A large photovoltaic power base in northwest China’s Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region is using smart drones and unmanned robots to improve the inspection and maintenance of more than 10 million solar panels across 12,000 hectares.

Equipped with 5G, the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System, and infrared imaging, the drones can detect faults, generate inspection reports, and alert engineers in real time. The technology significantly reduces inspection time while improving operational efficiency.

The 6-million-kilowatt solar base generates about 10.8 billion kilowatt-hours of clean electricity annually, enough to power 7.2 million households. The project has also helped restore the local environment by reducing dust storms, increasing vegetation growth, and supporting ecological monitoring through underground geological sensors.

Source: People’s Daily