It has an installed capacity of 40 MW, the new floating solar power plant built in China's Anhui province. The project is the work of Chinese company Sungrow and stands on a lake formed by subsidence within a former coal mine, of which the region has an abundance.

A genuine exercise in energy reconversion, which is a fitting illustration of the energy policy pursued by the Asian giant: a gradual transition and decarbonisation of energy, moving away from coal and favouring sources such as solar, wind and hydroelectric power. The plant is already connected to the grid and supplies electricity generated from renewable sources to the residents of the city of Huainan.

Why a floating solar plant is a good idea

Setting aside the fact that the lake was formed by the abandonment of coal-mining activity, Sungrow's engineers and several sources report that "resting" the panels on a surface such as water makes it possible, first of all, to reduce evaporation of that water, so that the resource can be used for other activities, and improves the performance of the solar panels themselves: water reduces the operating temperatures of photovoltaic systems, lowering the so-called "temperature coefficient" while simultaneously increasing both their efficiency and their lifespan.

This is merely the latest mega-project completed in China. In January, the commissioning of the Longyangxia Dam Solar Park was completed, today considered one of the largest plants in the world. 4 million photovoltaic panels covering an area of 27 square kilometres in Qinghai province, with an installed capacity of 850 MW. A veritable race towards photovoltaics and renewables, also demonstrated by the enormous investments set out in China's new five-year plan: over the next three years, 360 billion euros will be invested in renewables, making it possible to reach 110 GW of installed solar energy and 210 GW of wind power.