China's Inner Mongolia bets on solar and wind but coal stays close
ORDOS, China (AP) — Seen from the air, the arrays of more than 3 million solar panels shimmering in the desert sun at the Dalad Banner solar farm are arranged in the shape of a galloping horse – a symbol of Inner Mongolia’s nomadic heritage. A short drive away stands one of the region’s many coal-fired power plants, one which sends electricity 700 kilometers (435 miles) to China’s capital Beijing.
The proximity of the projects embodies what experts describe as an “all-of-the-above” energy approach for Inner Mongolia, which has become China’s largest base of both renewable energy and coal production. Its energy transition mirrors China as a whole: Wind and solar capacity are expanding quickly while coal remains indispensable.
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