China National Petroleum Corp said on Thursday that its first "green electricity direct connection" project located in the Taklamakan Desert, Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, was approved recently, signaling a new era of integrating renewable energy with traditional oil and gas production.

The project features a photovoltaic (PV) power station with a total installed capacity of 100,000 kilowatts (kW). To ensure a stable and continuous power supply while minimizing energy waste, the site will include a 20 megawatt (MW) energy storage station, it said.

Functioning as a "super power bank", this storage facility will smooth out the inherent fluctuations of solar energy, ensuring that oil operations remain powered regardless of weather conditions.

The infrastructure includes a 2.5-kilometer direct transmission line and a 110-kilovolt (kV) substation, allowing green electricity to travel "directly" from the source to the end-users at the Fuman oilfield.

Once operational, the project is expected to deliver substantial environmental and social benefits. With an estimated maximum annual generating capacity of 157 million kilowatt-hours (kWh), the solar plant will provide approximately 35.7 percent of the total electricity required by the oilfield.

zhengxin@chinadaily.com.cn