Exploration of Guangdong Rural Distributed Photovoltaic Construction Model from the Perspective of “Innovative Carbon-Neutral Rural Area”

Abstract

As China is a major carbon-emitting country, low-carbon development in rural areas will play a key role in achieving the national goal of carbon peaking and neutrality. With the advancement of the rural revitalization strategy, carbon emissions in rural areas have intensified; however, these areas also demonstrate significant advantages in spatial resources for ecosystem carbon sinks and new energy development. The two national strategies of “carbon neutrality” and “rural revitalization” are intrinsically linked. Therefore, a strategic coupling mechanism combining “carbon neutrality” and “innovative rural area” should be established. This mechanism aims to promote positive interaction between urban capital, talent, and technology and the rich ecological carbon sinks and vast spatial resources of the countryside, opening up new pathways for the flow of urbanrural capital and resources. Based on this new perspective, and leveraging Guangdong Province’ s abundant solar energy resources and vast stock of rural housing, this article explores the technical system, implementation path, and operation mode of rural distributed photovoltaics. The construction of this model is carried out at five levels. At the level of resource assessment and construction, it emphasizes the comprehensive investigation and evaluation of resources within a certain area (preferably at the county or town level) and establishes coordination between investment companies, multi-disciplinary teams, villagers, and governments. At the design and implementation level, it proposes combining distributed photovoltaics with the revitalization of rural landscapes in Guangdong Province to improve rural aesthetics, turning government costs into investments, and converting idle village resources into effective assets. At the commercial operation level, based on clarifying the functions and benefits of all parties, a win-win cooperation mechanism comprising“village join-t stock company-operating enterprise-government” is constructed, and three business models for the renovation of rural houses with solar panels have been designed to enhance their market promotion. At the level of operation and maintenance management (O&M), a rooftop solar energy smart management platform is built to manage the pre-development process, project approval, capital use, and O&M, promoting efficient management. Furthermore, based on the construction of photovoltaic sun pavilions for rural houses, this paper further proposes a variety of models combining distributed photovoltaics with traditional rural construction and agriculture. It also puts forward ideas for the construction of a rural energy system featuring “source-grid-load-storage integration,” to promote the iterative upgrading of power generation technology and the combined utilzation of resources in rural production and living spaces. Finally, this article proposes an extended reflection on the model of “Innovative Carbon Neutral Rural Area”. It is a comprehensive concept that requires the comprehensive transformation and development of rural space, economy, and society in harmony with the environment, aiming to build a rural area developed with environmentally-friendly principles. Economically, it promotes the assetization of ecological resources and creates a new model of rural green industry and finance. Socially, it focuses on low-carbon production and lifestyle, establishing a new mechanism for smart and modern ecological governance.