Photovoltaic poverty alleviation was identified by the State Council Leading Group Office of Poverty Alleviation and Development in 2015 as one of the "Ten Targeted Poverty Reduction Projects." Leveraging the abundant solar energy resources in impoverished regions, this initiative combines poverty reduction efforts with the development of renewable energy, offering stable income generation over a sustained 25-year period. The project primarily adopts three models: ground-mounted PV power stations, PV-powered greenhouse systems, and rooftop solar installations. Beneficiaries of this program fall into two categories: first, impoverished villages that either lack collective economic income altogether or have weak collective economies and scarce resources; and second, individual households classified as "three-no's"—those without labor, resources, or a reliable source of income.
  
Throughout the years, photovoltaic poverty alleviation has become an indispensable part of daily life for villagers, who see it as a truly positive initiative. So, why is photovoltaic poverty alleviation gaining increasing popularity as it continues to develop?

The national policy is strongly supportive!

Let’s set aside the various past photovoltaic poverty-alleviation projects for now—taking instead the much-discussed issue of the latest 2018 electricity tariffs as our focus.

On December 22, the National Development and Reform Commission released the "Notice on Price Policies for Photovoltaic Power Generation Projects in 2018" (NDRC Price Regulation [2017] No. 2196). Among the key points in this document—one piece of positive news that deserves everyone's attention—is as follows:

Where is the focus?
The benchmark electricity price for village-level photovoltaic poverty alleviation power stations (0.5 MW and below) and the per-kilowatt-hour subsidy rate for household distributed photovoltaic poverty alleviation projects will remain unchanged. In other words, the benchmark tariff for village-level poverty alleviation stations of 0.5 MW or less will continue to follow the 2017 pricing policy, and the same applies to household distributed PV projects aimed at poverty relief.

Here, we can clearly see exactly how the country is supporting photovoltaic poverty alleviation projects. While the benchmark grid-parity tariff subsidies for ground-mounted power plants have been reduced, and distributed projects—whether selling all their electricity back to the grid or using it for self-consumption—also face lower subsidies, only the subsidies for poverty-alleviation power stations remain unchanged!

Let's also take a closer look at the specific details of the recent photovoltaic poverty alleviation project targets.

(All of these are related to photovoltaic poverty alleviation.)

With strong government support, photovoltaic poverty alleviation is sure to become even more popular in the future!

Photovoltaic poverty alleviation brings income to local residents—everyone is overwhelmingly supportive and fully approves!

Recently, Xiao Hezi learned that Gaofeng Village in Nankai Township, Baisha Li Autonomous County, has earned a remarkably impressive income from its photovoltaic poverty-alleviation power station. Smiling brightly, the villagers happily shared: "With this dividend, we’re even more confident about shaking off poverty this year!"

(As Baisha’s first off-grid poverty alleviation project, the 20MW Baisha Longi Ecological Agriculture Photovoltaic Power Generation Poverty Alleviation Project recently distributed 2.4 million yuan in dividends to 800 impoverished households in Bangxi Town and Gaofeng Village, Nankai Township.)

To address the challenges of industrial development and poverty alleviation in remote mountainous areas, Baisha has joined forces with enterprises to explore an "out-of-area" poverty-fighting model. This innovative approach not only breaks through spatial limitations but also ensures that impoverished households can continue reaping the benefits of industrial growth for years to come.

Not only that, CCTV has also reported on poverty alleviation through photovoltaic projects. Recently, China Central Television’s extensive series of programs on poverty relief, titled "Never Left Behind," aired on CCTV-12’s Social and Legal Channel, highlighting Anhui Province’s Suzhou City’s Lingbi County and its innovative “poor village photovoltaic farm” model for county-wide poverty eradication. This initiative is playing a crucial role in supporting targeted poverty reduction efforts and helping impoverished households turn their dreams into reality.

No doubt everyone remembers this video—given the strong support from the nation, how could the people fail to approve?

The benefits of photovoltaic poverty alleviation

"Photovoltaic poverty alleviation is, in fact, a more precise approach to targeted poverty reduction." According to Ou Qingping, Deputy Director of the State Council Leading Group Office of Poverty Alleviation and Development, using photovoltaic power generation to help impoverished populations escape poverty is one of the most effective strategies.

Photovoltaic power stations can help villagers achieve long-term, stable income growth and poverty alleviation. With a lifespan of over 25 years, the electricity generated not only meets their own energy needs but can also be sold back to the national grid—earning them additional revenue. Moreover, for every kilowatt-hour of solar power produced, farmers receive government subsidies, with some regions offering even higher local incentives. In fact, the income from each kilowatt-hour can exceed one yuan, ensuring sustainable and reliable earnings over the long term.

Photovoltaic poverty alleviation, as a major initiative to improve people's livelihoods, has maintained stable pricing—highlighting the government's strong policy support and underscoring our unwavering commitment to winning the tough battle against poverty. Indeed, keeping photovoltaic tariffs steady aligns perfectly with both broader market trends and public sentiment. Moreover, as a key tool for targeted poverty alleviation, photovoltaic projects have emerged alongside conventional ground-mounted plants, commercial and industrial distributed systems, and leading-edge "Leader" projects, collectively becoming the four major drivers propelling domestic demand in the solar energy sector.