Chinese green tech finds favor in water deficient areas

After being effectively implemented during construction of the main stadium for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, China's cutting-edge water-saving technology is expected to witness wider applications in Qatar and related Central Asian countries.

As a crucial advancement in Ningxia Hui autonomous region's efforts to enhance irrigation efficiency, the smart wind-solar complementary water-saving irrigation technology is fully self-developed by Ningxia University. Central to the technology is the use of wind and solar energy to pump water, coupled with comprehensive smart control through the internet of things, said Sun Zhaojun, a professor responsible for the project at the university, during the 11th China-Central Asia Cooperation Forum in Yinchuan, Ningxia, last month.

The system utilizes underground infiltration irrigation, delivering water and nutrients directly to the roots of crops, thereby significantly reducing evaporation losses. In this regard, it boasts a water-saving efficiency exceeding 30 percent compared to existing international methods.

Sun added that rigorous testing across various arid environments has generated substantial research data, demonstrating the modality's effectiveness despite the challenges posed by salty soil and extreme temperatures in Central Asian countries.

Ningxia, situated in the Yellow River basin and surrounded by an arid desert, faces challenges similar to those encountered in many other dry regions such as Central Asian countries. In response, Ningxia has initiated extensive agricultural water-saving projects, with the smart irrigation system now covering nearly 50 percent of the region's irrigated land.

The technology received widespread acclaim during its application in the Qatar World Cup's greening project, ultimately leading to a landmark deal with Saudi Arabia for a smart agriculture project worth $1.06 billion in August.

Han Zaixiang, a senior executive from a Saudi trade company, said he is confident about Ningxia's irrigation technology, which possesses excellent market potential in Saudi Arabia and related Central Asian nations. He also emphasized the opportunities for rapidly deploying such advanced technologies across the region.

To date, the technology has pushed forward the establishment of seven experimental demonstration bases both domestically and internationally, covering a total area of 8.64 million mu (576,000 hectares) and achieving over 22 percent water savings in commercial crops, along with 26.6 percent energy savings.

With more than 90 percent of its components under independent intellectual property rights, the technology has obtained international patents in the United States and the United Arab Emirates. Furthermore, a relevant national Sino-Egyptian technology aid project has been approved, and two key laboratories have been established in Oman and Egypt for international collaborative research.

Eyeing expanded partnerships in sustainable development with more countries, Ningxia University said it has also engaged in discussions during the forum with representatives from Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan for potential cooperation.