TAIYUAN, Aug. 12 – As increasing numbers of clean energy facilities are put into use, China’s expressways are undergoing a green transformation.

Along the highway linking Taiyuan and Xinzhou in north China’s Shanxi Province, a reflective ocean of photovoltaic (PV) panels lines slopes and rooftops, and electric vehicle (EV) charging piles are appearing with increasing frequency in service areas and at toll stations.

“Ten years ago, EV charging piles in highway service areas were rare, but now they’re almost standard,” said Liu Xia, who was charging her EV at the highway.

She said that EVs are convenient for highway journeys as charging infrastructure and services are expanding. “We no longer need to worry about long queues to charge during holidays and weekends.”

The highway’s PV system became fully operational last November, and was accredited as a national-level smart PV demonstration project by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology this year.

“The project effectively harnesses idle land and structures through distributed solar energy generation, ensuring a stable electricity supply while mitigating carbon emissions,” said Chen Jianwen, the project manager, noting that it also provides a reference for clean energy utilization on highways.

China is a leading country in the global renewable energy sector, and it is the nation with the longest expressway mileage in the world. By the end of June, there were 24.72 million new energy vehicles (NEVs) on roads in China. And there is huge development potential in the integration of highways and the PV sector.