Chuzhou, Anhui: Low-carbon smart solutions fuel the momentum of characteristic towns

The picture shows a staff member of the local power supply company explaining the use of photovoltaic seats to a tourist in the scenic spot of the Eighth Branch of the Anti-Japanese War University Campus in Longgang, Tianchang, Chuzhou, Anhui province. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

It is the golden autumn moon in the south of the Yangtze River. The chicken head rice rivals the clam ball in beauty. The Euryale ferox in Tianchang city, Chuzhou city, Anhui province has fully entered the picking period. On the rippling lake, green Euryale ferox leaves lay stacked like a green plate. More than a dozen picking workers shuttle back and forth in the polder, holding sickles, and busily picking Euryale ferox fresh fruits in an orderly manner.

Tianchang city, situated between the Yangtze River and the Huaihe River, boasts a dense network of rivers and lakes. Its abundant water resources offer an ideal natural habitat for the growth of Euryale ferox. The combination of high-quality water, a suitable climate and fertile soil has nurtured Euryale ferox, producing fruits that are plump, soft and nutritious. These attributes have earned it the deep affection of consumers and have made it a popular product in Beijing, Guangdong, Fujian, Jiangsu, Shandong and other regions.

The local government keenly recognized the development potential of the Euryale ferox industry and issued a series of supporting policies. It integrated central, provincial and municipal project funds amounting to over millions of yuan to establish a special fund to support the construction of Euryale ferox planting bases, technologically transform processing enterprises and for market expansion.

"Our cooperative planted over 1,000 mu (66.67 hectares) of Euryale ferox this year. Previously, the fruits were peeled manually. However, since the power supply company installed a high-capacity transformer for us, we have started using machines for production. We have implemented pumping irrigation, dehulling, shelling and drying, which has brought us peace of mind and significantly improved our yield and efficiency," said Zheng Changhong, head of Tianchang Hongfeng Euryale ferox Professional Cooperative. Thanks to the new irrigation equipment and electrification processing technology, Tianchang city now boasts numerous processing enterprises, spanning from primary to intensive processing. This has not only enriched the market supply but also significantly increased the added value of Euryale ferox, generating considerable economic benefits for the local area.

With the development of the industry, power consumption for irrigation, processing, and cold storage has significantly increased. To ensure the safety of power supply and usage in the planting park, the Chuzhou Power Supply Company of the State Grid, while adapting to local conditions, established a Communist Party member service team to provide "one-to-one" power supply services for two large irrigation and drainage stations and six small irrigations in the park. Additionally, over 120,000 yuan was invested to upgrade the power lines of the Huawei and Chenzhuang irrigation stations. Through deep understanding of the power consumption of processing enterprises, the transformer capacity was increased in Longgang and Longxitai districts. A 400 kilovolt-ampere transformer was introduced for the Euryale ferox market, and all conductors of 35 square meters were replaced with 120 square meters of insulated wires, thereby ensuring reliable power supply for rural specialty industries. In the grower community, a WeChat group has been set up in the Communist Party member service team's platform area to guide users in safe electricity usage, allowing customers to conveniently pay bills and handle electricity-related matters without leaving their homes.

It is understood that the average yield of nearly 100,000 mu of Euryale ferox in Tianchang city can reach 150 kilograms per mu, yielding a benefit of over 3,000 yuan per mu. The total output value from the integration of primary, secondary and tertiary industries is expected to exceed two billion yuan, potentially increasing the income of each villager by over 20,000 yuan. In recent years, seven Euryale ferox professional cooperatives have been established and six brands registered. Notably, "Furonggang Euryale ferox" has become a national geographical indication certification trademark. Cooperatives lease farmers' contracted land and engage in the Euryale ferox processing industry, providing not only employment opportunities but also boosting farmers' income. This small Euryale ferox fruit has emerged as a "golden bean" for farmers to achieve prosperity.

With the development of characteristic industries, the exceptional people and pristine scenery of Longgang have gradually garnered the attention of tourists. Here, the millennium-old street is surrounded by crystal-clear waters that flow towards Gaoyou Lake, where the vast lake is surrounded by misty waves. Wind turbines stand tall on the shore and new energy sources beautifully depict a harmonious coexistence of modernity and nature. Furthermore, Longgang has preserved the eighth branch of the Chinese People's Anti-Japanese Military and Political University, making this millennium-old town a renowned red tourism attraction in the Yangtze River Delta region.

To meet the growing demand for rural tourism development, the State Grid Chuzhou Power Supply Company has constructed a flexible DC interconnection system for multiple substations in the town. By integrating renewable energy and smart grid technology, it seamlessly connects photovoltaic panels, energy storage units, charging stations and other equipment within the scenic area, ensuring 100 percent on-site consumption of newly generated energy and facilitating a clean and low-carbon energy transition in the area. On the square of the Eighth Branch of the Anti-Japanese War University, the installation of smart streetlights, photovoltaic seats and other devices creates an intelligent interactive application scenario with the scenic area, offering tourists a convenient low-carbon lifestyle experience and showcasing a new model for efficient green energy utilization.

Agriculture, tourism and rural areas are thriving. State Grid Chuzhou Power Supply Company will continue to focus on the development needs of local characteristic industries, providing accurate power services that are efficient, fast and effective, allowing residents to feel a sense of access to electricity and happiness. With high-quality power services, the company will paint a new picture of prosperous industries and affluent people.