In the early autumn, along the Bohai Bay coast in northern Shandong, the weather is clear and crisp. On the coastal tidal flats of Zhanhua District, Binzhou City, rows of solar panels stretch toward the sea. Beneath the panels, the pond water glistens, and salt field shrimp thrive in their aquatic environment.

During the hottest days of summer, intense sunlight and high water temperatures can impact shrimp survival, leading to losses. A shrimp farmer, Yu Shengtao, leaned down to pull up a shrimp cage. Observing the lively shrimp inside, he remarked, "Now, the solar panels above act like an 'ecological shade.' The water temperature stays stable, water quality is easier to manage, and the shrimp survival rate has improved."

Binhai Town boasts abundant resources of saline-alkali land, tidal flats, and sunlight. In the past, large areas of tidal flats were left idle and underutilized, with traditional fisheries operating on a single, low-yield model. In recent years, Binhai Town has leveraged its resource advantages, using fish-solar complementary projects to revitalize idle tidal flat resources and solve land-use challenges. By combining "solar power generation above water with aquaculture below," the town has achieved a win-win for ecological protection and increased local income.

The Tonghui "Fishery-Solar Integration" Modern Industrial Park in Binhai Town spans approximately 7,600 mu. With a total installed capacity of 300 megawatts, the solar arrays are arranged in a staggered layout. Above the water, clean energy is generated continuously, while below the surface, salt field shrimp farming is thriving. The solar panels block strong sunlight, regulate water temperature, suppress harmful algae growth, and improve the aquaculture water environment. This creates optimal conditions for shrimp growth, effectively boosting survival rates and product quality. At the same time, the humid environment of the aquaculture waters helps lower the operating temperature of the photovoltaic modules, further enhancing power generation efficiency. This forms a virtuous cycle of "power generation fueling aquaculture, and aquaculture supporting green electricity," achieving a system where one piece of water serves two purposes and one piece of land yields dual returns.

Liu Kai, Deputy Director of the Economic Development Office of Binhai Town, noted that the project generates an average annual electricity output of nearly 400 million kilowatt-hours, with annual revenue exceeding 160 million yuan. It saves approximately 120,000 tons of standard coal each year, demonstrating significant energy-saving and emission-reduction benefits. In the shrimp farming areas under the solar panels, the stable yield per mu ranges from 80 to 100 jin, with an annual production of 700,000 jin. These shrimp are sold to the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei market through a cold-chain logistics system.

The total planned area for fish-solar complementary projects in Binhai Town is about 40,000 mu. In recent years, projects from companies such as Tonghui, Guodian Investment, Huaneng, and Xintuo New Energy have been established. These interconnected projects are developing in a coordinated manner, forming a large-scale, intensive green industry matrix. While deepening the fish-solar complementary projects, the local government has also attracted leading wind power companies through targeted investment and business referral efforts. This has led to the clustering and development of new energy industries, including solar and wind power, in the area.

From Binzhou to Dongying, and from Yantai to Qingdao, Shandong's more than 3,500 kilometers of coastline are transforming into a massive "blue power plant." In the coastal waters of the Laizhou Bay in the northern part of Changyi City, Weifang, 50 "big windmills" stand tall against the blue sea. The wind blades rotate steadily, continuously generating clean green electricity to light up cities and villages. Beneath these windmills, in the marine pastures, fish and shrimp thrive in abundance. This offshore wind farm has a capacity of 300 megawatts. When operating at full capacity, a single wind turbine can generate 6,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity per hour. The farm includes a 220-kilovolt offshore substation, and the project generates approximately 940 million kilowatt-hours of electricity annually. In Changyi City, artificial reefs are scientifically deployed in the waters around the wind turbines to improve the seabed environment. These reefs provide space for the breeding and growth of fish, shrimp, shellfish, and seaweed, establishing a three-dimensional marine ecological habitat.

At a monitoring screen on the shore, real-time underwater footage from observation equipment shows a group of shrimp gathering on the reef. Another camera view captures fish swimming by from time to time, along with numerous crabs and shellfish. To date, 6,000 cubic meters of reef material have been deployed in this sea area. Monitoring data shows that fish aggregation in the reef areas has increased by more than 30% compared to non-reef areas, and the contribution rate to seaweed bed restoration has reached 45%. The offshore wind farm is not only generating electricity but also significantly improving the marine ecosystem.

Currently, the total installed capacity of wind and solar power in Shandong has reached 130.56 million kilowatts, accounting for over 50% of the province's total power generation capacity. The coastal areas have moved away from the old "relying on the sea for the sea" single-culture model, and are now building a new, diversified industrial pattern that synergistically integrates solar, wind, and eco-aquaculture.