Zhuji pearl farming thrives with State Grid support

To ensure the stable operation of the green farming system at the ecological mussel farming base in Shanxiahu town, Zhuji city, Zhejiang province, staff members from the State Grid Shaoxing Power Supply Company inspected the electrical equipment on Aug 19. White spheres carrying pearl mussels floated on the clear lake surface, while underwater aerators and smart monitoring devices operated steadily, indicating good working conditions.

As the "Hometown of Pearls in China", Zhuji's pearl industry long faced the development bottleneck of farming pollution. From the past challenge of pollution to today's model project with ecological and economic benefits, Zhuji's pearl industry now relies heavily on stable electricity supply.

In recent years, local enterprises have pursued technological innovation to explore new models of ecological farming. Zhejiang Qinghu Agricultural Technology has moved the algae cultivation process indoors, using electricity-driven temperature control and lighting systems to cultivate the bacteria, algae and plankton needed for pearl mussels. This approach, combined with the Internet of Things for precise algae feeding, avoids pollution from direct fertilizer application to water bodies and significantly increases farming density.

"The green transformation demands higher requirements for electricity supply. From aerators to thermostats, and the entire drip farming system, all rely on stable and reliable power," Guo Weifeng, head of Zhejiang Qinghu Holdings Group, said. To support the company's transformation, the State Grid Shaoxing Power Supply Company installed a 250 kilovolt-ampere dedicated transformer at the base, extending agricultural irrigation and drainage power lines to the embankments and workshops to ensure uninterrupted power supply.

In recent years, the local power supply department has increased investment in the grid. It spent 110 million yuan ($15.36 million) to build a 110 kv substation and its supporting network. This enabled a coordinated power supply with two surrounding 110 kv substations, providing ample power support for the green transformation of the pearl industry cluster.

Empowered by electricity, Zhuji's pearl industry has overcome pollution challenges, achieving improvements in quality and efficiency. The local pearl market scale, which struggled to break 10 billion yuan for many years, has reached new heights, surpassing 50 billion yuan in 2024 — marking a new chapter of industrial revitalization on the path of green development.