The world's largest floating solar power plant

The world's largest floating solar power plant in China can produce 40 megawatts, enough to power 15,000 households.

The world's largest floating solar power plant in Huainan, China. Photo: IFL Science.

New solar power planthas a capacity of 40 megawattsLocated in Huainan City, central Anhui Province, it startedconnect to the national gridChinafrom June,South China Morning PostJune 2 news.

The solar power plant is located in a large lake area above old coal mine pits. The solar panels float on the lake surface at a depth of 4-10 m.

Sungrow, the company in charge of construction, did not disclose the exact size of the plant, but the facility is twice the capacity of the world's previous largest solar power plant, also located in Huainan and built by Xinyi Solar in 2016.

Floating solar power plants take advantage of abandoned areas and water helps cool the surface of the panels, reducing the risk of overheating.

China is the world’s largest producer of solar power, with a total capacity of 77.42 megawatts at the end of last year, according to the Ministry of National Energy. Renewable energy accounts for 11% of China’s total electricity use, a share that could rise to 20% by 2030.

Earlier this year, the world's largest solar power plantLongyangxia Dam Solar Parkwent into operation in a remote area on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau in western Qinghai Province. The plant covers an area of ​​27 square kilometers and can provide enough electricity to power 200,000 households.

According to VNE