A huge mass of solar power panels are in operation in rural Shanxi. [Photo/Shanxi Daily]

Proceeds from village-level solar power stations in North China's Shanxi province ranked first in China in 2021, with 1.96 billion yuan ($308.70 million) generated, according to a statement by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs in mid-February. 

The average annual power generation capacity of the power stations was 8.02 percentage points higher than the national average, statement indicated.

The total scale of Shanxi's photovoltaic power stations established to help alleviate regional poverty reached 2.94 million kilowatts, including 1.55 million kW at 5,479 village-level power stations.

By the end of 2021, the province's solar power stations had accumulated power generation proceeds of 5.62 billion yuan, benefiting 720,000 people located in 9,554 villages in 75 counties, county level cities and districts. They are estimated to have helped villages lifted out of poverty increase their annual revenues by 200,000 yuan on average.