Within the 425-square-kilometer Tala Tan Solar Industrial Park, millions of deep blue photovoltaic panels stretch across the landscape, creating a vast blue "ocean." Yet, a more astonishing sight lies beneath these large panels: more than 20,000 Tibetan sheep are grazing there. Recently, the 2026 China Environmental Protection Century Tour, organized by the General Office of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, launched in Xining, Qinghai. A reporter joined the delegation in Gonghe County, Hainan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture (referred to as Hainan Prefecture). This high-altitude county, once reliant on animal husbandry, has discovered a green path of coordinated development between traditional agriculture and the new energy industry while combating desertification.

An Fengjun, Deputy Director of the Hainan Prefecture Development and Reform Commission, noted that Tala Tan was once dry, water-scarce, and sparsely vegetated. After years of management, the vegetation coverage rate within the park has now risen to over 80%, completely transforming the desert landscape of this Gobi region. "The new photovoltaic desert-control methods we've explored have not only improved the ecology but also effectively boosted the incomes of local herders."

Tibetan sheep have been enlisted as "weed controllers." From an observation tower, the reporter saw that the elevated photovoltaic supports have transformed the neatly arranged panels into a "natural barrier," with lush grass and flocks of sheep moving beneath them. An Fengjun explained that from a desertification control perspective, the photovoltaic panels effectively alter the local microclimate. Firstly, the arrangement of the panels creates a dense windbreak, reducing near-surface wind speeds by about 50%, which strengthens the foundation for wind and sand fixation at the source.

"Secondly, the panels provide shade, reducing soil water evaporation by over 30%," An Fengjun added. The rainwater and equipment cleaning water that falls on the panels precisely infiltrates the ground along the supports, forming a natural micro-irrigation system. This improves the ecology, restores the soil environment, and creates a beneficial ecological cycle of 'panels protecting the grass, vegetation fixing the sand, and soil improving in quality.'" The photovoltaic panels not only generate electricity but also act as a windbreak for the vegetation.

So why raise sheep in the solar park? An Fengjun explained that as the desert control benefits became apparent, the vegetation beneath the panels recovered rapidly. However, new operational challenges emerged. Overgrown weeds shaded the panels, directly reducing power generation efficiency. Additionally, after the grass dried in autumn, the fire risk within the solar station became very high. Tibetan sheep serve as natural "ecological weeders." According to relevant authorities, to date, 32 photovoltaic eco-pastures and 56 centralized grazing points have been built within the park, supporting the annual grazing of over 20,000 Tibetan sheep. The locally developed "Solar Sheep" model has not only proven effective in desert control but has also radiated out to drive sustained income growth for 18 village collective economic cooperatives, achieving a dual improvement in both ecological and livelihood benefits.

Herders appreciate the cost savings. "Our village relies mainly on animal husbandry, with many people raising and herding sheep. Grassland leasing and feed are our main expenses," said Li Qixiang of Xiahelesi Village, who has been herding for decades. He noted that in the past, the cost of leasing grassland was about 25 yuan per mu. After moving his sheep to the solar park, he saves 25,000 yuan annually. Beyond grassland leasing, Li Qixiang is especially pleased that the natural pastures in the solar industrial park help him save on his biggest sheep-raising expense: feed costs. "I have 1,000 sheep, and my annual feed cost is about 100,000 yuan," Li said. "The government promoted the 'Solar Sheep' model. I calculated that it saves me about 120,000 yuan per year."

Currently, the Hainan Prefecture Solar Industrial Park has a planned area of 609 square kilometers, with 425 square kilometers already constructed. According to forestry and grassland department measurements, the average grass yield per mu is 174 kilograms, with an annual total grass yield exceeding 110,000 tons. Based on a 70% utilization rate, this can meet the grazing needs of 100,000 sheep. Authorities stated that while promoting photovoltaic desert control, the region is also building a "Solar Sheep" product brand. The park implements a scientific grazing system of "setting livestock numbers based on grass yield, grazing in summer and exiting in winter." This is paired with full traceability management using electronic ear tags, solving technical challenges during implementation to achieve standardized, digital management.

"Electronic ear tags plus intelligent monitoring" enable full-chain digital traceability. Combined with the park's drones and comprehensive monitoring, it simultaneously tracks pasture growth, sheep activity, and photovoltaic equipment status. Scanning a code provides a complete traceability chain from breeding and slaughter to sales, balancing control measures with product branding. According to reports, the local government is expanding sales channels for "Solar Sheep" products through photovoltaic enterprise procurement, east-west cooperation, online live-streaming sales, and supermarket and market connections. This accelerates livestock turnover and increases herder incomes. Statistics show that collective village annual income can increase by an average of 14.57 million yuan, with an average increase of 2,300 yuan per household.