Shandong's green expressway sets example for others

A 161.9-kilometer stretch of road from Jinan to Weifang in Shandong province became China's first zero-carbon expressway in September last year.

From the air, the expressway resembles a winding dragon whose scales are made of photovoltaic panels. This project has used the road's verges, service areas, toll stations and building rooftops to form an integrated solar power generation installation.

The panels on the verges on both sides of the expressway stabilize the soil as well as generate electricity. In addition, the panels installed on isolated spots along the road utilize otherwise idle land, providing a stable power supply for the expressway, said Xie Guomu, director of the Jinan-Weifang expressway project office of Shandong Hi-Speed Group.