Nestled amid the lush mountains and clear waters of Suichang in southwestern Zhejiang Province, eastern China, tea farmers weave through rows of verdant tea bushes, swiftly picking the tenderest buds and leaves. Suichang's unique alpine climate and fertile soil have nurtured high-mountain cloud and mist tea known for its elegant aroma and fresh, mellow flavor. Dubbed the "hometown of famous Chinese tea", this ancient tea-growing region is now embracing a new vitality.
At the end of 2024, CHN Energy Zhejiang Branch's Energy Development Company launched the Suichang tea plantation-photovoltaic complementary project in this area. Rows of technologically advanced photovoltaic panels have become new neighbors to the tea trees.
Photovoltaic panels installed among the tea bushes
The orderly arranged blue photovoltaic panels are not a burden on the tea gardens, but an ideal ecological shield for the tea trees. Tea plants thrive in shade and are sensitive to extreme weather, and the shading effect of photovoltaic panels perfectly matches their growth needs. In summer, the panels effectively filter intense ultraviolet rays to prevent leaf scorching; in winter, they help protect the plants from frost and ensure safe overwintering. The microclimate created beneath the panels provides favorable conditions for tea growth, improving tea quality and enhancing its aroma.
During the planning and design stage, the project team fully considered tea farmers' actual working needs and raised the lowest point of the photovoltaic panels from the conventional 2 meters to 2.2 meters, ensuring sufficient space for tea-picking activities.
The project's implementation has not only improved the quality and increased the income of the tea industry, but also effectively created diverse employment opportunities for local residents. During the peak construction period, the project generated more than 500 jobs, with local villagers accounting for 70 percent of the workforce. Meanwhile, the arrival of migrant workers helped activate idle housing resources in the village, providing residents with additional rental income. In addition, mountain roads widened during construction now allow tea farmers to drive vehicles directly to their fields for fertilizing and harvesting, significantly reducing labor and time costs. The project has created a win-win outcome by promoting industrial development while improving local livelihoods.
While advancing coordinated development of industry and livelihoods, the project team has always prioritized ecological protection throughout construction. Innovative protective nets were installed along the slopes to effectively prevent soil erosion and maintain the long-term stability of the tea garden ecosystem. During construction, 2-meter-class load-bearing drones were introduced to transport materials, greatly improving efficiency while minimizing impacts on tea field vegetation. Every photovoltaic panel was installed only after rigorous environmental assessments, ensuring the protection of the region's lush mountains and clear waters.
Greenery is preserved beneath the panels, while sunlight is captured above them. Once completed, the three phases of the 195-megawatt photovoltaic power station will generate nearly 200 million kilowatt-hours of clean electricity annually. While providing green energy support for Zhejiang, the project will also create a beneficial microclimate cycle beneath the panels, achieving synergy between ecological conservation and clean energy development.
The sunlight remains the same, but the "solar economy" has completely transformed the lives of tea farmers. The tea mountains that once depended on the weather for their harvest are now truly producing "gold", enabling villagers to increase their incomes without leaving their hometowns.
When tea fragrance meets photovoltaics and tradition encounters modern technology, Suichang's tea gardens are growing not only aromatic tea leaves, but also happier lives for local residents, presenting a vivid example of rural revitalization.
