Chinese adapting land policy is guiding “photovoltaic plus” as a nature-based solution towards future

Abstract

Nature-based solutions (NbS) are emerging as effective tools for achieving sustainable development goals and align closely with China's concepts of ecological civilization. While China has reported numerous NbS cases, the lack of a localized theoretical framework and practical guidelines has led to overlooking NbS practices with Chinese characteristics. This paper firstly summarized existing NbS cases in China, highlighting their focus on ecological restoration while not consistently addressing the full range of future challenges. Consequently, we propose photovoltaic (PV) plus projects (“PV Plus”) as a forward-looking NbS practice. Land policies have played an essential role in driving the evolution of PV projects into “PV Plus” model, unleashing its co-creation potential. Land policies in China for PV have gone through three stages: demonstrative construction, guided development and specialized management, resulting in multifunctionality arising from the co-evolution of PV technology and transformed ecosystems. We present “PV Plus” as a NbS practice classified as co-evolution system, demonstrate how policies guide its integration into local practices, and underscore its capacity for addressing future challenges. A typical example is agri-voltaics, a system where crops are grown beneath solar panels. This approach could deliver economic benefits, reduce land costs, and achieve poverty alleviation through electricity generation. The practical policy lessons in China can lay the foundation for multidisciplinary cooperation of the PV industry and offer valuable insights for the policymakers aiming to achieve multiple goals including energy transition, food security, and socio-economic development.