Agrivoltaic tea‑farm scheme delivers dual output for Suichang County

According to *Zhejiang Daily*, an agrivoltaic facility combining solar power generation with tea‑growing operates across tea plantations in Suichang, Lishui. Solar panels stretch over plantation ground while tea shrubs thrive underneath, with local farm workers carrying out autumn tea harvests beneath the installations.

More than 2,000 tea‑growing households in Dazhe township gave consent in 2024 for the 95‑megawatt phase‑one project of Guoneng (Zhejiang) to be built on nearly 3,000 mu of tea land. This marked the launch of Suichang’s exploration into the tea‑focused agrivoltaic operating model.

Solar panels are mounted above tea bushes without occupying arable farmland. They also filter intense sunlight to create favourable growing conditions for tea crops. Specialised construction techniques have been adopted to minimise damage to native vegetation. Engineering rules set the lowest point of solar panels at 2.2 metres above ground, with a minimum 7‑metre gap between front‑and‑rear rows, to secure adequate sunlight and operational room for field work.

Reaching full operational capacity in October 2025, this ground‑mounted agrivoltaic plant, the largest of its kind within Zhejiang province, supplies 130 million kWh of clean electricity every year and generates an annual output value of 50 million yuan. The scheme cuts coal consumption by roughly 38 000 tonnes of standard coal and delivers an estimated 103 000‑tonne reduction in carbon‑dioxide emissions annually.

Land rental brings tea‑growing households 500 yuan for each mu of plantation per year, with a 5‑per‑cent rent rise applied every five years. Local authorities have put supporting measures in place covering land transfer, crop‑damage compensation and ecological restoration, alongside government‑enterprise memorandums to safeguard tea farmers’ legitimate interests.

A governance framework featuring corporate operation, official oversight and community participation supports site management. Over 300 job openings have been created by the development, drawing more than 500 nearby residents into work. Local villagers account for over 70 per cent of the workforce, and some workers see monthly income increases exceeding 3 000 yuan during peak seasons. Several upstream and downstream new‑energy enterprises have set‑up operations in Suichang.

Construction work is advancing for the follow‑up 55‑megawatt phase‑two tea‑agrivoltaic photovoltaic project run by Guoneng (Zhejiang).