On the highland autumn plains, in Maduo County, located within the Guoluo Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Qinghai Province at an average altitude of 4,500 meters, Bayi, a resident of Malayi Village, prepares a meal using an electric stove. "Previously, we used yak dung furnaces that filled the home with smoke," he recalls. "Now, everything from cooking to heating runs on electricity, saving time and ensuring better hygiene."
Situated at the source of the Yellow River, Maduo County's altitude exceeds 4,500 meters, placing it at the core of the Yellow River Source Park within China's Three-River-Source National Park. The region encompasses over 5,800 lakes, including the internationally recognized wetlands of Zhaling Lake and Eling Lake. With atmospheric oxygen levels at just 59% of those at sea level, the area is notoriously challenging for newcomers and is often called the "Gateway to Hell." Fifteen years ago, the entire county's power supply relied on a single 2,500-kilowatt hydroelectric station, which provided electricity only intermittently, leaving every household dependent on yak dung for cooking and warmth.
A significant transformation began in 2015 when the State Grid Corporation of China completed the Guoluo Interconnection Project, a two-year endeavor with a total investment of 3.51 billion yuan. This project connected Maduo's grid to the national network for the first time, ending its history of operating as an isolated power system.
At dawn, at the 4.4-megawatt photovoltaic station in Malayi Village, Machali Town, 25-year-old Luosang Pengcuo changes into his work uniform and begins his daily inspections. In May 2024, through an employment initiative for impoverished college graduates returning to their hometowns, Luosang Pengcuo secured this position as an operations staff member, gaining a stable monthly income. "When I was a child, I did my homework by the light of a butter lamp," he reflects. "Now, as I look at the solar panels daily, I see that every household has electric cookers and heaters—it fills me with joy."
Given the high altitude, Maduo's heating season extends for up to eleven months annually. Traditional coal-burning methods are both expensive and detrimental to ecological preservation. To address the region's significant temperature fluctuations, State Grid has deployed specialized high-altitude regenerative electric boilers. These operate on an innovative model of "storing heat when solar generation peaks and releasing it during nighttime heating hours," promoting the local consumption of clean energy and intelligent load balancing.
From 2016 to 2018, two dedicated photovoltaic poverty-alleviation stations, with a combined capacity of 14.4 megawatts, were commissioned. By April 2026, these stations had generated over 232 million kilowatt-hours, translating to "sunshine revenue" of 115 million yuan. This income serves as a perpetual "sunshine bankbook," providing an inexhaustible source of funds for the local herders. The county has established 92 public welfare positions funded by this photovoltaic income, offering herders stable employment near their homes. Furthermore, the path to monetizing solar resources is expanding, with the proceeds from photovoltaic power generation being precisely channeled into village collective industries and advantageous sectors, ensuring long-term and sustainable income growth.
In 2025, clean energy accounted for 80.38% of Maduo County's heating consumption, reducing annual coal use by 46,000 tons and cutting carbon dioxide emissions by 114,400 tons. Today, Maduo leverages its abundant sunlight resources, transforming "light" into "electricity" and subsequently into monetary value. This approach charts a green support pathway that harmonizes ecological conservation with improved livelihoods for its residents.