Qinghai fuels new growth with green energy, computing power

Northwest China's Qinghai province is leveraging its abundant solar and other clean energy resources to advance green development, boost rural revitalization and foster new industries as it looks ahead to the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030).

A key initiative in the province is the Qinghai Clean Energy and Green Computing Dispatching Center, operated by State Grid Qinghai Electric Power Company. The center provides monitoring, analysis and integrated dispatch services to support the coordinated development of clean energy and green computing, helping Qinghai balance the ecological requirements of the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau with the growth of green and low-carbon industries.

A model showcasing Qinghai's green energy layout on display at Qinghai Clean Energy and Green Computing Dispatching Center, Aug. 25, 2026. [Photo by Chen Xinyan/China.org.cn]

Built on a smart dual-carbon big data platform, the center monitors clean energy generation, grid operations and computing resources, while analyzing the interaction between electricity supply and computing demand. It also provides services including renewable energy forecasting, green electricity value tracking, energy and carbon monitoring, and electricity-computing coordination, providing data support for government planning and industrial development.

The integration of green power and computing is emerging as a new growth driver for Qinghai. Photovoltaic power generation accounted for more than 90% of the province's power output during periods of strong solar radiation, according to Jin Jin, deputy manager of the Product R&D Center of Qinghai Green Energy Data Co. Ltd.

"During these periods, the electricity naturally has a strong green attribute," Jin said. By sharing information on the availability of renewable power with data centers, the center enables them to adjust computing tasks according to green power supply, improving renewable energy utilization.

This approach can also help computing centers reduce their electricity costs through solutions such as integrated source-grid-load-storage systems and direct supply of green power, Jin said.

Meanwhile, Qinghai's clean energy boom is bringing tangible benefits to rural communities. By May 2026, Qinghai had built 42 photovoltaic assistance power stations with a combined capacity of 734,000 KW, covering 1,721 villages and benefiting 77,000 households and 283,000 people lifted out of poverty. The projects have so far generated 4.48 billion yuan ($667 million) in electricity and subsidy revenues.

Sheep graze between solar panels at a photovoltaic power station in Gonghe county of Hainan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai province, June 9, 2022. [Photo/Xinhua]