. Covering approximately 43 square kilometers, it is set to finish by December 2026 and will produce 2.36 terawatt-hours (TWh) of electricity each year. The second, a 1.7 GW facility in the Yungang region, spans five townships and carries an investment of CNY 5.61 billion, with completion targeted for March 2027. The third, also a 1.7 GW solar farm, is situated in Xinrong Town with the same investment of CNY 5.61 billion and occupies about 44.4 square kilometers.

These initiatives are central to China’s sole large-scale renewable energy base built mainly on a coal mining subsidence zone, part of the country’s 12 approved wind and solar bases under the “desert, Gobi, and wasteland” plan. Jinneng Holdings Jinbei Energy (Shanxi) Co., Ltd., a joint venture formed in 2023 between Jinneng Group (holding 66.67%) and Tongbao Energy (33.33%), oversees their development. The venture, with a registered capital of CNY 3 billion, manages the Jinbei base operations.

To support consistent power supply, the projects integrate 2 GW of thermal power and 3.4 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of energy storage, approved by the Shanxi Provincial Development and Reform Commission. These components will develop alongside the solar plants. The electricity will connect to the Datong–Huailai–Tianjin 1000 kV ultra-high voltage (UHV) AC transmission line, currently under construction with approval from China’s National Development and Reform Commission, delivering clean energy to key areas like Beijing and Tianjin.

Jinneng Group emphasized the use of advanced n-type tunnel oxide passivated contact (TOPCon) and heterojunction modules for efficiency. Upon completion, the Jinbei base is projected to supply 9.3 TWh of clean electricity yearly to the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region. Additionally, the initiative includes efforts to restore approximately 150 square kilometers of subsided land through ecological and rehabilitation measures.

In recent years, Jinneng Group has expanded its renewable energy focus. In 2024, it added 3.5 GW of wind and solar capacity, bringing its total renewable portfolio beyond 15 GW, reinforcing its role as a provincial energy leader transitioning to sustainable sources.