Ngari Prefecture in Tibet is expected to end the history of no electricity next year in the wake of application of solar energy.
Ngari has built 60 small photovoltaic stations with a combined generating capacity of 250 kw and spread the use of 3,000 solar energy ranges.
The prefecture, known as the highest point of the "Roof of the World", has an average elevation of 4,500 meters. The annual sunshine of the region is 3,370 hours on average.
As the region is sparsely populated and residents scatter in various parts, 11,000 households with 70,000 people have no access to electricity. The local government invested 60 million yuan this year to initiate an electricity project.
(Xinhua News Agency November 28, 2001)